What to Expect Before You’re Expecting: A Guide to Preconception Appointments

Preeclampsia is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. It’s also a warning sign for women to be vigilant about heart health throughout their lives.

Many assume the health risk posed by preeclampsia goes away after delivery, but having preeclampsia requires close follow-up care even beyond the postpartum period.

“If you have ever had preeclampsia, it becomes another risk factor for the development of vascular disease, even 20 to 30 years down the road,” said Dr. Mindy Gentry, a Wellstar cardiologist who specializes in heart disease during pregnancy.

The good news is that when you know, you can act.

What is preeclampsia and who is at risk?

Preeclampsia affects more than the heart. It can affect the placenta, blood vessels, kidneys and liver. It can also cause serious complications in the brain, lungs, blood system and eyes.

Women 35 and older who are pregnant have an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. So do women who are overweight or obese, and those who have diabetes or high blood pressure.

The chief warning signs for preeclampsia are sudden elevated blood pressure, significant leg swelling and shortness of breath.

Preeclampsia symptoms include

• Abdominal pain
• Blurred vision, or flashing spots or auras
• Burning sensation in the chest
• Sudden elevated blood pressure
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Leg swelling
• Heightened anxiety
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Oversensitivity to light

Short- and long-term health risks of preeclampsia

Pregnancy puts a strain on the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, blood vessels and blood. Preeclampsia signals stress in that system or an underlying susceptibility. If you’ve had preeclampsia, you have a higher risk of complications after birth.

"We tend to get this false sense of security once the pregnancy is over and the woman has delivered, that they're in the clear. But providers must continue to watch women for even up to one year after birth," Dr. Gentry said.

Women who have had preeclampsia have three to four times the risk of high blood pressure and two times the risk for heart disease and stroke later in life, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. They also have an increased risk of developing diabetes.

How to prevent preeclampsia

Preventing preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications starts before becoming pregnant.

“We encourage everyone who is planning a pregnancy to schedule an appointment with their OB/GYN for pre-pregnancy counseling. That’s particularly important if you have any kind of cardiac history or risk factors of significant cardiac issues,” Dr. Gentry said.

Preeclampsia most often happens 20 weeks or later into pregnancy. If a patient’s blood pressure suddenly shoots up, providers may recommend delivering early.

“Our goal is to follow patients and prevent them from getting to that point by controlling blood pressure during pregnancy,” Dr. Gentry said. “Hopefully, we can also prevent complications down the road.”

Follow-up care when you’ve had preeclampsia

Follow-up checklist from Dr. Gentry if you’ve had preeclampsia

• In the first six to 12 weeks after birth: Visit your OB/GYN for follow-up visits. Make an appointment with your primary care provider. Continue to monitor your blood pressure. Be on the lookout for any warning signs—the same ones you learned about during pregnancy.
• Within the first year after birth: See your primary care team and get a cardiovascular baseline reading that includes blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, height and weight.
• Look into cardiac care: It may be appropriate to add a cardiologist to your healthcare team. Your provider may recommend seeing a cardiologist if you continue to have high blood pressure or have risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, obesity or diabetes.

If you’ve had preeclampsia, it’s important to commit to a healthy lifestyle with

• Exercise
• Good nutrition
• Limited or no alcohol use
• No tobacco use
• Regular preventive care visits
• Weight management

Wellstar resources for expectant mothers

Wellstar has specialists in obstetrics and cardiology to care for patients before, during and after pregnancy:

• If you’re pregnant or thinking about having a child, find a Wellstar OB/GYN near you.
• Read heart health facts every mom should know.
• Wellstar has a Cardio Obstetrics Program with specialists in maternal and postpartum care.

Whether you’re planning to grow your family, expecting a baby or navigating the early days of parenthood, Wellstar Cobb Medical Center supports women and families across Cobb County with expert, compassionate maternal care.

The Women’s Center at Wellstar Cobb was the first hospital in the Wellstar system to achieve a Level III Maternal Care designation from The Joint Commission and the Georgia Department of Public Health and open a dedicated Obstetric Emergency Department. Families have access to comprehensive services including OB/GYN care, maternal-fetal medicine, labor and delivery, a Mother/Baby Unit and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for premature and critically ill newborns. The Women’s Center also features recently refreshed spaces designed to enhance comfort and privacy, elevating the patient experience.

By combining advanced technology, family-centered care and personalized support, Wellstar Cobb creates a warm, welcoming environment where women and families feel safe, respected and supported throughout their care journey.

OB/GYN care

The OB/GYNs at Wellstar Cobb provide personalized care for women through every stage of life. Our team offers a range of maternal services, including:

• Family planning and sexual health
• Prenatal care and delivery
• High-risk pregnancy care
• Postpartum care and support
• Infertility evaluation and treatment

Beyond pregnancy and postpartum care, OB/GYNs also support women’s long-term health through preventive screenings, gynecologic care, menopause care and wellness services tailored to individual needs.

