Understanding Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that generally begins after 20 weeks and affects up to 8% of pregnancies. Elevated blood pressure, elevated protein in your urine, and/or other biomarkers of organ damage are often (but not always) accompanied by

• persistent headache
• changes in vision
• pain in the upper right belly or shoulder
• sudden weight gain
• difficulty breathing
• onset of nausea, queasiness, or vomiting,
• sudden swelling of arms, legs, feet or face​

Sometimes, symptoms of preeclampsia do not begin until after delivery, when it is called “postpartum preeclampsia”.​

For some people, there are no obvious signs of preeclampsia, which is why close monitoring by an expert medical provider, especially if you are at risk for preeclampsia, is essential for prevention, early detection, and effective management.

Preeclampsia differs from gestational hypertension in that GH shows as elevated blood pressure (higher than 140/90) during pregnancy without signs of protein in the urine or any of the other symptoms listed above. Gestational hypertension is differentiated from chronic hypertension by identifying when the hypertension began, before pregnancy or during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia treatment options are dependent on a variety of factors including gestational age, health of the baby, health of the pregnant person, preexisting risk factors for preeclampsia development and progress, as well as severity and rate of progression of symptoms. It is also dependent on the criteria set up by your provider, which is why it is essential that you are clear on what your provider’s and delivering hospital’s guidelines are.

We have worked with private clients who were surprised in their previous pregnancy by how conservative their medical team’s approach to preeclampsia management was, resulting in a late preterm birth that could have been avoided with lifestyle management or neurobiological support.

However, the safety of the pregnant person and the baby are of utmost importance. So, if elevated blood pressure is not responding to neurobiological and medical interventions, there is evidence of kidney, liver or other organ failure, your provider may want to treat with antihypertensive medications and/or magnesium sulfate. Other providers may want to induce or encourage delivery in these instances.

If there is any sign of imminent seizure or stroke, fetal distress or impacted fetal growth or if the pregnant person is not responding to medical management, or if medical management is not a viable option, your provider may encourage you to deliver the baby regardless of gestational age.

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that generally begins after 20 weeks and affects up to 8% of pregnancies. Elevated blood pressure, elevated protein in your urine, and/or other biomarkers of organ damage are often (but not always) accompanied by

• persistent headache
• changes in vision
• pain in the upper right belly or shoulder
• sudden weight gain
• difficulty breathing
• onset of nausea, queasiness, or vomiting,
• sudden swelling of arms, legs, feet or face​

Sometimes, symptoms of preeclampsia do not begin until after delivery, when it is called “postpartum preeclampsia”.

For some people, there are no obvious signs of preeclampsia, which is why close monitoring by an expert medical provider, especially if you are at risk for preeclampsia, is essential for prevention, early detection, and effective management.

Preeclampsia differs from gestational hypertension in that GH shows as elevated blood pressure (higher than 140/90) during pregnancy without signs of protein in the urine or any of the other symptoms listed above. Gestational hypertension is differentiated from chronic hypertension by identifying when the hypertension began, before pregnancy or during pregnancy.

Reducing the risk or preventing preeclampsia

Standard approaches that your medical team may review with you include:

• Effectively managing hypertension and blood sugar levels before pregnancy. This can be done with lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, quality sleep, completing threat cycles, etc.) and/or medication.
   
• Baby aspirin during your next pregnancy may be a consideration for you based on your specific health history. The exact start date for your baby aspirin will depend on your history, your risk factors and your health. We encourage you to schedule a preconception appointment with your high-risk OB (and REI specialist if you have one) to specify a plan for your next pregnancy.
   
• A recommendation to space out pregnancies by approximately 18 months, according to the March of Dimes.

Additionally, neurobiological, trauma-informed approaches that we have seen work to prevent preeclampsia in our clients’ subsequent pregnancies include:

• Neurosensory practices to restore regulation to the nervous system via building somatic capacity, activating and releasing stored survival stress.​​
   
• Restoring sensorimotor functionality
   
• Rebuilding a healthcare team that centers you as the patient and actively works to protect you from medical trauma
   
• Improving your overall health pre-pregnancy by supporting neuro-endo-immune regulation
   
• Adjusting neuro-endo-immune health supports to match each stage of pregnancy.