PREECLAMPSIA
Training & Intervention
Training & Coaching
Community based providers are trained to increase the participants’ awareness and knowledge of risk for pregnancy induced hypertension, preeclampsia, premature delivery, and maternal mortality; strategies to decrease risk and improve overall health; strategies to closely monitor health risk factors; and recognition of signs indicating the onset of an adverse event and the need to seek timely treatment. The participants will receive a Preeclampsia Kit containing an automatic blood pressure monitor, urine testing strips, compression stockings, tape measure, and notepad. Coaching will include facilitating participant’s understanding, awareness, and the ability to closely monitor their urine for protein and blood pressure during the critical 6 weeks following delivery.
INTERVENTION
1. Identifying who is at high risk for pregnancy induced hypertension: African American women and people of color; having a medical history significant for diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, lupus, prior pregnancy with high blood pressure, and prior pregnancy with preeclampsia; being over 40 years old; having multiples; and becoming pregnant 10 years or more after last pregnancy.
2. Identifying community-based strategies to reduce the risk for preterm deliveries, preeclampsia, and maternal mortality.
3. Providing evidenced-based interventions to improve healthy lifestyle choices: drinking 6-8 glasses of water, sleeping 7-8 hours per day, following The Mama-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure through diet and physical activity. Not smoking or drinking alcohol.
4. Providing information regarding transportation and eligibility for PeachCare (Georgia Medicaid for Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies program) to improve access to healthcare, birth control, prenatal care, and postpartum care.
5. Identifying complications secondary to pregnancy-induced hypertension: fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, placenta abruption, preeclampsia, eclampsia, organ damage, cardiovascular disease, and HELP Syndrome.
6. Providing automatic blood pressure monitors and the knowledge to train pregnant participants on how to monitor and record daily blood pressure.
7. Providing protein urine testing strips and the knowledge to train pregnant participants on how to monitor and record daily urine samples for protein.
8. Identifying warning signs for progressing hypertension and preeclampsia: severe headache, visual disturbances, pain below the ribcage, vomiting or nausea, sudden swelling particularly in hands and face, sudden weight gain or changes in blood pressure, and shortness of breath.
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9. The importance of attending postpartum appointments.
Data-Driven Strategies
The Preeclampsia Project and collaborations use evidenced based and data-driven strategies. Participants complete a pretest and posttest questionnaire to analyze a change in knowledge in five areas: risk factors for developing preeclampsia, strategies to reduce risk, signs or symptoms of preeclampsia, how to monitor the symptoms of preeclampsia, and knowledge of long-term complications associated with having preeclampsia. By partnering with community-based providers, pregnant or postpartum women can improve their maternity outcome and overall health and wellness.