Illustration symbolizing the connection between maternal and fetal health in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia and Your Heart: New Link to Baby's Health?

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Research reveals how arterial stiffness in pregnant women with preeclampsia is connected to their baby's well-being, offering potential for early detection and intervention."

Preeclampsia (PE), affecting 3-8% of pregnancies, is a major health concern worldwide. Characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of gestation, PE poses significant risks to both mother and baby. While the exact cause of PE remains elusive, it's widely understood that impaired development of the placental blood vessels plays a crucial role.

Endothelial dysfunction, or damage to the lining of blood vessels, is believed to be a key factor in PE. This damage can lead to increased arterial stiffness, impacting how blood flows through the body. Understanding these vascular changes is essential for improving outcomes in PE pregnancies.

Now, a new study investigates the relationship between arterial stiffness in women with preeclampsia and the health of their babies. By examining the stiffness of the carotid artery and assessing blood flow in the uterus, umbilical cord, and fetal brain, researchers are uncovering critical connections that could change how we approach PE management.

How Does Maternal Heart Health Affect the Baby?

Illustration symbolizing the connection between maternal and fetal health in preeclampsia.

The recent research, published in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound, enrolled 30 women diagnosed with preeclampsia and 30 healthy pregnant women. Using advanced ultrasound techniques, the researchers measured:

Carotid artery stiffness: Assessed using echo-tracking technology to determine the flexibility of the arterial walls.

Uterine artery Doppler: Measured blood flow to the uterus.
Umbilical artery Doppler: Measured blood flow through the umbilical cord.
Fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus (DV) Doppler: Measured blood flow in the fetal brain and heart.

The study found a significant increase in carotid artery stiffness in women with preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnancies. This increased stiffness was also correlated with:

What This Means for Future Pregnancies

The key takeaway from this research is that maternal heart health, specifically arterial stiffness, is directly linked to fetal well-being in preeclampsia. The stiffer the arteries, the greater the impact on blood flow to the uterus and baby.

These findings suggest that monitoring arterial stiffness in women with preeclampsia could provide valuable insights into fetal health and help guide treatment decisions. Early detection of increased stiffness could lead to interventions aimed at improving blood flow and supporting fetal development.

While more research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and long-term implications, this study highlights the importance of a holistic approach to preeclampsia management, considering both maternal and fetal cardiovascular health. It opens new avenues for research and potential interventions to improve outcomes for mothers and babies affected by this complex condition.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/jcu.22648, Alternate LINK

Title: Carotid Arterial Wall Stiffness Correlates Positively With Impedance Of The Umbilical And Uterine Arteries In Women With Preeclampsia

Subject: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Journal: Journal of Clinical Ultrasound

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Jingyu Li, Bin Wang, Ailu Cai, Qian Yuan, Hao Ding, Dan Zhao

Published: 2018-10-14

Everything You Need To Know

What is preeclampsia and why is it a health concern?

Preeclampsia (PE) is a condition that develops during pregnancy, typically after 20 weeks of gestation, and is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It poses significant health risks to both the mother and the baby. The exact cause of preeclampsia isn't fully understood, but impaired development of placental blood vessels is considered a key factor. Understanding preeclampsia is crucial because it affects a notable percentage of pregnancies and can lead to severe complications if left unmanaged.

How does maternal heart health impact the baby in pregnancies with preeclampsia?

The recent study reveals a connection between maternal heart health, specifically arterial stiffness, and fetal well-being in pregnancies affected by preeclampsia. When the carotid artery becomes stiffer in pregnant women with preeclampsia, it affects blood flow to the uterus, umbilical cord, and fetal brain. This can impact the baby's health, highlighting the importance of monitoring maternal heart health during preeclampsia pregnancies. Understanding how maternal heart health can affect the baby may change the way we approach PE management.

What kind of issues with blood flow were observed in babies when the mother has increased arterial stiffness due to preeclampsia?

In women with preeclampsia, increased carotid artery stiffness was associated with reduced blood flow in the uterine artery, umbilical artery, fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus (DV). Reduced blood flow to the uterus, umbilical cord and fetal brain can compromise fetal development and overall well-being. This suggests that maternal arterial stiffness is a critical factor influencing fetal health in preeclampsia pregnancies, underscoring the need for interventions that improve maternal vascular function to safeguard the baby's development.

What specific techniques were used in the study to measure arterial stiffness and blood flow?

The study utilized several advanced ultrasound techniques to assess both maternal and fetal cardiovascular health. Echo-tracking technology was used to measure carotid artery stiffness in the mothers. Uterine artery Doppler, umbilical artery Doppler, fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus (DV) Doppler were used to measure blood flow to the uterus, through the umbilical cord and in the fetal brain and heart, respectively. These measurements allowed researchers to correlate maternal arterial stiffness with fetal blood flow dynamics, providing valuable insights into the impact of preeclampsia on both mother and baby.

What are the potential implications of this study for managing future pregnancies affected by preeclampsia?

The key implication is that assessing arterial stiffness, specifically of the carotid artery, in pregnant women with preeclampsia could serve as an early indicator of potential risks to the baby's health. Early detection enables timely interventions aimed at improving maternal vascular function, potentially leading to better outcomes for both mother and child. Understanding the correlation between maternal heart health and fetal well-being opens avenues for developing targeted strategies to manage preeclampsia and optimize pregnancy outcomes. However, further research is needed to explore specific interventions that can effectively reduce arterial stiffness and improve blood flow in these pregnancies.