New Survey Reveals Most Preeclampsia Survivors Never Saw a Premature Birth Coming
New Survey Reveals Most Preeclampsia Survivors Never Saw a Premature Birth Coming
EndPreeclampsia and Mirvie Survey Underscores the Need for Earlier Risk Identification So Expectant Mothers and Care Teams Aren’t Caught Off Guard and Can Strengthen Risk Reduction Care Plans
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey released today by preeclampsia advocacy group EndPreeclampsia and leading pregnancy health company Mirvie finds that most mothers who delivered preterm because of preeclampsia were blindsided by their diagnosis, had little information about their personal risk during pregnancy, and continue to live with lasting emotional trauma.
“These findings expose how terribly our reactive prenatal care system is failing expectant mothers. No pregnancy should be blindsided by preeclampsia.”
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November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and today, preeclampsia remains one of the most serious threats to the lives of both mother and baby. In the United States, it accounts for roughly 15-20% of all premature births, and because delivery is the only cure, it is a leading driver of medically necessary early deliveries.
The recent survey of approximately 1,200 preeclampsia survivors, who experienced a preterm birth, highlights the gaps in today’s reactive maternal care models:
- Blindsided by Diagnosis: 60% of mothers were completely surprised by their preeclampsia diagnosis.
- Lack of Risk Awareness: 50% lacked awareness of whether they were at risk of preeclampsia beforehand.
- Long-Term Psychological Toll: 50% of respondents reported lingering mental health issues tied to their traumatic pregnancy experience.
- Tragic Losses: 5% reported losing their baby to stillbirth.
“For far too long, women have been forced to wait for symptoms to appear before learning they are at high risk for preeclampsia, which dramatically increases the likelihood of preterm birth,” said Kara Boeldt, founder of EndPreeclampsia and a preeclampsia survivor. “These findings expose how terribly our reactive prenatal care system is failing expectant mothers. No pregnancy should be blindsided by preeclampsia.”
Advances in precision maternal health offer new hope to eliminate surprises for expectant families and healthcare providers. Innovative biomarker tests, such as Mirvie’s Encompass™ test, can identify preeclampsia risk early in pregnancy and motivate adherence to risk reduction care plans. Additionally, prognostic biomarker tests can help determine disease severity once symptoms appear, helping to tailor emergent care needs.
“As clinicians, having objective biological insights is a game changer,” Jo'Ann Jackson, MD, FACOG, MSCP, obstetrician-gynecologist and Chief Medical Officer of the Mid-Atlantic Region at Advantia Health and early adopter of biomarker testing in pregnancy. “These innovations allow clinicians and expectant parents to be informed of risk early in pregnancy, take proactive, evidence-based actions to mitigate risks, catch warning signs earlier and potentially prevent or reduce severe outcomes.”
Methodology
1,202 preeclampsia survivors who delivered at least one child prematurely before 37 weeks responded to a global online survey administered by EndPreeclampsia from September 23 - October 14, 2026. Respondents self-selected and self-reported their outcomes.
About EndPreeclampsia
EndPreeclampsia is a leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to empowering pregnant individuals, supporting preeclampsia survivors, and advocating for advancements in maternal health research, early detection, and equitable prenatal care. For more information, visit endpreeclampsia.org.
About Mirvie
Mirvie is bringing scientifically rigorous and data-driven approaches to solving some of the most pressing clinical problems in women’s health, beginning with pregnancy. Serious complications impact one in five pregnancies in the U.S., and Mirvie is committed to creating a world where every pregnancy is as safe and healthy as possible using the Mirvie RNA Platform™. Founded and led by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and scientists, the company is based in South San Francisco, California and backed by top-tier investors including BlackRock, Decheng Capital, General Catalyst, GV, Khosla Ventures, Mayfield, and Portfolia. For more information, visit Mirvie.com.
