High blood pressure in pregnancy is a common but serious condition. About 10 percent of all pregnancies in the United States are complicated by high blood pressure. While serious, high blood pressure in pregnancy is a treatable and preventable condition.
High blood pressure (in pregnancy) falls under one of the following categories:
- Chronic high blood pressure
High blood pressure that existed before pregnancy started. High blood pressure was present before 20 weeks of pregnancy. This is known as chronic high blood pressure - Gestational hypertension
High blood pressure that is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy is referred to as gestational hypertension. Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure. - Preeclampsia
This type of high blood pressure develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a much more serious form of high blood pressure and is associated with signs of damage to other organ systems, including the kidneys, liver, blood or brain.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure generally has no symptoms. Many women with high blood pressure do not realize they have it.That’s why it’s important to attend all of your prenatal appointments. During these appointments, your doctor or midwife will be able to measure your blood pressure and spot any problems early on.
When symptoms of high blood pressure do appear, these may be
- Severe headaches
- Changes in vision, including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity
- Upper abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
How high blood pressure in pregnancy is diagnosed
- Blood pressure checks
Diagnosing high blood pressure in pregnancy is usually done by a healthcare professional (ie. doctor or nurse). They will measure your blood pressure on two or more occasions and those with blood pressure readings greater than 140/90 mmHg will be closely followed. - Urine sample
In addition to blood pressure checks, your doctor or nurse may take a urine sample to look for the presence of proteins in the urine. Proteins in the urine cannot be spotted by the naked eye. Your healthcare provider may ask for urine samples from time to time to see if the high blood pressure has started to affect the kidneys.
In all cases, the diagnosis of high blood pressure in pregnancy must be made by a medical professional. This will ensure that an appropriate management plan is put in place and that your pregnancy is closely monitored.
How high blood pressure affects mother and baby
Unfortunately, high blood pressure that is left uncontrolled can lead to a number of complications for both mother and baby. These include:
- Preeclampsia – a severe form of high blood pressure
- Placental abruption -the placenta, which provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby may separate from the wall of the uterus prematurely
- Preterm delivery -a delivery that happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy
- The baby is born with a low birth weight
Managing high blood pressure early on is the best and most effective way to reduce the risk of potential complications.
Managing high blood pressure – what you can do
Managing high blood pressure is something that you and your healthcare provider can do together. Your doctor may suggest blood pressure-lowering medications. These medications are safe for pregnancy. They may be recommended by your doctor over the course of your pregnancy
Steps that you can take to help manage your blood pressure
- Attend all of your prenatal appointments
- Stop smoking if you currently smoke
- Stick to a healthy diet
- If your doctor says it is safe, then continue with low-impact exercises like walking or swimming
With good management, high blood pressure can be controlled. This will dramatically lower the risk of pregnancy-related complications.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/pregnancy.htm
- https://meridian.allenpress.com/thij/article/44/5/350/85349/Hypertension-and-Pregnancy