Happy Family Supports Preeclampsia Education & Awareness for Families by Trish Adkins

Happy Mama & preeclampsia survivor Trish Adkins shows her support at the Philadelphia-metro Promise Walk on May 11, 2013.

Happy Family Organic Superfood is proud to be a national sponsor of the Preeclampsia Foundation Promise Walk for Preeclampsia in 2013.

Our team of Happy Mamas, real-life mothers who work to educate families on the importance of nutrition, will be at multiple Promise Walk locations across the country throughout May and June. We will be supporting the cause and sharing real life tips on keeping your family happy and healthy.

As the Happy Mama in Southern New Jersey, I am proud to work for such a socially active organization and their support of this cause touches me personally. I love that my job allows me to share my motherhood story and the values of healthy, wholesome nutrition and living that have kept my family strong through one of the toughest of life’s challenges: surviving preeclampsia twice.

Preeclampsia hit me out of the blue; changing an otherwise healthy, happy pregnancy into a nightmare.

I was 29 weeks pregnant with my first child, Lily, and woke up unable to see out of my left eye. My feet, hands and entire body were swollen. I went to the OB, knowing something was wrong; knowing that I could have preeclampsia, but not quite believing it.

At the doctor’s office, my blood pressure was 210/110 and I had gained 60 pounds of water weight since my last appointment.  They sent me to the hospital, where my blood pressure continued to rise. I was at risk for developing eclampsia, a seizure disorder that can be deadly to both mother and child.

The only cure for preeclampsia is delivery, but delivery carries risks for babies who are not fully developed. Lily was born that night, weighing just 2 lbs., 14 ounces. She could not breath on her own and required numerous medical interventions to survive. Lily was hospitalized for 7 weeks.

It was not the birth story I planned. Three years later, my second child, Chloe was born at 31 weeks and weighed just 3 lbs., 4 ounces. Again, preeclampsia crept up on me.

Preeclampsia is unfortunately common; affecting one in 12 pregnancies. No one knows what causes preeclampsia and so many pregnant women do not know the signs or symptoms of the disease. The Promise Walk is an important piece of raising awareness and funds to find a cure for this deadly disorder.

Happy Family provides organic foods for babies, toddlers, kids, and even adults!

Happy Family is dedicated to educating mothers and fathers on growing healthy families by providing nutrition information, organic foods and supporting causes like the Promise Walk. You can connect with your local Happy Mama on the directory on the Happy Family website.

You can also view the full line of Happy Family certified organic products including first cereals, baby and toddler meals and snacks, and Happy Squeeze smoothies for children and adults. Our new Greek Yogurt line provides gentle dairy for babies through toddlers in a self-stable pouch.

Launched on Mother’s Day 2006, and owned and operated by moms, Happy Family is the leading premium organic food brand delivering optimal nutrition for the entire family.  We invite you to join our Generation Happy community so you will be sure to hear about all our new products and special offers.

About our guest blogger: Trish Adkins is a Happy Mama for Happy Family Organic Superfoods. She is a two-time survivor of preeclampsia and has volunteered with the Preeclampsia Foundation since 2007, including her active involvement with the Philadelphia Promise Walk for Preeclampsia. She feels strongly that education is critical for women, doctors, nurses and fathers-to-be, and has made it her goal to make that happen in her local community.

She regularly blogs at
http://2yoke.blogspot.com
.

Virtual Walk helps ALL families to “Make Strides” toward research, education & awareness

Join our Virtual Walk for all mothers across the world.

We live in an incredibly large country here in the US with a pretty sizable footprint for all those little pink feet to make strides & deliver hope. And we all know that preeclampsia can impact any pregnancy, anywhere. So when our Foundation did the math, we realized that there were plenty of families affected by preeclampsia that couldn’t show their solidarity by being at a local walk.

So we decided to something about that in 2013, which is where the Virtual Promise Walk comes in (www.promisewalk.org/virtual): to create a space for all the people who say to us “I wish there was a Promise Walk in <LOCATION>.” Anyone across the country (or the globe) can register and form a team for the same $20 donation to the Foundation’s mission.

We center this event around Mother’s Day on May 12, 2013 to reflect the many moms that are no longer with us…

the moms who don’t get to hold their babies in their arms…

the moms who have suffered the terrible fear, uncertainty that is preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

You can then go for a quiet, reflective walk throughout the month of May. Or, encourage your friends and family to join your team and make it a party in the sunshine (or snow for some of our northern participants!). All participants can fundraise just like at any of our other walk locations and will receive their 2013 “I Kept My Promise” buttons.

