Staying as healthy as possible during your nine months of pregnancy is key, and one medical measurement, the mother’s blood pressure, is a valuable tool used to recognize any warning signs that may arise while you are carrying your baby. Your doctor will check your blood pressure and pulse at your maternity visits; but, with the Cradle Me Baby Blood Pressure Monitor you can do it yourself whenever you want, at home.
It’s crucial to keep your blood pressure in check during your pregnancy and this is important for your own health as well as for your baby’s health. The Cradle Me Baby Blood Pressure Monitor is the best home monitor because it’s portable, and you can take it with you anywhere, enabling you to easily keep an eye on your blood pressure in between doctor appointments.
When you monitor your blood pressure on your own, if you get a reading that’s out of range, you can consult your prenatal team right away and get to the doctor. If there is treatment needed, the physician can proactively map out a course of action.
Physicians recommend monitoring your blood pressure during all three of your trimesters.
Top Five Reasons to Monitor Blood Pressure & Pulse Regularly During Pregnancy:
1. Identify Chronic Hypertension
Chronic hypertension (high blood pressure) can begin prior to pregnancy, and due to this condition presenting no evident symptoms, it can be hard to realize you’re suffering from it. Sometimes chronic hypertension will rear its head in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Pulse rate, which is the number of heart beats per minute, will increase during pregnancy because your heart is pumping more blood to help nourish the baby. Once you’re delivering your baby, it is completely natural for your heart rate to go up during labor and delivery because your heart is working harder.
2. Identify Chronic Hypertension with Superimposed Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a condition that surfaces when chronic hypertension causes the pregnant woman’s existing high blood pressure to worsen throughout the pregnancy. Protein detected in the urine after a urinalysis indicates chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia. Sometimes preeclampsia patients do not exhibit protein in the urine, leaving blood pressure monitoring one of the best ways to diagnose this condition. The most common problem in women with chronic hypertension is developing preeclampsia. Only three to five percent of women develop preeclampsia, but among women with chronic hypertension, 17 – 25 percent develop superimposed preeclampsia.
3. Diagnose Preeclampsia
High blood pressure that occurs after the mom-to-be is at 20 weeks is termed preeclampsia. When a pregnant woman develops preeclampsia, the liver, kidneys and brain can be damaged. If untreated, preeclampsia can be extremely dangerous, and even result in death of the mother or the baby. Eclampsia (seizures) can even emerge, so it’s vital to monitor your blood pressure to keep an eye on any complications that may arise during your pregnancy.
4. Lessen the Chances of Premature Delivery
In women with hypertension, it is sometimes necessary to induce labor to deliver the baby prior to the due date because of dangerous complications that can be fatal. Babies born early can develop breathing problems and are at a high risk for infection.
5. Minimize the Chances of Low Birth Weight
When hypertension exists in pregnant women, the placenta could be lacking blood flow which inhibits the unborn baby from obtaining adequate amounts of oxygen. As well, nutrients the baby needs are not transferred from mom to baby in a normal fashion. Slow growth, premature birth and low birth weight can be side effects associated with a mom-to-be having high blood pressure.
Consult Your Physician About Exercising During Pregnancy
If you’re cleared by your doctor to exercise while pregnant, it’s recommended you get 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week (5 days a week) during your nine-month journey. This aerobic activity can include low impact aerobics, brisk walking, water aerobics, or dance classes such as Zumba. When participating in these activities, it is important to follow some guidelines set by gynecological professionals. In recent years, professionals don’t restrict the pregnant woman’s heart rate while she is exercising. They do, however, caution her to watch for any warning signs. Sweating during a workout is okay, but you must still be able to talk, so use the “talk test,” and never let yourself get to the point that you’re out of breath or cannot speak.
Don’t Overdo It
If you engage in too tough a workout, your body temperature will become elevated, and this is harmful to the unborn baby. You could also become dehydrated which can cause you to go into labor early. Signs of dehydration include extreme thirst, headache, fatigue, lightheadedness, and darker-colored urine. Be aware of these symptoms and be sure to hydrate if they surface.
Drink plenty of water on a regular basis throughout pregnancy. A total of 10 to 12 glasses of water are recommended for pregnant women, and you should consume even more while exercising. Take your water bottle with you to the gym!
Other warning signs to watch for during physical activity include chest pain, pain or swelling in your calves, pre-mature contractions, and blood or fluid leaking from the vagina. If any of these symptoms present themselves, stop exercising immediately, and reach out to your prenatal team right away.
Always get the okay from your doctor before starting any exercise program while pregnant. A fit and healthy mom means a fit and healthy baby, so keep an eye on that blood pressure and heart rate using the best home blood pressure monitor from Cradle Me Baby. Click HERE to see offer!