How To Deal with Preeclampsia the Best Way Possible

The middle of pregnancy (after 20 weeks) is a common time for preeclampsia to develop. Plain and simple, this condition needs medical attention.

In this article, we will show you what happens to your body when preeclampsia appears, how it affects your baby, and how to deal with it!

What is Preeclampsia?

An abnormally high blood pressure reading during pregnancy is known as preeclampsia. In preeclampsia, the blood pressure and urine protein levels are generally elevated (proteinuria).

Preeclampsia usually begins about the 20th week of pregnancy. Additionally, it may harm the mother, her growing fetus, and other parts of the body (unborn baby). Due to its risks, it is necessary to get a diagnosis and/or care for preeclampsia from a medical professional.

What Happens When You Have Preeclampsia?

High blood pressure (more than 140/90 mmHg) and increased protein levels in the urine are symptoms of preeclampsia. Stress on your heart and other organs might lead to significant consequences if you are pregnant with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia Symptoms

Preeclampsia often goes unnoticed since the condition is not expected. Preeclampsia patients may have symptoms like high blood pressure, protein in their urine, and holding on to water, which can cause them to gain weight and swell up.

Before being diagnosed, preeclampsia might show the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Dizziness or sensitivity to bright light
• You notice dark spots in your vision.
• Pain on the right side of the abdomen
• Swelling in your hands and face (edema)
• Breathing difficulty

Preeclampsia symptoms should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible. Otherwise, preeclampsia might not be found until a woman has a prenatal visit and her blood pressure and urine are checked.

After being diagnosed, you might also find things are worse than anticipated:

• A blood pressure of up to 160/110 mmHg (sometimes greater)
• Kidney and liver dysfunction
• Fluid in the lungs
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count in the blood)
• Lower uric acid output

An emergency c-section may be necessary if your preeclampsia is severe enough that your doctor recommends that you be admitted to the hospital for more intensive monitoring. Your doctor may prescribe medicine for you if you have high blood pressure or if you want to aid in the development of the lungs of your unborn child.

Effects of Preeclampsia on the Unborn Baby

Preeclampsia may cause the mother’s blood pressure to rise, reducing the quantity of oxygen and nutrients that the baby receives. Severe episodes of hypoxia might deprive the newborn of oxygen and nutrients, affecting his or her development.

If a baby’s life is in danger because of a growth limitation, he or she must be delivered early, even prematurely.

Preeclampsia may also cause placental abruption, which causes the placenta to split from the uterine wall, resulting in heavy bleeding and abdominal discomfort for the pregnant woman. There’s a serious medical issue going on here.

How to Deal with Preeclampsia

The frequency of your prenatal visits will be determined by your OBG-YN or GP (general practitioner) if you are found to have mild preeclampsia. If you are experiencing any symptoms, you will be questioned about them and your blood pressure will be checked often. This is absolutely why watching for this is so important, and making sure that your doctor is monitoring your blood pressure and urine and that you are keeping your sodium intake and stress levels down.

It is possible that if you are diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, you will be admitted to the hospital for treatment and monitoring. The following are examples of possible therapies in mainstream medicine:

• Rest
• Medication for high blood pressure
• In addition, anticonvulsant medicine (which means calming the body from fits) is often recommended. It is for this reason; we include information regarding progesterone and transdermal forms of progesterone for the sake of addressing premature contractions.

More reading about The Health Benefits of Forskolin on the positive influence of high blood pressure.

NOTE: To date, there are no FDA-approved drugs that can cure preeclampsia. It is only the symptoms of preeclampsia that are addressed. One concern is inflammation and premature contractions leading to premature birth. According to one study: Progesterone treatment to help prevent premature birth is considered due to its roles in the female cycle and gestation. By avoiding premature contractions, you can at least help to divide the issues preeclampsia brings.

Varying concentrations of progesterone creams can be used for different symptoms, personal health profiles, and perceived needs. An example of higher-concentration transdermal progesterone creams might be doctor-recommended PMS balance cream, while for the standard concentration, but in an organic base, USP progesterone fertile balance cream might be an option.

