When Should I Call The Doctor About High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
If you’re checking your blood pressure at home, contact your provider if your blood pressure is above a certain level. Your provider can tell you what those levels should be and what to do if you go above them.
Let your provider know immediately if you notice any changes in your baby’s movements. If your baby seems less active than usual, you may need to do kick counts.
Also call your provider right away if you have any signs of severe preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome:
- A headache that’s severe or doesn’t go away
- Vision changes, including double vision, blurriness, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or temporary loss of vision
- Intense pain or tenderness in the upper abdomen or shoulder
- Nausea or vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
What Is Normal Blood Pressure In Pregnancy
Normal blood pressure in pregnancy is less than 120/80 mm Hg. That’s expressed as “120 over 80.”
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury , and the measurement has two numbers. The top number is the pressure of your blood against the walls of your arteries when your heart contracts and pumps blood. The bottom number is when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
High blood pressure is diagnosed when either the systolic or diastolic number is at an unhealthy level or if both are.
The guidelines for blood pressure readings during pregnancy are:
- Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg
- Mild hypertension: Higher than 140/90 mm Hg
- Severe hypertension: Higher than 160/110 mm Hg
These numbers are different than guidelines for blood pressure for people who aren’t pregnant.
Your provider or a medical assistant will measure your blood pressure at each prenatal visit. Your healthcare provider may also ask you to monitor your blood pressure at home.
Before concluding that you have hypertension, your provider will probably take your blood pressure readings at least two different times. That’s because your blood pressure varies throughout the day, and it can go down when you’re relaxed and up when you’re active or stressed. Some people may have an above-normal blood pressure reading because they get nervous at the doctor’s office a phenomenon called “white-coat hypertension.”
Complications Of High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Most expecting moms with high blood pressure do just fine. If you have chronic hypertension, you and your caregiver will likely be able to manage it with lifestyle changes, medication, and close monitoring for complications.
Most women who get gestational hypertension have only a mild form of the condition and don’t develop it until near the end of pregnancy. If you’re in this category, you have a somewhat higher risk of having labor induced. But other than that, you and your baby are likely to do as well as you would if you had normal blood pressure.
But sometimes high blood pressure results in a decreased blood flow to your baby, which means they may not get enough nutrients and oxygen to grow properly. The more severe your high blood pressure and the earlier in pregnancy it appears, the greater your risk for problems. There’s also a greater risk of complications if you’ve had high blood pressure for a long time and it has damaged your heart, kidneys, or other organs. The risks are also higher for women with high blood pressure that’s caused by another medical condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease.
High blood pressure risks during pregnancy include:
If your high blood pressure develops into preeclampsia, you’re at risk of:
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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
Preeclampsia can be a fatal condition during pregnancy. If you’re being treated for this condition, make sure to see your healthcare provider for all of your appointments and blood or urine tests. Contact your obstetrician if you have any concerns or questions about your symptoms.
Go to the nearest hospital if you’re pregnant and experience the following:
- Symptoms of a seizure-like twitching or convulsing.
- Shortness of breath.
How Can I Prevent Preeclampsia:
The exact cause of preeclampsia is not known. Its thought to be improper functioning of the placenta including insufficient blood flow to the placenta. Other factors that may increase risk include: high fat and poor nutrition immune function disorders genetic issues or a family history.
Currently, there is no sure way to prevent preeclampsia. Some contributing factors to high blood pressure can be controlled and some cant. Follow your doctors instruction about diet and exercise.
- Use little or no added salt in your meals
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day
- Avoid fried foods and junk food
- Get enough rest
- Your doctor may suggest you take the prescribed medicine and additional supplements
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Different Types Of High Blood Pressure In Pregnancy
There are 3 types of high blood pressure during pregnancy:
- Chronic hypertension: This is when you already had high blood pressure before you fell pregnant. Chronic hypertension also refers to when your high blood pressure is diagnosed in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Some people with chronic hypertension may develop pre-eclampsia when they are pregnant.
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension: This is high blood pressure diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is also called gestational hypertension.
- Pre-eclampsia: Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition that only occurs in pregnancy. As well as high blood pressure, it can also affect the kidneys, liver, blood and brain.
What Are The Causes Of Preeclampsia
According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of preeclampsia involves several factors. Experts believe it begins in the placenta the organ that nourishes the fetus throughout pregnancy. Early in pregnancy, new blood vessels develop and evolve to efficiently send blood to the placenta.
In women with preeclampsia, these blood vessels dont seem to develop or function properly. Theyre narrower than normal blood vessels and react differently to hormonal signaling, which limits the amount of blood that can flow through them.
Causes of this abnormal development may include:
- Insufficient blood flow to the uterus
- Damage to the blood vessels
- A problem with the immune system
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What Causes High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
It’s not always clear what causes high blood pressure during pregnancy, but risk factors include:
- Having a personal or family history of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia
- Being African American
- Certain medical conditions before pregnancy, including diabetes, chronic hypertension, lupus, or chronic kidney disease.
