Preeclampsia and high blood pressure doula · Cumming, Forsyth County & north metro Atlanta

"My blood pressure is high, or I've had preeclampsia."

High blood pressure, or preeclampsia last time, means more checks and more what-ifs. I'll help you understand your plan, know when to call, and keep a say in your birth even if the timeline changes.

Book a free 20-minute consultation Jump to the questions

Stop 1

What's probably on your calendar

Not everyone gets all of these, and your care team decides what's right for you. But these come up often.

Blood pressure checks, sometimes at home

Extra monitoring of your baby, like a non-stress test (NST)

A conversation about an early delivery date

Sources: ACOG, ColumbiaDoctors.

Stop 2

What people worry about

These are fair questions, and most people don't say them out loud. You can. We'll turn each one into something to ask, and something to plan for.

"What if they induce me weeks before I'm ready?"
"How do I know which symptoms are serious enough to call about?"
"Is it really my blood pressure, or just nerves at the office?"
"Will I lose the birth I planned?"

Stop 3

Questions to bring to your OB or MFM team

Check the ones you want to ask. Print the page or screenshot it before your next visit.

Which symptoms should make me call you right away?Is my blood pressure alone a reason to induce, or are we watching for preeclampsia too?If induction comes up, what would it involve, and can we talk through the timing together?Should I check my blood pressure at home? What do I do with the readings?Can I still move and use comfort techniques if I'm monitored?

Your OB or MFM team knows your situation best. Bring this list to them.

Get the full first-MFM-visit list

Stop 4

How two birth plans help

Plan one · the birth you hope for

How you'd like to labor, and who's in the room
Comfort techniques that work with frequent blood pressure checks and an IV
What helps you stay calm, written down so your support team can use it

Plan two · the likely alternatives

If an induction is scheduled earlier than you expected: what you want to keep, and what to ask first
If your care team starts magnesium: what you'd like explained, and how your partner can help
After birth: your blood pressure checks, and who helps you watch for warning signs at home

Allison writing down questions at a table

Stop 5 · My experience

When the plan might change, it helps to have two.

My own high-risk pregnancies taught me to plan for more than one kind of birth, and that's what I help you do.

What the guidelines say

Symptoms to call your ob-gyn about right away include a headache that won't go away, seeing spots or changes in your eyesight, and pain in the upper belly or shoulder, especially in the second half of pregnancy (ACOG).

What to ask your doctor

Which blood pressure numbers or symptoms should make me call you, and who do I call after hours?

Free printableQuestions to bring to your first MFM appointmentGet the list →Guide · 6 min readAn induction date just landed on your calendar. Here's what to ask.Read the guide →

Free 20-minute consultation

Let's talk about your birth.

I take one or two births a month, so start with your dates and I'll reply with the times I'm free.

No medical details needed here. Prefer to text? (478) 974-3434