So join us this Mother’s Day as we show our solidarity with global moms and “Walk. Give. Learn.”

6 Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Your Heart Health

On today, when everyone is swapping heart-shaped candies, we encourage everyone to also think of your other heart: the physical one. February is Heart Health Awareness Month, and for preeclampsia survivors, it is important to understand your risks.

Have you checked your heart health lately?

If you’re a new mom, your own heart health may be the furthest thing from your mind, but if you’re a preeclampsia survivor, it’s something you and your physician should discuss. Why? Because research has shown that preeclampsia may help predict potential future heart disease.

Experts suggest 6 questions you should ask your healthcare provider about pregnancy complications and heart disease:

1. I had high blood pressure during pregnancy. Are there steps I should be taking now to monitor my heart health?
2. I had a fetal growth restriction complication or delivered a preterm baby. What should I be doing for my best cardiovascular health?
3. What risk factors (unrelated to pregnancy) do I have for cardiovascular disease, such as diet, family history, etc.?
4. Do any of my test results indicate risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol?
5. Do my overall risk factors or risk factors related to pregnancy suggest that I should be referred to a cardiologist?
6. Are there lifestyle or medication changes that would benefit my heart health?

A good number of preeclampsia survivors report difficulty getting their blood pressure to return to normal and may need, even temporary, medications to normalize their BP.  However, without solid evidence for what post-preeclampsia follow up care should include, what should you do? Experts in the field have helped us develop these common sense guidelines to reduce your risk of heart disease:

• Eat a heart healthy diet and get regular exercise… for instance, join a local Promise Walk!
• Stay at a healthy weight, specifically a BMI of 25 or less.
• Don’t smoke.
• Talk with your doctor about your specific family health history, your pregnancy history and the benefits of taking low dose aspirin.
• Know your numbers – blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose – and ensure these stay in the healthy range.

For more information about heart health risk, check out the Preeclampsia Foundation’s longer heart health article.

Life Changes In An Instant

Shelia’s daughter Rebecca and twin grandsons.

First time walk coordinator, Shelia Carroll, has a pain in her heart we all hope no parent ever feels.  Shelia lost her adult daughter, Rebecca, to complications of preeclampsia.  Rebecca left behind a husband, two sons and a new baby girl who would never know her mother.

It’s a tragedy that those of us in the community of preeclampsia activists have heard far too often, and one that Shelia obviously wishes had not touched her family as it has.  Yet in the aftermath of this deep heartache, Shelia didn’t retreat.  She summoned the courage to move forward and do so in order to help other families avoid the tragedy that has befallen her own.

One of Shelia’s hopes for the first annual Birmingham Promise Walk for Preeclampsia is that other women and their families will become more knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.  She also hopes that attendees will take comfort in meeting and finding others that have been through similar experiences.

Like many of our walks, this one too is a labor of love honoring a mother who died too young.  As Shelia has said, “It is happening out of love, heartache, anger. All the emotions that losing someone to this causes. Emotions that change in an instant.”

Registration is open now for this May 4th event at Railroad Park.  Register at www.promisewalk.org/birmingham.

Crossing Into the Orange Curtain for Awareness

2011 OC Promise Walk at Bill Barber Park

Stepping into the role of Orange County Promise Walk for Preeclampsia Coordinator this year is Jennifer Carney.  Jennifer is no stranger to the Preeclampsia Foundation and has volunteered in a variety of roles from assistance on the Communications team to helping to review Pregnancy books for their inclusion and discussion of preeclampsia.

Like many involved with the Foundation, Jennifer herself is a survivor.  She suffered eclampsia and HELLP syndrome and found herself looking for answers.  She has supported the March of Dimes as well as the HELLP Syndrome Society which was later folded into the Preeclampsia Foundation.  At that point, Jennifer decided it was time to really get involved.

Looking to build on past years in Orange County, the walk will be at the same location at Bill Barber Park in Irvine as last year.  Jennifer also plans to include an expert panel discussion at the conclusion of the walk as was held last year.

She points out that the Orange County walk is really a regional walk with registrants coming from LA and Orange Counties as well as the Inland Empire.  It’s also a different weekend than the San Diego walk, so Southern Cal residents can feel free to support both walks!