If you had preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy, a DHEA cream may be beneficial before future pregnancies. This is so that your body can learn to make the hormones necessary for conception, sustaining a pregnancy, and normal gestation.

Unfortunately, preeclampsia can only be “cured” if the baby is delivered and the placenta is removed. So, in essence, birth is the absolute end of preeclampsia’s temporary hold. The goal is to have the healthiest pregnancy possible and to make it to at least 37 weeks or beyond.

Who Is More Likely to Get Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia may be more prevalent for moms of older age but it is not only age-related. Preeclampsia is a medical mystery about which doctors are baffled. However, you may be at greater risk if you have any of the following:

• Someone with hypertension, renal disease, or diabetes in the family
• A history of preeclampsia in one’s family
• Lupus and other autoimmune conditions
• Obesity

What is Preeclampsia Blood Pressure?

The specific measures vary from woman to woman, but the common measures are:

• Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg
• A minimum of 30 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure
• An increase in diastolic blood pressure of at least 15 mm Hg

10 Preeclampsia FAQs: Read on to Know the Answers

Question #1: Can you have preeclampsia without high blood pressure?

Usually, it doesn’t happen. However, there are some unique cases of pregnant women with proteinuria who develop a severe form of atypical preeclampsia but have not shown an increase in blood pressure.

Question #2: What causes preeclampsia?

Nobody knows for sure. Preeclampsia may result from an issue with the placenta’s health (the nutritive, connective sac that develops in the uterus during pregnancy and is responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus). Preeclampsia may cause a reduction in blood flow to the placenta, which may have a negative impact on both the mother and the baby.

Question #3: Is preeclampsia a result of stress?

Preeclampsia is not directly caused by stress, but stress may have an effect on blood pressure. If possible, avoid stressful events and learn to control your stress while you’re pregnant. Consider something as simple as stress gummies in your daily life.

Question #4: What week of pregnancy does preeclampsia usually start?

There are a few cases when preeclampsia begins before the 20th week of pregnancy, but this is rare. At or near term, most preeclampsia occurs (near to 37 weeks of gestation). Postpartum preeclampsia, which often develops during the first few days to a week after birth, is another kind of preeclampsia. It may start weeks after birth, although it is quite rare.

Question #5: Is preeclampsia going to harm my baby in any way?

In certain cases, preeclampsia may lead to premature birth (your baby needing to be delivered early). Babies who are born too soon are more likely to have health problems like being too small at birth or having trouble breathing. Normally, preeclampsia concerns have to do with the baby being delivered too early to survive. If your doctor says rest, then rest. Now is the time to take are of you. You’ll have years ahead to care for others. Your baby’s life can depend upon it!

Question #6: If preterm labor contractions are often tied to low progesterone, then what causes low progesterone in pregnancy?

Low progesterone symptoms or a low progesterone level test result might have many causes.

The following are some of the most typical explanations to consider now or before other pregnancies:

• Part of an Anovulatory Cycle

This refers to a cycle in which ovulation does not take place. There is no corpus luteum (the follicle that produces progesterone) since no egg is released. People with PCOS and those on specific forms of birth control often experience this.

• Hypothyroidism

Thyroid disorders may produce low progesterone, but vice versa is also true: low progesterone can induce thyroid difficulties. An underactive thyroid is referred to as hypothyroidism. To put it another way, it implies you’re not producing or regulating enough of the hormones that control your endocrine system, which might make it difficult to have a healthy enough egg to provide enough progesterone from the start.

• Low Cholesterol Level

Progesterone is synthesized by the body by converting cholesterol or by using bioidentical, transdermal supplementation. So, since pregnancy requires progesterone, have your cholesterol checked or your hormone levels checked by your doctor or with a ZRT saliva hormone test kit at home.

• High Cortisol Levels

Progesterone production is inhibited when the body generates excessive levels of cortisol (also known as the stress hormone). This research suggests that chronic stress might make it harder for women to generate adequate progesterone. Something as simple as breathing in lavender essential oil or doing deep breathing exercises like yoga, may significantly help to lower cortisol.

