Reference published article
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39679016/
Preeclampsia, marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy, brings significant risk to both mom and baby. While medical management is key, the stress and anxiety that come with the diagnosis can worsen the condition. New research is looking into complementary therapies to help manage the psychological and physiological sides of preeclampsia, and a recent study gives us encouraging insights into what hypnotherapy can do.
This controlled clinical trial checked out how hypnotherapy affects anxiety and blood pressure in pregnant women with mild preeclampsia. Forty-four women, 20 to 32 weeks pregnant, were split into two groups. One group got five individual online hypnotherapy sessions focused on relaxation and positive suggestions. The other group got standard prenatal care, without any specific psychological help.
The results showed a big and lasting drop in anxiety and blood pressure in the hypnotherapy group, not just right after the sessions, but a month later too. And, importantly, these improvements were way better than what they saw in the control group.
These findings suggest that hypnotherapy is a promising complementary tool for managing preeclampsia. By lowering anxiety, which we know raises blood pressure, hypnotherapy may help women with this condition have a more stable and less stressful pregnancy.
Key takeaways from the study:
- Significant Anxiety Reduction: Hypnotherapy led to a notable decrease in anxiety levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia.
- Lower Blood Pressure: The women getting hypnotherapy saw a lasting drop in their blood pressure readings.
- Complementary Approach: The study suggests hypnotherapy works well alongside standard medical treatment for preeclampsia.
- Online Accessibility: Using online sessions means more pregnant women can potentially access this help.
While more research with bigger groups is always good, this study offers a hopeful look, suggesting that adding hypnotherapy to the care plan for preeclampsia could bring significant mental and physical benefits. For expectant mothers dealing with preeclampsia, exploring gentle and evidence-based complementary therapies like hypnotherapy could be a valuable step toward a calmer and healthier pregnancy journey.
If you're pregnant and have been diagnosed with preeclampsia, it's key to follow your doctor's advice and talk to them about any complementary therapies you're thinking about. This information is for education and shouldn't replace medical advice.