Lowering the Risk of Toxemia
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
Hi. I was hoping you could help me. I am now in the midst of trying for a third child. My last 2 pregnancies were horrible. I had toxemia for both and had to be put on blood pressure pills. Both were emergency c-sections. My last pregnancy was even worse they had to deliver her at 7 months because she was not growing and was showing signs of distress.
We almost lost my little one and I'm scared of what the next outcome may be. People think I'm crazy for trying again but I want just one more. Do you think it's possible to have a normal pregnancy given my history? Any feedback you could offer would be much appreciated.
Thank-you so much for your time,
Lynnie
ANSWER
Hi Lynnie,
I'm assuming that your weight is normal for your height and that you exercise religiously every day, just for openers.Then I would suggest at least 100 grams of lean protein every day (skim not regular milk; lean meats, not Mickey D) and a pristine diet -- the ones for diabetics are actually good for everyone else. Start with & gallon of water each day and increase that as your pregnancy progresses. Sign up for a yoga or Tai Chi or a similar class, or get the video and do it yourself every day. Make a conscious effort to eliminate stress from your life, and RELAX.
If you do all this and you still become toxemic, at least you will know that you did everything humanly possible to prevent a problem, and it was just not to be. Good luck!
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