• Hyperprolactinemia

The pituitary gland overproduces the hormone prolactin, which causes this illness. Because prolactin interferes with the creation of sex hormone precursors, it decreases the synthesis of progesterone and causes menstrual cycle disruption (up to the complete absence of menstruation). Oftentimes breastfeeding during the time of conception or high levels of estradiol can also interfere with progesterone and even testosterone levels.

To put it another way, the body makes less progesterone when prolactin levels are elevated. Because of this, menstrual cycles might get off track or even stop. One way to lower prolactin is to lower your amount of dairy products. Breastfeeding can also prevent pregnancy or even cause miscarriage if your progesterone is low because of it. Again, at home saliva testing is a non-invasive way to find out about your hormone levels.

Question #7: Can a pregnancy survive with low progesterone?

While some women who have had a miscarriage have lower levels of progesterone, it’s not clear if low progesterone always leads to miscarriage. It is only one of many reasons but a very popular, easy to solve one. Read about the benefits of progesterone in pregnancy and maybe have some on hand. Studies show numerous benefits of progesterone in pregnancy; for mother and baby.

Question #8: What are the signs of low progesterone in pregnancy?

If you’re not expecting a child, the following are signs of low progesterone:

• Decreased libido
• Hot flashes, migraines, and other types of headaches are all symptoms of menopause.
• The irregularity or absence of a menstrual period
• Progesterone is essential for pregnant women to keep their uterus healthy till delivery. Pregnancy may be difficult if your levels are too low.

When a pregnant woman has low levels of progesterone, she may have the following symptoms:

• Spotting
• Low blood sugar levels
• Painful breasts
• Exhaustion
• Dry vaginal/cervical fluid

Hormones such as progesterone and estrogen work well together. When there is not enough progesterone, estrogen becomes the dangerously dominant hormone in the body. This hormone imbalance might cause you:

• Depression
• Mood fluctuations
• Weight gain
• Periods that don’t come on time
• Sensitive breasts

If your progesterone levels are too low, your doctor may order a simple blood test called a PGSN. If you’re having difficulty conceiving, this test may help you find out why, confirm that you’ve ovulated, and discuss options.

Question #9: Does progesterone raise or lower blood pressure?

In a study published in 2001, researchers discovered a link between progesterone and vascular effects.

This suggests that progesterone, which is not estrogen, may also have an effect on the blood vessels. The researchers observed that norepinephrine, which generally raises blood pressure, had a different effect on the blood pressure response to progesterone than did norepinephrine.

It’s not the first-time progesterone has been studied for its effects on high blood pressure. As far back as 1985, a small study was done on people with high blood pressure who were using progesterone replacement.

Six males and four postmenopausal women were studied, and it was shown that taking progesterone dramatically reduced blood pressure. In light of these findings, progesterone may help lower blood pressure when it is connected to a hormonal issue, but more studies are being done.

Question #10: How can I raise progesterone levels naturally?

By consuming a diet rich in minerals and nutrients, you can help your body produce healthier eggs and balance hormones, including a better result of progesterone. These foods work well, despite the fact that they do not contain progesterone themselves.

• Magnesium-Rich Food

Magnesium deficiency affects approximately 25-30% of women in developed countries. Magnesium intake for women over the age of 19 should be at least 320 milligrams per day, and that quantity should rise with age. With the help of magnesium, your body may be able to use calcium and vitamin D better. One way to raise magnesium levels is through encapsulated supplementation, such as magnesium bisglycinate supplement.

An underactive pituitary gland isn’t producing enough follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, or thyroid-stimulating chemicals, which means that without ovulation, your body will likely generate less progesterone than it should.

• Dark Chocolate

You may increase your magnesium levels by eating chocolate! A single 1 oz serving contains 64 milligrams. Real dark chocolate, as low in sugar as possible, is the best option. 80-90% cacao has the most benefit since it is so low in sugar but it may take some getting used to. Chocolate sweetened with coconut sugar is a great choice. It’s also a good source of antioxidants, which may aid in the battle against illness by boosting the immune system.

• Nuts

Magnesium is found in almonds, cashews, and Brazil nuts with an average of 82mg per serving. Snack on them or add them to your salads or smoothies for a nutritious boost. Nuts are an excellent source of dietary fiber as well.