- Having had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
- Being overweight
- Being sedentary
- Having had assisted reproductive technology
Is There Anything That Increases My Risk Of Developing Pre
There are some things that can increase your risk of developing pre-eclampsia. You are at higher risk if:
- your blood pressure was high before you got pregnant
- your blood pressure was high in a previous pregnancy
- you had diabetes or kidney disease before you get pregnant
- you have an auto-immune disorder, such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome.
Other things that can slightly increase your chances of developing pre-eclampsia include if:
- you are 40 or older
- this is your first pregnancy
- your last pregnancy was more than 10 years ago
- you or a family member has had pre-eclampsia before
- you are expecting more than 1 baby.
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What Are The Risk Factors For High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Anyone can develop high blood pressure during their pregnancy, but you are at increased risk if:
- you have had pre-eclampsia before
- your close relatives have had pre-eclampsia
- you have a medical condition such as kidney disease, diabetes or chronic hypertension
- you are older than 40 years of age
- you are having more than one baby
Effects Of Preeclampsia On The Unborn Baby
Around 5 to 8 per cent of pre-term deliveries in Australia are due to preeclampsia or its associated complications. In the womb, the baby is attached to a special organ of pregnancy called the placenta. It is the placenta that provides the baby with oxygen and nutrients from the motherâs blood and gets rid of waste products by passing them back to the motherâs blood.If the mother has preeclampsia, high blood pressure can slow down the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are able to get through to the baby. In severe cases, the baby can be gradually starved of oxygen and nutrients, which may affect growth. This growth restriction threatens the life of the baby and it is then necessary for the baby to be born early, even prematurely. Another serious complication of preeclampsia is placental abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterine wall and the woman experiences vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. This is a medical emergency.
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How To Prevent High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Some risk factors can’t be changed, such as your genes or having certain health conditions. But you can make changes to reduce other risk factors, and these are important to know about when you’re trying to get pregnant.
Some steps you can take to reduce your high blood pressure risks:
- Maintain a healthy weight and diet. Talk to your provider about how much weight to gain during pregnancy. The DASH diet has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Ask your provider if it’s safe to exercise. In most cases you can continue to exercise, though your provider may recommend modifying the types of activities you do.
- Manage stress, which can worsen high blood pressure
Can High Blood Pressure Affect My Baby
High blood pressure in pregnancy can prevent blood from flowing to the placenta. Because the baby doesnt get enough nutrients or oxygen, untreated high blood pressure can put them at higher risk of complications such as:
- being low birth weight
- preterm labour and/or premature birth
- placental abruption
For this reason, its very important that high blood pressure is picked up early and treated.
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Is There Anything I Can Do To Prevent Pre
Theres no guaranteed way to prevent pre-eclampsia. The best thing to do is go to all your antenatal appointments and follow your healthcare professionals advice.
You may be prescribed low-dose aspirin once a day from 12 weeks of pregnancy until you give birth if you have more than 1 risk factor for pre-eclampsia.
Youll also be given the same advice as every pregnant woman about exercise and eating well.
There is specific advice for women with pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes.
Following this advice will help you have as healthy a pregnancy as possible.
You Can Have Preeclampsia And Not Know It So Go To All Of Your Prenatal Care Visits Even If Youre Feeling Fine
Download our English and Spanish health action sheets on low-dose aspirin.
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy or after giving birth . Its when a woman has high blood pressure and signs that some of her organs, like her kidneys and liver, may not be working normally. Blood pressure is the force of blood that pushes against the walls of your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart to other parts of the body. High blood pressure is when the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels is too high. It can stress your heart and cause problems during pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is a serious health problem for women around the world. It affects 2 to 8 percent of pregnancies worldwide . In the United States, its the cause of 15 percent of premature births. Premature birth is birth that happens too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Most women with preeclampsia have healthy babies. But if not treated, it can cause severe health problems for you and your baby.
Can taking low-dose aspirin help reduce your risk for preeclampsia and premature birth?
For some women, yes. If your provider thinks youre at risk for preeclampsia, he may want you to take low-dose aspirin to help prevent it. Low-dose aspirin also is called baby aspirin or 81 mg aspirin. Talk to your provider to see if treatment with low-dose aspirin is right for you.
How is preeclampsia diagnosed?
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How Does Magnesium Sulfate Therapy Treat Preeclampsia
The only treatment to stop progression and lead to resolution of preeclampsia is delivery of the baby and placenta. Waiting to deliver can increase risk of complications but delivering too early in the pregnancy increases the risk for preterm birth.
If its too early in your pregnancy, you may be told to wait until the baby is mature enough to be born to minimize those risks.
