safe beauty products during pregnancy - Coastal Perinatal Center

What is it?

Chronic hypertension affects up to 5% of all pregnancies. If you have a blood pressure of 140/90 or greater AND you are before 20 weeks gestational age, then you may have chronic (pre-existing) hypertension. Because most women of childbearing age are young, they often do not go to their doctor for checkups because they feel “healthy”. Pregnancy involves multiple visits to your medical provider, and it may be here that elevated blood pressure is first noted. If you are noted to have elevated blood pressure (greater than 140/90) and you are past 20 weeks gestational age, then your diagnosis is gestational hypertension, or elevated blood pressure during pregnancy. In this case you will be evaluated 12 weeks after you deliver to determine if your hypertension persists; if it does, then you have chronic hypertension, if it resolves then you had transient hypertension.

Risk factors for developing hypertension include obesity, substance abuse, chronic exposure to toxins, advanced maternal age, pre-existing diabetes mellitus, other medical conditions such as lupus, renal disease, and genetics.

If you have chronic hypertension, you are probably on medication. If you are on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) or a similar class (ARB) these medications are teratogens associated with congenital malformations in the fetus and are NOT recommended during pregnancy. You should discuss your medications with your obstetric health care provider as early as possible. Classes of antihypertensives that safe in pregnancy include calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers.

Hypertension is a very dangerous disease both during pregnancy and outside of pregnancy. It is called the “silent killer” because the you, the patient don’t feel ill, or sick, however you may have blood pressure that is elevated. The elevated blood pressure causes damage to the placenta (affecting the baby), can injure your kidneys, brain, and your heart.

How it affects the Pregnancy?

I tell my patients that hypertension is like having really big waves on a beach. Eventually, the force of the big waves crashing on the soft sandy beach, will erode the beach. Similarly, elevated blood pressure damages the delicate placenta. If 50-70% of the placenta gets damaged, the placenta cannot function optimally. Accordingly the baby gets less nutrients, and oxygen. Subsequently the baby will stop growing appropriately, and if the placenta gets further damaged, it may eventually lead to fetal demise, or the placenta getting bruised (abruption). In this case there is bleeding inside the placenta, and there can be severe injury to both mother and baby; this is considered a pregnancy emergency.

Hypertension in pregnancy also places the mother at risk for worsening hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a condition in which the maternal blood pressure rises and this causes adverse maternal reactions in the maternal kidney, liver and brain. If this condition continues to evolve, a small percent of women may develop

a seizure with convulsions (eclampsia). The only way to treat pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is delivery. If pre-eclampsia occurs before 32 wks, there may be a role for expectant management, as the prematurity of fetal delivery places the baby at risk other sequelae of prematurity. When the pregnancy is complicated by a condition that necessitates delivery, women are given injections of Corticosteroids (Betamethasone/ Celestone), 2 injections 24 hours apart. This medication crosses the placenta and accelerates tissue maturity of the fetus therefore protecting the baby from some of the more severe sequelae of delivering prematurely.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The diagnosis of chronic hypertension is based on the finding of elevated blood pressure over 140/90 before 20 weeks gestational age. If elevated blood pressure is noted after 20 weeks gestation, then the diagnosis is called gestational hypertension. When the elevated blood pressure is accompanied by proteinuria, and elevated liver enzymes, the diagnosis is a variant called HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, Low Platelets). Generally this condition warrants immediate delivery, but gestational age always plays a role.

If you have this condition before or during pregnancy, your obstetrician will want to establish baseline values of your kidney function, platelet count, and liver tests. The kidney function is assessed by checking your urine for presence of protein. Both the platelet count and liver tests are blood tests.

Hypertension in pregnancy is treated with Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, or diuretics. The goal of anti-hypertensive therapy is to keep the blood pressure below 140-150/90-100. In the past Methyldopa was used, however as the safety profile of the other beta blockers, diuretics and calcium channel blockers in pregnancy has been established, methyldopa is out of favor. One beta blocker in particular, atenolol, is NOT recommended in pregnancy as it is associated with growth restriction (impaired fetal growth).

After delivery, you may need to be reassessed by your primary care physician to see which medication is best for your hypertension. Often women with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and gestational hypertension may need treatment for up to 6 weeks postpartum. If they need treatment beyond this time period, the diagnosis of chronic hypertension should be considered.

Recently it has been found that women with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and the disorders of hypertension in pregnancy are at higher risk for cardiovascular events later on in life. Careful followup with your primary care physician, and awareness of your blood pressure values is important to ensure that you do not become a victim to this “silent killer”.

For more helpful pregnancy hints, instructional pregnancy videos, upcoming podcasts and to get more information about the world’s first non-toxic makeup exclusively for pregnant women, please go to www.VSACHARMD.com.

Copyright 2014 V Sachar MD. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this post may be duplicated without expressed consent by author.

These are 7 great tips for pregnancy written by Dr. V Sachar.Dr. Sachar is a high risk pregnancy specialist, who has created the world’s first cosmetic line devoted toward safe, non-toxic products for pregnancy. Toxin exposure during pregnancy may be associated with the development of adult diseases later in life.These diseases may have origins early in life from toxin exposure even in utero.