• Tofu

Vegetarians and vegans may find eating tofu a difficult concept to grasp at first but will soon be reaping the benefits. Consider the 53 milligrams of magnesium you’ll get from 3.5 ounces of this. This serving size also has 10 grams of protein and 10% of the daily recommended amounts of iron, calcium, selenium, and manganese.

• Avocados

Guacamole and avocado toast are great ways to get a full 58 mg of magnesium from a medium avocado. Each little avocado is rich in B vitamins, potassium, and monounsaturated fats that are excellent for the heart. Good fats abound in this treasure food during pregnancy. You might even find frozen avocado in your freezer section; making it even easier to add into your smoothies or for a quick bowl of guacamole.

• Legumes

You’ll find everything from lentils to peas to your favorite beans here. Serve them in a soup or as a side dish for your lunch or supper, depending on your preference. One cup of cooked black beans provides 120 milligrams of magnesium.

• Foods high in vitamin B6

Hormone regulation is another function of vitamin B6. According to a study, progesterone levels and estrogen levels may be improved by increasing the quantity of vitamins B-6 taken daily from 200 to 800 mg per day. Other research suggests that fertility can be increased by up to 120 percent and miscarriage rates reduced by up to 50 percent.

Women between the ages of 19 and 50 are advised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to consume at least 1.3 mg per day if they are not pregnant. Women over the age of 51 are required to take 1.5 mg of vitamin B6 a day.

• Salmon

Vitamin B6 is found in six ounces of salmon, which is 94% of the required daily intake. Tuna, snapper, and mahi-mahi are also rich in B6 concentrations.

• Eggs

No matter how you cook them, just 2 Vitamin B6 loaded eggs will provide 10% of your daily intake.

• Milk

8 oz of milk provides 5 mg of Vitamin B6.

• Carrots

Instead of anything with a lot of sugar and calories, you can eat carrots as a snack if a glass of milk is not your thing.

• Zinc-Rich Foods

Research conducted by the WHO has shown that around 12% of Americans have zinc deficiency symptoms. Consider zinc, another mineral that helps your pituitary gland control hormones. FSH levels may be boosted by using this supplement as well. Balancing progesterone and estrogen may be your result as well.

At least 8 mg per day is suggested for women over the age of 19 who are pregnant or nursing. Because zinc can’t be stored in the body, you need to eat meals that contain zinc every day. At first, zinc can make you feel a little off. Take it slowly and increase your intake little by little. Zinc is a great immune booster against viruses as well.

• Oysters

Zinc may be found in oysters, which are a great source of the mineral. Six medium-sized oysters provide 32 mg, which is 290 percent of what your body requires each day. Crab, shrimp, and muscle meat are other excellent sources, providing 14% of your daily needs per 100 grams.

• Seeds

The zinc found in pumpkin, squash, and sesame seeds is a great source of energy for your body each day. They are also a wonderful source of fiber and healthy fats, which are important for a balanced diet.

• Whole-grains

Because of the presence of the antinutrient phytate, zinc absorption from whole grains may be reduced. But it’s worth it to include them in your diet since they include other essential minerals, such as magnesium, that also help to raise progesterone levels.

• Vegetables

Eggs are a good source of B6 and zinc, so consider including veggies with them in your morning omelet. Peas, potatoes, and green beans are some of the veggies you may include in your diet to make zinc an easier addition.

• Yogurt with fewer calories and fat

This is a fantastic meal to include in your diet. By avoiding unhealthy options, you also get the zinc your body needs to keep its progesterone levels at a healthy level. Don’t offset zinc with added sugar. Instead, use fruit juice sweetened or add fruit to vanilla yogurt that has no added sweetener.

Final Thoughts

The only cure for preeclampsia is to birth the baby. Medical staff should monitor you regularly before the baby is born.

As soon as your condition is identified, a doctor or nurse will suggest that you get more tests and, if necessary, treatment. After the procedure, you may be able to go home and keep up with your regular check-ups.

Don’t forget to visit our shop to find the best progesterone creams for help with premature contractions; one of the preeclampsia symptoms.