*2.1. Cardiovascular and Hemodynamic Variables*

The groups di ffered in their blood pressure levels and related variables at rest (baseline; mean arterial pressure (MAP), *F*(2,121) = 5.1, *p* < 0.01; systolic blood pressure (SBP), *F*(2,121) = 3.1, *p* < 0.05; diastolic blood pressure (DBP), *F*(2,121) = 4.7, *p* < 0.05), stroke index (*F*(2,121) = 6.1, *p* < 0.01), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), *F*(2,121) = 7.3, *p* < 0.01). Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc tests indicated moderately elevated blood pressure levels in the nonpathological range, reduced stroke volume, and elevated systemic vascular resistance in women previously a ffected by preeclampsia. Group means can be obtained from Table 1.

**Table 1.** Hemodynamic variables (mean ± SD) of participants, and statistical results for group di fferences in response to the stress manipulation. CO: women without gestation during the last three years; UP: women with uncomplicated pregnancies; PE: women with a history of preeclampsia; BP: blood pressure; SVRI: systemic vascular resistance index.


The analyses of group di fferences in the time course of cardiovascular changes across the stress manipulation revealed di fferences between groups in changes of heart rate and systemic vascular resistance (significant interactions period x group). The di fferent time courses are illustrated in Figure 1 (heart rate) and Figure 2 (SVRI). While women without previous pregnancy showed the typical pattern of activation and recovery, women with uncomplicated pregnancies and, even more so, women with former preeclampsia showed blunted responses during the memory task. No significant di fferences were found for stress-induced changes in blood pressure variables and stroke index. Details of the statistical findings can be found in Table 1.

**Figure 1.** Barplot of the standardized residualized change scores for heart rate (HR).

**Figure 2.** Barplot of the standardized residualized change scores for the systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI).

Women with mild vs. severe preeclampsia did not differ in HR and SVRI levels in resting conditions (baseline; all *p* values >0.504), and no differences were seen among women with early preeclampsia (<34 weeks), preterm preeclampsia (<37 weeks), and women with term preeclampsia (baseline; all *p* values >0.185) Neither did the time courses of changes across the stress manipulation differ between women with mild vs. severe preeclampsia (period x PE-group, all *p* values >0.123; period, all *p* values >0.191), nor were differences seen between early, preterm, and term preeclampsia (period x PE-time, all *p* values >0.221; period, all *p* values >0.144).

### *2.2. Respiration Rate and Baroreflex Sensitivity*

The three groups did not differ in respiration rate (*F*(2,121) = 2.3, *p* = 0.107) and BRS (*F*(2,121) = 0.7, *p* = 0.501) in resting conditions (baseline). Changes of respiration rate and baroreflex sensitivity across the stress manipulation did not differ between groups (interactions period x group not significant; for details, see Table 2).


**Table 2.** Respiration rate and baroreflex sensitivity (mean ± SD) of participants, and statistical results for group differences in response to the stress manipulation. CO: women without gestation during the last three years; UP: women with uncomplicated pregnancies; PE: women with a history of preeclampsia.

Respiration rate and BRS at rest did not differ between women with mild vs. severe preeclampsia, nor for women with early, preterm, or term preeclampsia (baseline; all *p* values >0.332 and all *p* values >0.665, respectively). Differences between mild and severe preeclampsia in the time courses of changes across the stress manipulation were also nonsignificant (interaction period x PE-group, all *p* values >0.317; main effect period, respiration rate: (*F*(1.5,49.0) = 6.0, *p* < 0.01; BRS: (*F*(2,64) = 4.3, *p* < 0.05)). Differences between early, preterm, and term preeclampsia in the time courses of changes across the stress manipulation were also nonsignificant (interaction period x PE-time, all *p* values >0.330; main effect period, respiration rate: (*F*(1.6,48.6) = 5.5, *p* < 0.05; BRS: (*F*(2,62) = 4.6, *p* < 0.05)).

#### *2.3. Adjustment of Blood Pressure, R–R Intervals, and Respiration*
