Preeclampsia is a condition that can affect pregnant women.
Preeclampsia is a severe condition of pregnancy, most of the time characterised by:
- high blood pressure
- protein in the urine
- severe swelling
Most women who suffer from preeclampsia are unaware of this condition, which is why continuous monitoring during pregnancy is so important.
There is no cure for this condition, and the only step it can be taken to prevent the death of the mother the baby is to deliver the baby by opting for a C-section birth.
What happens during preeclampsia?
What does happen during preeclampsia is that the blood pressure increase to a dangerous level.
The consequences can be catastrophic for both the mother and the baby.
Indeed, the mother’s organs, such as the liver, kidney, heart and brain, are in great danger.
The increase of protein in the urine also cand puts the kidney and liver in danger.
How can MLD help with a preeclampsia presentation?
In this case, MLD would not be applied to reduce preeclampsia. Still, it can be used when the baby is delivered, and there is a need to reduce the swelling postpartum that eventually would build up in the legs and abdominal area after the C-Section.
On the other hand, MLD would also help scar healing by moving fluid away from the scar tissue and reducing the swelling around the scar itself.
Said so, as you may already read in other blog posts about MLD, liver and kidney failure are absolute contraindications, and condition as high blood pressure too can be a partial contraindications.
Indeed, before starting any treatment, the “good to go” from the doctor would be needed in this case.
How would MLD be applied after the C-section?
In regards to the type of approach needed in this case, the MLD session would start by:
- Working on the neck and terminus area
- Applied MLD on the abdominal area to clear off the Cisterna Chyli
- And finally, MLD along both leg
A simple sequence would be used because a wound is still there when doing MLD on the legs.
I would not recommend that the client lies in a side position, which could hurt the wound.
So when should I come in for my first session?
If the doctors reckon that your liver and kidney are functioning at 100% and your blood pressure has decreased since giving birth, you can start receiving MLD immediately.
I already had a client, who had preeclampsia, and thanks to the suggestion of the nurses they book in their session just 10 days after the birth.
After just one session, they realised how the swelling was reducing.
Said so, it can take longer to reduce the swelling down to the desired level.
What else can be done in combination with MLD?
In combination with MLD, I am walking and staying active help.
Also, lots of water is always highly recommended, especially after an MLD session.
In conclusion, if you need an MLD treatment due to Preeclampsia or other body swellings, and you have no Liver or kidney conditions or DVT, MLD is the treatment that does for you.
Then click here to book your next session.
Or click here if you have any enquiries about MLD or Melbourne Massage and Treatment services.
Giovanni La Rocca
Giovanni moved to Melbourne, Australia, from Italy in 2008 and became a citizen in 2017. He started studying massage therapy in 2016, then completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Clinical Myotherapy in August 2024. During those years, he also specialised in Thai Massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage for presentations like Lipedema and Lymphoedema. Nowadays, he runs his clinic in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, where he integrates movement therapy into his practice to enhance overall well-being. He also values meditation, having completed several Vipassana courses. Committed to continuous learning, he aims to share his expertise in integrated therapies to help others achieve balance and resilience.