1. Continue to exercise!

Continuing to exercise during pregnancy, better prepares you for your delivery, and regular exercise helps keep your weight gain in check. 30 minutes of exercise on most, if not every day of the week is recommended. Keeping your intensity to a level such that you can easily talk while exercising, will not cause any risk to the baby. Note, during pregnancy, low impact exercise, that does not expose you to injury is only recommended (no rollerblading!); always discuss your exercise regimen with your obstetrician.For more information refer here at Acog.

Safe exercise is recommended, skateboarding is NOT!

2. Don’t eat for the baby!

For the longest time, it was believed that you have to gain 35-40lbs for every pregnancy, regardless of your pre-pregnancy weight. What happened though, is that women who were already obese to start with, were becoming morbidly obese because they thought they had to. The World Health Organization and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have recognized this and recently recommended tailoring women’s pregnancy associated weight gain to their pre pregnancy weight.

Make Healthy Choices During Your Pregnancy

For more information refer here at Acog. Always discuss recommended weight gain with your obstetrician.

3. Limit Your Exposure to Toxins!

Air-pollution, second hand smoke, radiation, and even your makeup are sources of fetal toxins. Your makeup may contain parabens, lead, bismuth chloride, phthalates, and other chemicals which may be toxic to your baby, and/or your skin. Parabens are associated with endocrine disruption and future impaired fertility in the baby, and breast cancer in the mother. The surge of hormones and changes in your immune system can make your skin very sensitive to chemicals commonly found in makeup. Makeup you always used, may now cause acne, rashes, and other inflammatory eruptions. Try to use safe cosmetics that are non-toxic during pregnancy. Refer to www.VSACHARMD.com for more information and to purchase the world’s only non-toxic safe makeup created exclusively for pregnant women!

4. Caffeine Can Be Your Friend!

Many women suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy. This causes numbness and tinging in the hands, and can be very uncomfortable. Generalized pregnancy induced edema occurs around the nerves near your writs and causes compression, and numbness. Caffeine is a natural diuretic and can often control this problem. 1-2 cups a day can benefit those suffering from carpal tunnel, as well as alleviate many headaches and migraines in pregnancy! We recommend discussing this with your obstetrician before using caffeine to treat these 2 conditions.

5. Take Your Prenatal Vitamin at Night!

I have had thousands of women complain of nausea in the morning after taking their prenatal vitamin. They did not have morning sickness type of nausea. Personally, I have tried a prenatal pill too, and had severe nausea 1 hour later! To avoid this, take your prenatal vitamin with your dinner. By the time it starts to get dissolved, you will be asleep, and won’t experience all of the side effects.

6. Heartburn in Pregnancy!

Almost everybody experiences heartburn during their pregnancy. The cause is relaxation of the valve between the esophagus and the stomach AND slowed gastric emptying. These are secondary to the hormones of pregnancy, specifically Progesterone. Avoiding some of the triggers may be the easiest way to treat this condition. Caffeine, tea, tomato sauce (pizza, spaghetti), orange juice, big meals…these may all trigger the symptoms of heartburn. This occurs because the acid from the stomach rises into the lower part of the food pipe, and gives a very uncomfortable burning sensation. If avoiding these foods doesn’t help, try over the counter medications such as Tums. This is a simple fix, but doesn’t always work. If you continue to have persistent heartburn, discuss it with your obstetrician, and they can prescribe effective medical treatment. Note, heartburn, also known as gastric reflux is a major cause of nocturnal asthma. For patients with asthma, with worsening symptoms, treatment of your acid reflux may control your symptoms!

7. Varicose Veins!

Pregnancy is a major risk factor for varicose veins. They can range in severity from a cosmetic irritation, to severe pain. They occur as the pregnancy progresses because the pregnant uterus prevents blood from returning from your legs to your pelvis. It is similar to stepping on a hose; the water backs up, and the hose dilates. The hormones of pregnancy also contribute to varicose veins. Unfortunately, these veins aren’t limited to just your legs, and can occur in the vulva, and be very large and disfiguring. Hemorrhoids are another version of varicose veins! Fortunately there are a few solutions. Elevating your legs whenever possible will help eliminate the force of gravity. The most effective however is medical grade support hose. If you are at risk for varicose veins, be proactive; get support TED hose earlier, go prevent their formation, vs after they have formed. 4For those with painful varicose veins in the vulva, there are support hose for this as well. Discuss this with your obstetrician, and they can give you a prescription. They may be a little expensive, but using these will prevent further varicose veins from developing and alleviate some of the discomfort. For hemorrhoids, a stool softener, high fiber, and lots of water will also help.

Note: Before making any medical decisions in your pregnancy, discuss them with your obstetrician. The views in this blog are for information and entertainment only, not to be taken as medical advice.

Posts

Chronic Hypertension in Pregnancy

7 Secrets For Pregnancy!

Tag Archive for: safe beauty products during pregnancy

Posts