05/01/2023
Here's a tip for increasing your body literacy 👇
Take your own blood pressure at home!
May 1st marks Preeclampsia Awareness month. Preeclampsia is a life-threatening hypertensive disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
On the other side of things we can't talk about, high blood pressure without talking about "white coat syndrome" which disproportionately affects Black, Latinx, Q***r & Trans folx. Being at the doctor's office can be triggering so it's important to know if you ACTUALLY have high blood pressure or if it's an anomaly.
Becoming familiar with your body and pregnancy and its variations of normal can help you practice greater bodily autonomy and reclaim your medical care.
Check out:
's blood pressure tracker foundation for more info on preeclampsia (TW: uses gendered language)
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1- Here's why you should take your own blood pressure in pregnancy
2- Is it preeclampsia or is it the doctor? "white coat syndrome" is a condition in which a person's blood pressure readings are higher when taken at the doctor's office compared to other settings
3- Preeclampsia is a life-threatening hypertensive disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period. If left untreated it can cause seizure, stroke and be life-threatening to the parent & child. So what should you do?
4- Take your blood pressure at home. By knowing what your baseline is, you have more information to make decisions around your care and can begin to identify trends. If your BP is persistently elevated, you may have preeclampsia. If it's only elevated at the doctor, this may be white coat syndrome.
5- Try these simple tips:
- Check your blood pressure 2x/day at the same time everyday, i.e. when you first wake up & before you go to bed
- log your readings
- Know your numbers. If you blood pressure is 140/90 or above, call your provider. If 160/110 or above, seek medical attention immediately.
6- Want to learn more about decolonizing medicine & pregnancy? Follow me for helpful tips.