Preeclampsia
This is not medical advice
What is pre-eclampsia? Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that is characterized by high blood pressure along with protein in the urine, decrease blood platelets, kidney or liver problems, fluid in the lungs, brain trouble like seizures or visual disturbances.
Is there something you can do about it?
Clinically, the only treatment for preeclampsia is delivering the baby. While there is not any formal prevention of preeclampsia, UNICEF claims that poor diet during pregnancy can lead to preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications. One Cochrane review published states that the rates of preeclampsia were reduced across 3 studies with a supplementation of calcium. So would it be crazy to look to diet to help with the risk of preeclampsia?
Cue, Brewer Diet
The Brewer diet generally holds that pre-eclampsia can be avoided by eating more protein, as well as increasing salt and milk intake, and more restriction on fruits. Sure, it’s more complicated than that, it’s a full eating plan, but does it work? It seems to! During his work, Dr. Tom Brewer seems to have completely stopped preeclampsia in some populations where previous rates were around 40%!
How does preeclampsia affect my baby?
If you do need to deliver early, it’s helpful to know that babies born early have an increased risk for breathing problems, jaundice, vision problems, hearing problems, and may have problems sucking / swallowing. Babies born between 33-36 weeks are at a greater risk for a number of problems, primarily respiratory problems. Preeclampsia increases the chance of NICU admission, almost doubling it, and babies born to a mother with preeclampsia generally have longer NICU stays.
Adjusting your plans
A woman who is diagnosed with preeclampsia is more likely suffer from PTSD after birth. Because preeclampsia often leads to induction, moms may have to let go of their original birth plans.
Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition that could be potentially dangerous for you and your baby. It should never be ignored. But maybe there’s a way to get back on that original birth plan and have the birth you’ve been hoping for.
If you’re having trouble adjusting your birth plan because of preeclampsia, try to remember it was just a plan in the first place! It was never a promise, and plans change all the time!
RESOURCES
Brewer’s Diet - http://drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id96.html
https://preeclampsia.org/what-is-preeclampsia
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355751
https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/pregnancy/preeclampsia
Duley L, Henderson-Smart DJ, Meher S, King JF. Antiplatelet agents for preventing pre-eclampsia and its complications. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007;(2) doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004659.pub2.CD004659
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3087144/#sec4
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6198799/#:~:text=When%20delivery%20was%20set%20at,2%2C3