Registration for the Orange County Promise Walk on May 18^th is now open.  You can register at www.promisewalk.org/orangecounty.

Late Night Musings Lead to Inaugural Philly Promise Walk

Late one night while feeding her infant daughter, Sarah Hughes decided something big.  In the fuzziness of it being way too late, she decided to do something about preeclampsia.  When she got up the next morning, she didn’t forget that decision or chalk it up to the hour of the day, instead she became the Philadelphia Promise Walk for Preeclampsia coordinator.

In their first year, this walk can already be considered a huge success and they are still two months out from walk day.  They are more than half way to their goal of $10,000, have had the state of New Jersey declare May Preeclampsia Awareness Month and are well on their way to meet their attendance goals.

All this began after Sarah delivered her second child.  Her pregnancy was healthy, she delivered a healthy baby at full term, spent her time in the hospital and went home.  It was at home that things seemed “not right”…she felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath, she had a headache and her vision seemed off.  When she called her doctor, she was told to go to the hospital immediately.

After three harrowing days, Sarah was on her way to recovery even though she spent weeks more dealing with and monitoring high blood pressure.

Sarah hopes that the Philadelphia Promise Walk becomes “an amazing annual family event,” and we couldn’t agree more.  If you’d like to register or donate and join Sarah and her fabulous volunteer team at the Saturday, May 12^th Promise Walk, you can go to www.promisewalk.org/philadelphia.  This year’s walk is held at Challenge Grove Park in Cherry Hill.  For more information, contact philadelphia@preeclampsia.org.

Searching for Support and Finding a Promise

Participants at the First Annual San Jose Promise Walk in May 2011.

This time last year San Jose resident Jennifer Smith was pregnant and about to learn that her pregnancy was not to be one of those simple and healthy ones.  At 28 weeks, Jennifer was diagnosed with preeclampsia and eventually hospitalized.  Jennifer delivered at 33 weeks, 6 days when her body could no longer hold off the disease.

During the time that Jennifer was hospitalized she was looking for support from those who had been there and found the Preeclampsia Foundation.  She also found Tiffany Trevers who was last year’s San Jose Promise Walk lead coordinator.  Tiffany was in the midst of putting on the inaugural San Jose Promise Walk.

Jennifer’s experience last year with the Promise Walk was so positive that she took the big leap to Coordinator for 2012.  Together with Tiffany, they look to match last year’s amazing attendance and fundraising totals and reach even more local Bay Area folks who may have been touched by preeclampsia.

This year’s walk will once again feature a dove release to honor victims of preeclampsia and already has the support of several local businesses and ventures such as Blood Centers of the Pacific, Developmental Pathways for Kids and Sports Basement to name a few.

You can register to be a part of this day now!  The walk will be held on May 6th at Vasona Lake County Park.  Registration is $20 for adults and $10 for children.  Got to http://www.promisewalk.org/sanjose to register or make a donation.

Come and join Jennifer and Tiffany as they renew their promise to help find a cure, bring awareness and support others who have experienced the pain of preeclampsia.

Top 3 Reasons NOT to Host A Promise Walk

How many times have you told yourself: “I just don’t have the time/energy/insert-the-blank to volunteer for the Preeclampsia Foundation… even though I’d probably really enjoy the feeling of helping women just like me.”

Well today, we present the top 3 reasons NOT to host a Promise Walk for Preeclampsia, so you can start having these really great excuses, rather than all that nonsense about how many hours there are in a single day.

1. You do not own a computer or a telephone. Staying in touch is a necessary part of being a coordinator, so if you’ve taken a vow of silence, or chosen a non-technology way of life, this volunteer path may not be for you.
2. You live in an industrial zone without a single decent place to walk. If your town has a carbon footprint the size of a T-Rex, the smog and acid rain might be a bit of a turn off to participants. Instead of hosting a Promise Walk, we’d recommend you work on a family relocation plan.
3. You have no interest in funding life-saving research. After all, 92% of the money raised by the Promise Walk goes straight back into education and research that will help future generations. Science isn’t for everybody, right?

Wait a second… do none of these describe you? Then you have what it takes! Read “Becoming A Promise Walk Volunteer” by Autumn Spear for more information on how to get involved, and join us for a free teleconference call on September 13 to find out what it takes to have a successful Promise Walk for Preeclampsia to your hometown, and help us “Make Strides and Deliver Hope!”