Prenatal & Postpartum Preeclampsia: Signs to Watch For
Show Notes:
[1:11] Our Reviewer of the Week is HannahBelle02, and she says, “Hi my name is Hannah and I’m currently 26 weeks pregnant and found this podcast back when me and my husband first started trying. All of the information in this podcast is easy to digest and non bias. I love hearing about all of my options for birth and learning about all the ways my partner can support me throughout. We recently began taking the My Essential Birth course and we are feeling confident and educated as we get closer to our due date. Absolutely recommend to anybody looking for ways to feel more prepared and in control of your birth no matter what that looks like for you!”
I absolutely love when I hear you guys say that you felt “confident and prepared” when it came to your birth! Whether that be medicated or unmedicated, if you have all the knowledge and information, you can make a decision that is right for you! 💜
[2:28] Today’s topic is about preeclampsia. This is a topic that has been coming up a lot in my DM’s and email inbox from mamas. We’ll also talk about post-eclampsia. You can always reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any topic requests! 🙋🏼♀️
[4:11] What is preeclampsia? It’s a condition that creates a situation where mom and baby are trying to decide if baby is safer in the belly or out of the belly and how long mom can go before talking about induction. 🤔
[5:08] Preeclampsia is determined by your blood pressure and protein in your urine. At every visit with your provider, they will check for high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling in the hands, feet, or face. (Remember that sometimes women experience higher blood pressure readings because of their anxiety and stress with visiting the doctor or being nervous.) 😱
[7:31] Between 5-8% or one in 25 women will get preeclampsia. It’s not uncommon, but it’s just something for you to keep an eye on and understand how to prevent it or how to manage it if you are diagnosed with it. 😖
[8:47] The different stages of preeclampsia range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms are elevated blood pressure, water retention, and protein in the urine. Severe symptoms also include headache and vision changes along with nausea. Difficulty breathing, fatigue, pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, decreased urine output, decreased platelet levels, and even impaired liver function. The most severe stage, eclampsia, is when a mom is at risk of having seizures. 😩
[10:28] How does this affect mom? If untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as liver and kidney failure. It normally does not happen until the last four weeks of pregnancy. Moms can also develop the HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes) syndrome and a low platelet count, which affects the breakdown of red blood cells, the body’s ability to clot blood, and how the liver functions. 🩸
[12:36] How does it affect the baby? Preeclampsia will prevent the placenta from getting enough blood, oxygen, and food. If preeclampsia is detected and treated early, the baby will still be born healthy. 👶🏻
[13:46] If you’re before 37 weeks, your provider will most likely recommend rest and lying on your left side to take weight off of the baby. Plus your major blood vessels are able to pump more efficiently to baby. You’ll also need to increase your water intake and add more protein to your diet. You cannot reverse preeclampsia once it presents itself. If you’re after 37 weeks, you may be given blood pressure medication, steroids for baby’s lungs, put on bed rest, and scheduled for an induction. 😴
[15:23] Who is at risk? If you’ve previously had pre-eclampsia, you’re likely to have it again. If women in your family have had it, you’re carrying multiples, younger than 20 or older than 40, have a BMI over 30, or if you’ve had blood pressure/kidney disease before becoming pregnant, you’re more at risk. ⏱️
[15:49] What causes preeclampsia? Some believe it has to do with the improper function of the placenta including insufficient blood flow to the placenta. The exact cause isn’t known. 🤷🏻♀️
[16:13] How can you prevent preeclampsia? There’s not a 100% guaranteed way to do this, but you can try these preventative measures:
- Eat a high protein, well-balanced diet
- Stay active
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day
- Avoid caffeine and sugar
- Take a low dose aspirin
[18:42] Your provider will likely suggest that you start taking a low-dose Aspirin every day. 💊
[20:07] Let’s talk about postpartum preeclampsia. It can happen quickly and without any previous signs. It will likely be within the first six weeks postpartum. Signs to watch for:
- Elevated blood pressure postpartum
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Severe headaches
- Seeing spots or having any kind of vision changes
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling or that edema in your hands, feet, legs, or face
[22:00] For postpartum eclampsia, treatment would be an IV drip of magnesium or medication to slow your blood pressure down. 🩺
[27:17] Be sure to check in with yourself and listen to your body! If you’re noticing signs of preeclampsia, call a nurse or speak to your provider. It is a serious condition and you want to take care of it as quickly as possible. 📱
While prenatal and postpartum preeclampsia is not uncommon for women, there are still some signs to watch for and things you can do to prevent it. Even if you are diagnosed, there are still choices you can make for what is best for you and your baby's health. ❤️
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