Living and Loving – September 2019

expert advice

L&L | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 67

PREGNANTWITHHIGHBLOODPRESSURE

Q|

I am 32 years old and

have long-term

hypertension. I’m on blood

pressure-lowering medication.

Is it safe for me to fall pregnant?

A

There are three important steps

for you to follow in order to initiate

and maintain a successful pregnancy.

STEP ONE Ensure your blood pressure is

well controlled before falling pregnant.

Dietary restrictions should be in

place to control your sodium intake, as

well as to decrease saturated fats and

cholesterol. Abstain from alcohol and

smoking. Incorporate prudent exercise

and stress-reduction techniques

into your day. Weight reduction is

also vital if you’re overweight.

STEP TWO Consult your doctor,

because hypertension usually shows

no symptoms. Make sure you consult

your doctor and antenatal clinic as

early into your pregnancy as possible.

Foetal risks of elevated blood

pressure during pregnancy include

decreased foetal weight and foetal

growth retardation due to reduced

placental functioning. However,

this can be safely minimised with

well-controlled blood pressure.

STEP THREE Take the correct

medication.Your doctor will monitor

yourbloodpressureand,ifnecessary,

change

your pressure-lowering medication

to a drug called alpha methyldopa,

which is the most commonly used

antihypertensive treatment and

completely safe to use during

pregnancy. Depending on your blood

pressure, you may require certain

additional medications prescribed

by your doctor.If your blood pressure

is well controlled during pregnancy,

moderate exercise under the

supervision of a doctor is allowed.

However, if your blood pressure is poorly

controlled, strict bed rest is advised.

Tasneem Mukadam-Waja, pharmacist

COMPILED BY

KIRSTEN DAVIDS

PHOTOGRAPHY

GALLO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK

SHE KEEPS LYING

Q|

My five-year-old

daughter lies about

the smallest things. She’ll

tell me she won a race at

school when she didn’t, or

say someone at school did

something terrible to her,

when it never happened. She

gives things away to other

children and then tells me she

lost them. Is this just a phase

or is she seeking attention?

A

Some five-year-olds have very

little respect for the truth. If their

story or idea sounds impressive,

puts them in a good light or

evokes sympathy, they’ll say it.

Some children (almost of any age)

will say whatever they need to in

order to get what they want, whether

or not it’s accurate. Excessive lying

usually suggests all is not well in

a child’s emotional world.

Start off by gently letting your

daughter know you don’t believe her

stories (although sometimes it’s hard

to know what’s true and what isn’t).

Without shaming or humiliating her,

help her recognise her lies and help

her understand the reason behind

each one. For example, say: “We

both know you didn’t win that race,

but you really wish you’d won. You

really wanted to be the best.”

Or when she’s making herself out to be the

innocent victim, say: “Maybe someone

didn’t really hit you today, but I think you

wish I could give you a plaster and a big

hug.” Then go ahead and give her both.

If you aren’t sure of the facts, you

could say: “Sometimes it’s hard to

know what’s real and what isn’t.”

It sounds as though your little girl lies

because she wants to be liked and made

to feel special. Perhaps her self-esteem is

low and she is trying to construct herself

in a way that feels more likeable.

If the problem persists, it’s worth

taking her to a child psychologist

to explore it further.

Jenny Perkel, clinical psychologist LL