Depending on the severity of the disease and gestational age, doctors may recommend women with preeclampsia come in more often for outpatient prenatal visits, or possibly be admitted to the hospital. Theyll likely perform more frequent blood and urine tests. They may also prescribe:
- medications to lower blood pressure
- corticosteroids to help mature the babys lungs and improve the mothers health
In severe cases of preeclampsia, doctors often recommend antiseizure medications, such as magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is a mineral that reduces seizure risks in women with preeclampsia. A healthcare provider will give the medication intravenously.
Sometimes, its also used to prolong pregnancy for up to two days. This allows time for corticosteroid drugs to improve the babys lung function.
Magnesium sulfate usually takes effect immediately. Its normally given until about 24 hours after delivery of the baby. Women receiving magnesium sulfate are hospitalized for close monitoring of the treatment.
What Are The Symptoms Of Pre
The early signs of pre-eclampsia include protein in your wee or high blood pressure. You probably wont notice this yourself, which is why youll have regular urine and blood pressure checks as part of your routine antenatal care.
You may need to have your blood pressure checked more often if you have any signs of pre-eclampsia.
If the condition gets worse, you may have the following symptoms:
- a headache that doesnt go away with simple painkillers
- vision problems, such as blurring or flashing before your eyes
- pain just below the ribs
- feeling sick or vomiting
- heartburn that doesnt go away with antacids
- rapidly increasing swelling of the face, hands or feet
- feeling very unwell.
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Home Blood Pressure Checks
We strongly encourage women to own and use a home blood pressure cuff. Devices can be purchased from local drug stores or online for $20 to $50.
If cost is a barrier, check out the Preeclampsia Foundation. This nonprofit organization offers low-to-no-cost blood pressure “Cuff Kits” for women who meet eligibility requirements.
When checking your blood pressure at home:
- Check it at the same time every day when possible.
- Sit upright and slightly reclined. Lying down may lead to a false low reading.
- Record your blood pressure readings in a journal or on your phone. Show it to your doctor to assess trends related to your daily life. Get more tips now.
Morbidity and mortality related to postpartum hypertension should be 100 percent preventable. Our goal is to help educate and care for more women to prevent maternal blood pressure issues postpartum. It wont take much to make a big difference.
What Causes High Blood Pressure
During pregnancy, existing high blood pressure can get worse and new blood pressure issues can develop. Total blood volume doubles during pregnancy, putting additional strain on the blood vessels.
Usually, the patient’s blood pressure levels off after delivery. But this can take time. Additionally, some women dont develop blood pressure issues until after delivery. When a patient’s blood pressure exceeds 140/90 for the first time in the postpartum period, the patient may have postpartum preeclampsia.
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What Are The Complications Of Preeclampsia
The most serious complication of preeclampsia is death, both to the mother and baby. Doctors also know that women who experience preeclampsia during pregnancy are at greater risk for cardiovascular and kidney disease in the future. Women with preeclampsia can also have seizures or theyre at risk for HELLP syndrome. This serious condition stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet counts. This condition can cause blood clotting disorders, severe pain, and can be life-threatening.
Its important to call your doctor right away if youre experiencing any of the symptoms of preeclampsia to help prevent any of these possible complications.
What Are The Symptoms Of Preeclampsia
If you have two blood pressure measurements equal to or greater than 140/90 mm Hg four hours apart and you do not have a history of chronic high blood pressure, you may have preeclampsia. This increase in blood pressure can take place suddenly and with no warning.
Other symptoms associated with preeclampsia include:
- difficulty breathing
- swelling in the face and hands
- too much protein in the urine, which can indicate kidney problems
- vision changes, such as sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or temporary vision loss
Its important to seek immediate medical treatment if you experience any of these symptoms. Women may initially pass off their symptoms as those of a normal pregnancy. If you suspect you have preeclampsia, its better to be safe than to experience more serious complications.
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What Are The Possible Complications
Youre more likely to have complications if you develop preeclampsia early in pregnancy. In some cases, doctors must perform induced labor or a caesarean delivery to remove the baby. This will stop preeclampsia from progressing and should lead to resolution of the condition.
If left untreated, complications may develop. Some complications of preeclampsia include:
- a lack of oxygen to the placenta which can cause slow growth, low birth weight, or preterm birth of the baby or even stillbirth
- placental abruption, or the separation of the placenta from the uterus wall, which can cause severe bleeding and damage to the placenta
- HELLP syndrome, which causes loss of red blood cells, elevated liver enzymes, and low blood platelet count, resulting in organ damage
- eclampsia, which is preeclampsia with seizures
- stroke, which can lead to permanent brain damage or even death
Women who develop preeclampsia face an increased risk for heart and blood vessel disease. Their risk of preeclampsia in future pregnancies also increases. Women whove had preeclampsia have a chance of developing it again in a future pregnancy.