Pregnancy Health Information Organization

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), tends to occur after 20 weeks, and affects 5-10 percent of women. A blood pressure reading greater than 140 over 90 will cause concern, although there may be no symptoms. First time mothers, those carrying twins, and very young or older mothers are more likely to have high blood pressure. Symptoms of preeclampsia are headaches, nausea and vomiting, edema, visual disturbances, high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

Key Tips on coping with PIH

Get plenty of rest, especially between 5pm to 7 pm
Try to reduce your stress levels
Get regular, gentle exercise
Epson salt bath - 2 cups/ 20 minutes/2x/day

Diet and Nutrition

- Eat a healthy, balanced diet, eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables
- Vitamins C and E, potassium
- 15ml daily of ground linseed, sesame, or sunflower seed for extra calcium and magnesium
- eat garlic, it lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow in the placenta
- Consume protein - 200grams/2 days, then reduce to 80 grams

Complementary Therapies

Western Herbalism
- Hops, Skullcap, Hawthorne berries, Dandelion leaves, Nettle leaves, Red raspberry leaves

Homeopathy
- For protein in the urine, swollen hands and feet, irritability, and fatigue, Apis 6c
- For swelling that is worse with physical exertion, with great thirst, Natrum mur. 6c
- For sudden onset, protein in the urine, and symptoms that are worse after 3 pm, Belladonna 6c

Relaxation
- Breathe deeply
- Visualization
- Yoga
- Positive thinking

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine

Liver wind agitating within
- Symptoms- hypertension late in the pregnancy, headache, malar flush, a feeling of heat in the afternoon, tremor of limbs, convulsions, unconsciousness. Tongue: red and peeled. Pulse: rapid, wiry. Often phlegm is combines with this pattern, especially if the client becomes unconscious.

Phlegm- Fire harassing upwards
- Symptoms- hypertension, edema, slight tremor of limbs, mental confusion, unconsciousness, a feeling of oppression of the chest. Tongue: swollen with a sticky coating. Pulse: wiry and slippery

Empty Wind
- Symptoms- slight tremor and twitching of limbs especially if occurring after delivery, dizziness, palpitations, sweating, pale face. Tongue: pale, short. Pulse: fine, scattered. This condition is characterized by severe blood and yin deficiency after delivery which generates empty wind.

Liver Yang Rising
- Symptoms- worry, depression, anger, over excitement, headache vertigo, sudden dizziness, bloodshot eyes, dark scanty urination, red tongue, purple on the sides, tight and slightly rapid pulse

Phlegm
- Symptoms- headache with feeling of strong pressure, major vertigo, dizziness with vision troubles, numbness of lower limbs, bad breath, swollen tongue with yellow sticky coating, tight and slippery pulse

Kidney yin deficiency
- Symptoms- headache, vertigo, dizziness, lower back pain, pale face, dark red tongue, tight and thin pulse

Eclampsia
- Symptoms- hypertension, proteinuria, lower limb edema, dizziness with headaches, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, shortness of breath, convulsions, fainting, excess of salivation

Blood deficiency causing internal wind
- pregnancy worsens blood deficiency, fainting, convulsions, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, pale tongue with thin coat, fine and slippery pulse

Liver heat causing wind
- agitation, vertigo, troubled vision, red face and lips, red tongue, wiry pulse

External cold and wind
- headaches, stuffiness of the chest, painful body and limbs, fainting and convulsions, pale tongue, white coating, slippery and tight pulse

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The information on this website is compiled and written by;

Vancouver Pregnancy & labour (labor) Acupuncturist

Raeghan Siemens, R.Ac., DTCM
Raeghan Siemens has always had an interest in medicine;
but she found her true passion in Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture.
Her special interests are treating Pregnancy related issues and aiding women through labour (labor).

Raeghan practices at Acubalance Wellness Centre Ltd. in Vancouver BC Canada.

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