Babypalooza Summer 2019

ADVICE FROM JULIE
A preeclampsia diagnosis, early delivery, and 63-day
NICU stay is a lot for anyone to handle. OBGYN
and mom Julie Taylor offers advice for overcoming
adversity like this.
1. Find the right doctor. It’s so important to have a
doctor you trust, Julie says. “I knew that we were
being well taken care of and trusted my doctor with
the care of my precious son,” she says.
2. Reach out to others in similar situations.
According to Julie, 10 percent of all babies are born
early—which means you’re not alone. “So many
people have gone through something similar,” she
says. Talk to people, and reach out and ask for help.
A friend of a friend who’s traveled a similar path can
be a true comfort.
3. Surround yourself with a supportive community.
“My sense of community was widened when I realized
how many people supported and prayed for us in the
hospital,” Julie says. “I still now, a year later, have
people ask me in the hospital ‘How is your little boy?’
My husband and I couldn’t have made it through
without them.”
What Is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious condition that can occur after
20 weeks of pregnancy. A pregnant woman with normal
blood pressure can suddenly experience pregnancy-related
complications marked by high blood pressure and indications
of damage to organs such as the liver and kidneys.
A diagnosis of preeclampsia can be frightening, but if
untreated, it can also lead to serious complications––or
even death––for mother and baby. Doctors agree that the
best treatment is a quick delivery of the baby. It can take
some time for the mother to recover after the baby has
been delivered.
What Are the Symptoms?
Preeclampsia can exhibit differently; some women experience
no symptoms, while others do. One of the noted
markers is a change in blood pressure. High blood pressure
may develop slowly or rapidly. This is why prenatal
care and monitoring a mother’s blood pressure is important.
Always attend your prenatal office visits, so your
health care provider can maintain accurate blood pressure
records.
You should immediately contact your physician or go to an
emergency room if you experience any of the following
symptoms:
• Severe breathing difficulties (caused by fluid in the
lungs)
• Severe blurred vision or other disturbances in vision
(such as temporary vision loss)
• Severe abdominal pain
• Severe headaches
Here are some of the other signs and symptoms of
preeclampsia:
• Sudden swelling (mainly in the face and hands) or
weight gain
• Weakened liver function
• Reduced urination
• Excess protein in the urine or symptoms of kidney
problems
• Reduced levels of platelets in the blood
• Nausea/vomiting
• Pain in the upper abdominal area (under the ribs on the
right side)
• Shortness of breath
• Vision changes
• Headaches
*Remember, it is important to contact your doctor if you
are unsure about a symptom you are experiencing.
What Are the Causes?
The specific cause of preeclampsia involves several
factors, all of which involve the placenta. A woman with
preeclampsia has a placenta in which the blood vessels
have developed abnormally, causing them to function
incorrectly. The blood vessels are narrower than normal,
and hormone signals affect them differently, which limits
the amount of blood flow.
Experts believe that the development of abnormal blood
vessels may be attributed to any of the following:
• Genetic predisposition
• A complication with the immune system
• Damage to the placenta blood vessels
• Inadequate blood flow to the uterus
32 Babypalooza.com