1. Take it Slow
When you are initially diagnosed with mild preeclampsia (also known as toxemia), your doctor will likely instruct you to slow down on your activities. That may include staying off your feet for a large part of the day and avoiding activities, like grocery shopping, that require a lot of walking. Additionally, you'll probably be required to check your blood pressure periodically and do fetal kick tests to make sure your baby is staying active in the womb. You'll have to go to the doctor's office for urine tests, sonograms and non-stress tests.
2. Stay in Bed
If your condition starts off more serious or fails to improve with restricted activities, your doctor will likely make you go on modified bed rest. Modified bed rest means staying relaxed in bed (or on a couch) for most of the day. Getting up to walk around the house a little is acceptable in order to prevent blood clots. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about what positions you can rest in and how much you can walk around. While bed rest isn't a cure for preeclampsia, staying relaxed helps you to keep your blood pressure down. This, in turn, helps you stay pregnant longer and gives the baby more time to mature. Your doctor will monitor you carefully to determine if or when you need to be hospitalized.
3. Prepare for Hospitalization
If you are not yet at 37 weeks into your pregnancy but develop a moderate or severe case of preeclampsia, you will probably be hospitalized immediately and until you deliver. If you are past 37 weeks, you will probably be induced. During hospitalization, you will be on bed rest, and you will be given frequent tests to monitor your blood pressure, protein in your urine and the health of the baby. Sonograms are used to measure amniotic fluid and make sure there is enough for the baby. Low amniotic fluid can indicate that the baby is in danger. Additionally, you will probably be given a variety of medications.
4. Medications to Manage the Pregnancy
While in the hospital, you will likely be given magnesium sulfate intravenously. This medication helps to prevent seizures caused by your high blood pressure. You may also get a medication like hydralazine to manage your blood pressure. If you're at less than 34 weeks of gestation, you'll probably also receive some corticosteroids to both try to keep you pregnant longer and help your baby's lungs mature faster. If you are more advanced in your pregnancy, you can expect to have to deliver early.
5. Early Delivery May Be Necessary
The only cure for preeclampsia is delivery. If your condition gets bad enough that it threatens your life and your baby's life, your baby will definitely be delivered early. This can either be done through medical induction or a C-section. The goal is to keep you pregnant long enough for your baby to develop to the point at which he can thrive in the outside world. If your pregnancy becomes dangerous to you, however, your baby will probably be delivered regardless of how far along he is in gestation.
