Preeclampsia affects approximately one in 25 pregnancies and remains a leading cause of maternal and fetal death worldwide. More broadly, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy impact 1 in 7 pregnancies in the US, highlighting a significant and growing maternal health challenge.
To address this, March of Dimes has launched the Low Dose, Big Benefits™ campaign, focused on increasing awareness and use of a safe and simple, evidence-based intervention: 81mg low-dose aspirin.
What is the Low Dose Big Benefits campaign?
The Low Dose, Big Benefits` campaign is part of March of Dimes’ mission to improve outcomes for mothers and babies through research, education, advocacy, local programs and the advancement of evidence-based care.
The campaign addresses a critical gap: awareness. Despite its lifesaving potential, the benefits of low dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia are not widely known by pregnant people nor the general public.
To address this, the campaign:
- Educates providers (nurses, OBGYN physicians, pharmacists) and ancillary support workers (doulas, CHW’s)
The message: Early preeclampsia risk factor screening is vital. Identification of risk factors early in pregnancies and the initiation of prophylactic measures, such as LDA, can contribute to better outcomes for moms-to-be and their babies.
- Educating pregnant people, their families and the public.
The message: Ask your healthcare professional if you’ve been screened for preeclampsia and if low dose aspirin is right for you.
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious multi-system disorder of pregnancy diagnosed by new-onset high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy—or even up to six weeks after delivery. And while it is serious, early detection and proper care can dramatically improve outcomes for both mom and baby.
Common symptoms include swelling in the hands, legs and face, a headache that will not go away, vision changes such as blurriness, flashing lights, or being sensitive to lights and sudden weight gain—2-5 pounds a week—trouble breathing, pain in the belly, likely on the right side under the ribs and/or severe nausea and vomiting.
The condition can escalate quickly.
Potential complications of preeclampsia for the mother include:
- Strokes
- Maternal seizure
- Organ damage (particularly the kidney and liver)
- Increase in chronic hypertension
- Lifelong increase of cardiovascular and renal disease
- And in extreme cases, maternal death.
Potential complications of preeclampsia for the infant include: insufficient blood flow through the placenta leading to low birth weight, premature birth, and in severe cases, stillbirth.
How does low-dose aspirin help?
The campaign centers on low dose aspirin—81mgs aspirin.
“Aspirin in and of itself does not reduce high blood pressure,” said Dr. Kjersti Aagaard, an HCA Texas maternal-fetal medicine physician and national medical director leading the partnership between March of Dimes and HCA on the Low Dose, Big Benefits campaign said. “Rather, aspirin improves blood flow through the small blood vessels or microvasculature of the placenta. Just as low dose aspirin is used in adults to reduce the burden of atherosclerotic disease and prevent stroke and heart attacks outside of pregnancy, the net effect of low dose aspirin use in the second is to reduce the risk of preeclampsia and small for gestational age babies.”
Unlike hypertension medications, low-dose aspirin is used as preventive therapy for those at increased risk. It targets placental blood flow rather than directly lowering blood pressure. Key points about low-dose aspirin in pregnancy include:
- Recommended for women at moderate to high risk of preeclampsia
- It needs to be started from 12-28 weeks of pregnancy—ideally 12-16 weeks
- Does not replace blood pressure medications for chronic hypertension
- Uses the standard 81mg dose for cardiovascular prevention
- Risk factors include: previous preeclampsia, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, an autoimmune disorder, a body mass index of 30 or over, expecting multiples (twins or triplets), family history of preeclampsia, first pregnancies and African American/Black individuals (this is a risk factor due to historical inequities and structural racism.)
For a full list of the preeclampsia risk factors go to Low dose aspirin during pregnancy: What you need to know | March of Dimes
The broader impact on moms and babies
Preeclampsia affects mother and baby beyond pregnancy, posing serious risks if untreated.
For pregnant individuals, the condition can damage vital organs, including the kidneys, liver and brain, and cause blood-clotting problems. In severe cases, it can lead to seizures, stroke or death. The risks can continue long after pregnancy. Individuals with preeclampsia face a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney disease later in life.
For babies, preeclampsia increases the risk of complications, including preterm birth, placental abruption, low birth weight and developmental issues.
As Aagaard noted, these early exposures matter because they occur during the body’s most formative developmental stage.
“These foundational years shape future health, and these exposures can lead to epigenetic changes,” Aagaard said. “Womb and early development events don’t just stay there; it can influence organ function, regulate blood pressure and metabolism and increase long-term risks for heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.”
Preventing pregnancy complications like preeclampsia matters beyond delivery; it’s about shaping lifelong health.
Why prevention matters in Houston
Houston is a focus area for the campaign, reflecting its diverse population and significant maternal health disparities.
“HCA Healthcare is proud to partner with the March of Dimes, rooted in our participation in over 250,000 babies’ lives yearly,” Aagaard said. “By combining our scale with a dedicated group of community physicians and midwives, we harness the power of numbers to ensure there is a strong evidence base by which we make decisions to drive the highest-quality, state of the art care for all women in every community.”
Through HCA Healthcare’s network, evidence-based tools like risk assessment for prescribing low-dose aspirin can reach patients in community-based clinics and hospitals. With 85% of births outside of academic-based medical centers, access to consistent preventive care in the communities where families live and work is critical.
Dive deeper
While preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication, experts emphasize that earlier awareness and prevention can reduce risk and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
The Low Dose, Big Benefits™ campaign aims to connect research-backed. State of the art tools like low-dose aspirin with the patients and providers who can use them early and effectively.
For more information about preeclampsia, risk factors and prevention tools, individuals are encouraged to speak with a healthcare provider or visit Low dose aspirin during pregnancy: What you need to know | March of Dimes for campaign and resource information.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel with Community Impact’s Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.