Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is a major public health problem with substantial risks for mothers and their babies. The combination treatment sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), given for intermittent preventive therapy of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp), is one of the few existing interventions that improve outcomes for both mother and baby, despite widespread SP-resistant malaria. Compelling evidence has shown malaria-independent pathways contribute to the protective effects, but how non-malaria pathways provide protection is not known.