Preeclampsia affects 5 to 7 percent of women in pregnancy. It will be diagnosed if your blood pressure exceeds 140/90. Left untreated, preeclampsia can damage your kidneys, cause clotting disorders and lead to seizures or even death. It also places your baby at risk of oxygen and nutrient deprivation by damaging the blood vessels of the placenta according to a review by Dr. Lana Wagner in the December 2004 issue of "American Family Physician." Following your blood pressure at home is one way to help insure an early diagnosis and optimal outcome for you and your baby,
Step 1
Choose an automated blood pressure monitoring system that does not require calibration and has a properly fitting cuff. Measure you upper arm to determine the size of the cuff you'll need. If this measurement is over 12 1/2 inches you will need a large cuff size to insure accuracy, according to the June 2010 Guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension.
Step 2
Preeclampsia can begin as early as the 20th week of pregnancy so start your daily blood pressure measurements at that point. Lay on your left side for 10 minutes before doing the test to allow your blood pressure to reach its lowest level. Place the blood pressure cuff on your upper arm noting any placement marks on the devise and push the start button. The cuff will inflate and then slowly deflate before flashing a reading. Record this reading in your journal. Report your findings to your physician or nurse-midwife immediately if the bottom number or diastolic reading is over 90 or the top number, the systolic pressure, is over 140, in accord with the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Step 3
Know when to go to the hospital if you are monitoring preeclampsia. If your diastolic blood pressure, which is shown by the lower number, exceeds 110 on two tests done no less than six hours apart, a diagnosis of severe preelampsia is made and hospitalization is required to protect you and your unborn child. If one of your readings is this high, call your health care provider. Unless you have excessive swelling in your face and hands, a headache, blurred vision, very little output when you urinate, a tender belly or decreased fetal movement, they may ask you rest on your left side for six hours and retest. If you decide to wait for that time, make sure an adult is present who could immediately take you to the hospital. If any of those symptoms are present or your second testing still shows a diastolic blood pressure above 110, go immediately to the hospital, calling an ambulance if necessary.
Things You'll Need
- Automated blood pressure monitor
- Journal
References
- "American Family Physician";Diagnosis and Management of Preeclampsia; Lana Wagner, M.D.; December 2004
- "Journal of Human Hypertension"; European Society of Hypertension Practice Guidelines for Home Blood Pessure Monitoring; C. Parati et al; June 2010
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:Diagnosis and Management of Preeclampsia and Eclampsia: 2002
