If you are expecting a child, a healthy pregnancy is likely one of your top concerns right now. Eating right, getting plenty of exercise and following the directions of your obstetrician are all important during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is one pregnancy-related condition that worries many women and is defined as high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine. If you do not receive a diagnosis and treatment, preeclampsia can be fatal for you or your baby. There are many steps you can take to increase your risk of a healthy pregnancy and decrease your risk of developing this dangerous condition.
Seek Prenatal Care
One of the most important steps to take to ensure a healthy pregnancy is to get regular prenatal care. Your obstetrician will most likely schedule an appointment once a month for the first few months of pregnancy and more often as your approach your due date. At each of these appointments your doctor will check your blood pressure to watch for an increase, which is one of the primary symptoms of preeclampsia. A urine sample will detect excess protein, another common symptom of preeclampsia. Your doctor can also make additional recommendations based on your health history.
Get Plenty of Calcium
You need a sufficient amount of calcium during pregnancy to ensure that your baby's bones, teeth and muscles develop normally. Robert W. Schrier notes in his book, "Renal and Electrolyte Disorders," that calcium may also help reduce your risk of developing preeclampsia. Increasing your calcium intake during pregnancy is particularly important if you were deficient before conception because this puts you at an increased risk for preeclampsia. Add skim milk, low-fat cheese and yogurt to your pregnancy diet to get more calcium. Calcium fortified juice is another nutritious option.
Watch Your Weight Gain
A healthy pregnancy is marked by an increase in weight as your baby grows and you sustain that growth. Being overweight or obese before pregnancy or gaining too much weight during pregnancy raises your risk of developing preeclampsia, Schrier reports. Make an appointment with your obstetrician to determine what a healthy weight gain is for your pregnancy based on your height and weight before conception. Eat a variety of nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat milk to help you get the nutrients you need without consuming too many calories.
Get More Vitamin D
As with any supplement, speak with your doctor before taking anything while you are pregnant because some vitamins and minerals can be dangerous if you consume too much during pregnancy. MayoClinic.com reports that there is some evidence that getting additional vitamin D while expecting can reduce your chance of developing preeclampsia. Your doctor may feel that you need a large dose and prescribe a supplement, but eating certain foods can also increase your intake. Skim milk contains a healthy dose of vitamin D. Fish and fortified breakfast cereals are additional food sources.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Preeclampsia
- "Renal and Electrolyte Disorders"; Robert W. Schrier; 2010
