How Can I Prevent High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy?

If you’re afraid of developing pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure during your pregnancy I’ve got good news for you! There are a few simple things you can do for prevention!

Sunshine…

So important for a healthy pregnancy!

Vitamin D3 and K2.

These two vitamins work together to balance your hormones that regulate your blood pressure and fertility. The ideal way to get vitamin D is through 15-20 minutes or sunlight each day. Unfortunately in Ohio, we have many cloudy days. Instead you can obtain it through eating mushrooms, pastured egg yolks, and pork fat. Vitamin K is found in fermented foods such as brie cheese, kimchi, and a weird Japanese product called natto. It’s also present in the fat of grass fed animal fats; pasture raised butter, pastured egg yolks, grass fed meats. If you struggle with anxiety or depression, can’t go outside frequently, or suspect you have low vitamin D3, talk to your provider about supplementation. It’s safe to supplement up to 6,000 IU of vitamin D3 each day.

Daily baths

with epsom salts nourish your cells with magnesium

Magnesium; at least weekly epsom salts baths (2 cups for 20 min).

If you don’t have a bathtub or absolutely cannot do epsom salts soaks, I recommend doing Integrative Therapeutics liquid magnesium with the ratio 2:1 for magnesium and calcium. Magnesium helps with muscle function, stabilizes mood, prevents headaches, and helps with electrolyte balance. Magnesium helps every cell in your body function.

Seafood twice weekly

supplies your body with nutrients such as omega 3s.

1,000 mg Omega 3s (one teaspoon of cod liver oil or 1 tablespoon of hemp seed oil)

These can prevent preeclampsia but should be discontinued at 36 weeks. Alternatively eat seafood at least twice weekly.

Eat the colors of the rainbow

Micronutrients

Eat your colors! There is good data that shows micronutrients reduce inflammation and blood pressure issues in pregnancy. The bright colorful fruits and vegetables have the highest levels of micronutrients. I also recommend a supplement called Juice Plus because it’s 30 fruits and vegetables that are harvested at peak ripeness and dried at a low temperature. There has been a study done on it in pregnancy which showed reduced rates of pre-eclampsia.

Sleep.

Quality and quantity.

Sleep is a vital part of growing a healthy baby