Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, PRE-ECLAMPSIA, OR TOXEMIA.
These are medical names for a condition that sometimes develops in pregnancy. Any pregnant woman can have one or more of the symptoms.

Symptoms you may notice:

• Sudden weight gain or swelling of your feet, legs, hands, or face
• Headaches- mostly in the forehead area
• Changes in your vision- blurring, double vision, dimming, or spots in your vision
• Pain in your upper abdomen

Signs that may be found during your clinic visit:

• A rise in blood pressure
• Greater than 2 pounds per week weight gain
• Protein in your urine
• Changes in your blood chemistries
• If this condition goes untreated, serious complications can develop for both you and your baby

You may be asked to do the following to treat the early symptoms:

• Spend several hours (3-4) daily resting on your left side, feet on a pillow
• Eat at least 3 portions of protein in your diet every day
• 4 glasses of milk daily- this can be cheese or yogurt
• Drink more liquids -  8 to 10 large glasses of water daily, plus milk, juice, tea, etc. 

If these simple measures are followed closely at home, the PIH may improve.

REMEMBER- return to the clinic as soon as possible for any of the following:

• Severe persistent headaches
• Severe or sudden swelling of feet, face or hands
• Pains in the upper abdomen
• Changes in your vision, blurring, spots, or dimming
• Decreased fetal movement

If you have any questions, you may call the office at 756-5288 or Labor and Delivery at American Fork Hospital 763-3604 or Timpanogos Regional Hospital Labor and Delivery at 714-6025.