RaMa Mama Doula Share: Preeclampsia - What Is It and How Do We Navigate Around It?

Every pregnancy and every family is so different. With how complex the human body is and with how many different moving parts that are needed to fall into place in order to have a healthy pregnancy and birth, it is important to check in with your doctor or midwife throughout your pregnancy. One of the things they check at every visit is blood pressure. High blood pressure is one indication that the mother may be suffering from Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is one of the many possible complications during a woman's pregnancy, and it affects between 5-8% of all expectant mothers in the U.S. It can be extremely dangerous, so it is important to be aware of the signs, as it usually develops around the 20th week of pregnancy. Besides high blood pressure, if there are high levels of protein in the urine (proteinuria) which indicate that there is kidney damage, or any signs of organ damage throughout the entire body, then the woman may be suffering from Preeclampsia. Decreased levels of platelets in the blood, severe headaches, changes in vision, shortness of breath, upper belly pain, nausea, vomiting, sudden weight gain, sudden appearance of edema, or increased liver enzymes are other signs of Preeclampsia. It can also develop after the baby is delivered, which is called Postpartum Preeclampsia. These are all possible signs of the disease, but why would this happen during your pregnancy?

Experts that research this disease say that Preeclampsia most likely begins in the placenta. The placenta is the sack that the baby grows in, gets nourished by, and breathes through during the entire 40 weeks of pregnancy. When the placenta is first formed, new blood vessels develop and grow into a more evolved state that can then supply nutrients and oxygen for the baby. For some reason, women with Preeclampsia have a hard time with this process, and the blood vessels are not able to develop or work properly. This directly effects the blood pressure of the mother. Mothers are at even higher risk of Preeclampsia when they have had it in a previous pregnancy, when there are multiple baby births (twins, triplets, etc.), or when the mother has had chronic high blood pressure, Type 1 or 2 Diabetes, Kidney Disease, Autoimmune Diseases, or has used in vitro fertilization to get pregnant. Also, there is a greater risk for Black women, Indigenous women, obese women, pregnancies after the age of 35, first-time mothers, mothers with a family history of the disease, past complications in pregnancy, and mothers who have waited 10+ years to have their second child. 60% more Black women will develop this condition, which proves that systemic racism and biased healthcare professionals that are also part of the problem. A big reason for it manifesting in some women more than others is because they have had less access to health care, have experienced social inequities, or have experienced chronic health problems. Lower income levels prove to create a greater risk for Preeclampsia in families because of their lack of access to quality health care.

Once a mother has been diagnosed with Preeclampsia, is there a cure or medication that can help? What can happen to her and the baby? Well, it is recommended that a low-dose aspirin (81-milligram tablet daily after 12 weeks of pregnancy) is taken for high-risk mothers. Doctors and midwives will be able to confirm that this is the right or wrong thing to do on an individual basis. Diet has also proven to be an important area that can help to lower the risk of Preeclampsia. Inflammation, oxidative stress, blood pressure, and placenta development can be supported by simply eating the right foods. A 2022 study on over 700,000 people concluded that a diet with ultra-processed foods could increase the risk of Preeclampsia by 30%. Eating 1.25 cups of fresh fruit daily can lower the risk by 20%. Eating fruits and vegetables at least three times a week can significantly reduce the risk. Nuts, seeds, beans, and dark leafy greens with a lot of calcium can support balancing the blood pressure. Getting at least 1000mg of calcium daily will make a big difference. Fiber and Vitamin D also help to regulate cholesterol and inflammation, and can reduce the risk of Preeclampsia by 66%. If this disease persists, it can lead to serious health risks for the mother and baby like a premature birth, low birth weight, placental abruption, eclampsia, heart disease, diabetes, kidney problems, organ failure, or even death of the mother and the baby. From thinking positively, to eating better, to getting checked regularly, there are ways to significantly reduce the risks to having Preeclampsia. Every challenge poses the potential of overcoming it when we take the time to make the best choices for ourselves and our unborn child. As this disease can really spring upon us whether we do the "right things" or not, it is also important to have faith in the process and take care of our mental, spiritual, and physical wellbeing no matter what manifests.