Maternal-fetal medicine

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists care for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. These experts work closely with OB/GYNs to monitor both mother and baby, helping families navigate complex conditions with clarity and confidence.

At Wellstar Cobb, our maternal-fetal medicine team treats women with high-risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, infectious diseases and multiple births. Specialists also use advanced imaging, genetic screening and fetal monitoring to help identify and manage complications as early as possible.

Women experiencing high-risk pregnancies may receive care in the hospital’s dedicated antepartum unit (APU), where specialized nurses partner closely with maternal-fetal medicine physicians to support patients with personalized care and education.

APU care teams also create opportunities for comfort, connection and encouragement during extended hospital stays—from baby showers to themed experiences—helping patients feel supported throughout their pregnancy journey.

Labor and delivery

Wellstar Cobb offers maternity services designed to help mothers and babies stay safe and comfortable throughout labor, delivery and recovery. Because every birth experience is different, care teams prioritize shared decision-making and support birth plans that include midwives and doulas.

Labor and delivery teams work closely with NICU specialists whenever advanced support or monitoring is needed. The onsite Level III NICU allows newborn specialists to provide immediate care for mothers and babies. Wellstar Cobb provides care for both routine and high-risk deliveries, including babies born as early as 22 weeks.

Care continues beyond delivery, with teams across the Women's Center working together to support families as they prepare for the transition home.

Mother/Baby Unit and Women’s Unit

Following delivery, families receive continued care in the Mother/Baby Unit, where private rooms and a family-centered couplet-care and rooming-in approach helps minimize separation between parents and babies whenever possible. Care teams support skin-to-skin contact and every family's unique feeding and bonding journey while providing education and guidance as families prepare to transition home.

In addition, the Women’s Unit provides specialized gynecologic and surgical recovery care, combining clinical excellence with emotional support to help patients navigate recovery, unexpected diagnoses and sensitive health experiences with dignity, empathy and expertise.

Admission, Discharge and Education (ADE) nurses play an important role across both units, helping families feel informed, prepared and supported throughout their stay with personalized education and discharge guidance. Their collaboration with teams across the Women's Center helps ensure seamless, coordinated care from admission through discharge.

Obstetric Emergency Department

The Obstetric Emergency Department at Wellstar Cobb provides 24/7 specialized care for patients who are 20 weeks pregnant through six weeks postpartum. Patients are evaluated directly by board-certified obstetric providers, who work closely with maternal-fetal medicine experts, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, nurses and midwives to deliver coordinated care.

Services include rapid diagnosis and treatment for urgent pregnancy concerns, fetal monitoring and ultrasound, and care for pregnancy-related or postpartum complications. Specialists also provide emotional guidance and resources for families, including support during high-risk pregnancies or loss.

“Pregnancy can bring moments of uncertainty and having immediate access to obstetric experts can make all the difference,” said Dr. Jessica Williams, OB/GYN medical director at Wellstar Cobb. “The Obstetric Emergency Department allows us to respond quickly, provide clarity and help families feel supported from the moment they walk through the door.”

NICU

Wellstar Cobb is home to a Level III NICU providing advanced care for premature and medically complex newborns. The care team includes neonatologists, neonatal nurses and respiratory therapists specially trained to care for critically ill newborns.

Having a Level III NICU in Cobb County allows families to access world-class care close to home during some of life's most critical moments. Families can remain near their support systems while their baby receives specialized care.

“Our diverse team of experienced neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners brings the highest level of training to each newborn’s care,” said Dr. Kathryn Rhyne, medical director of the NICU at Wellstar Cobb. “Treating every baby with love and compassion, we work together with our patients’ families to make their time spent in the NICU as smooth as possible.”

Recent NICU updates reflect Wellstar Cobb’s commitment to high-quality care for mothers, babies and families across Cobb County. Designed to create a bright and welcoming environment, the renovated space helps families feel more comfortable and connected during a challenging time. Parents have access to 24-hour camera streaming so they can securely check in on their baby remotely.

Lactation services and breastfeeding education are available in the NICU and across the Women’s Center. The hospital also supports a milk depot program that helps provide donor milk for premature and medically fragile infants in the NICU.

Throughout the NICU stay, care teams partner with parents in their baby's care, encouraging bonding through skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding support and involvement in care whenever possible. The goal is to help every family feel informed, supported and connected.

Resources and support

Wellstar Cobb offers educational resources and programs for patients before, during and after pregnancy.

Community outreach efforts, including an annual baby shower hosted at the hospital, invite expecting and new parents to tour the hospital, connect with community resources and learn more about topics such as car seat safety, pain management options and doula support.

My Pregnancy Journey includes trimester-specific guidance on physical and emotional changes, nutrition, wellness and medication safety. Women and families can also access classes on childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care, along with mental health and parenting resources.

Learn more about maternal care services at Wellstar Cobb.