High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy: Risks, Symptoms, and Management

There are the following stages of high BP in pregnancy:

• High blood pressure in pregnancy (gestational hypertension)

Gestational hypertension usually involves blood pressure greater than 140/90 on at least two tests done at an interval of 6 hours and there is no protein in the urine. It is usually diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

• Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is gestational hypertension accompanied by proteinuria (less than 300 mg of protein in a 24-hour urine sample). Severe pre-eclampsia involves a BP higher than 160/110 along with other symptoms. Hellp syndrome is a type of preeclampsia. It combines three medical conditions: hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet count.

• Eclampsia

When a pregnant woman with high BP and proteinuria develops seizures, the condition is called eclampsia.

The causes of high BP during pregnancy are unknown. Certain conditions increase the risk of developing it, some of which are:

• Having previously suffered from high BP.
• Kidney disease.
• Diabetes.
• Having had high BP in a previous pregnancy.
• If the mother is under 20 or over 40.
• Developing more than one fetus (twins or triplets).

The following symptoms are common symptoms of high BP in pregnancy. However, each woman experiences different symptoms. Some of its symptoms are as follows:

• Increase in BP
• Presence or absence of protein in the urine (gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia)
• Edema (swelling)
• Sudden weight gain
• Visual changes such as blurred or seeing two images at once
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain or colic in the upper right abdomen around the stomach
• Low urination
• Changes in liver or kidney function

The diagnosis is often based on an increase in blood pressure levels. But it can be diagnosed by identifying other symptoms.Gestational hypertension can be diagnosed by:

• Measuring blood pressure.
• Urine, liver, and kidney tests to rule out pre-eclampsia.
• Evaluating edema.
• Frequent weight measurements.
• Testing for blood clots to rule out pre-eclampsia.

The doctor determines the specific treatment for high BP in pregnancy based on the following conditions:

• Pregnancy, health, and prior medical treatment.
• The severity of the disease.
• Your tolerance to medicines, procedures, and therapies.
• The chance of recovery.

The goal of treatment is to prevent the condition from getting worse and causing other complications. Gestational hypertension can be treated in the following ways -

• Complete bed rest is recommended at home or in the hospital.
• By getting admitted to the hospital.
• By magnesium sulfate.
• By checking the health of the fetus.
• By counting the movements of the fetus. For example, a change in the number of kicks etc. by the fetus can mean that the fetus is under stress.
• By nonstress test: In this, by measuring the changes in the heart rate of the fetus based on the movements of the fetus.
• Biophysical profile: This is a test in which ultrasound test is also done along with nonstress test.
• Doppler flow studies are also a type of ultrasound. In this, sound waves are used to measure the blood flow in the blood vessels.
• Regular testing of urine and blood in the laboratory.
• Intake of medicines called corticosteroids, which help in maturing the lungs of the fetus. Lung immaturity is a major problem in premature babies.

(Read more -How To Take Care During Pregnancy)

High blood pressure can harm the mother and the baby. The effects may or may not cause any problems. Some of these include:

• Damage to your kidneys and other organs.
• Blood flow to the placenta may be reduced, which means the baby is getting less oxygen and fewer nutrients.
• The baby will be born too small or too early.
• Risk of developing heart disease or high BP problems in old age. 

In severe cases, gestational hypertension can lead to pre-eclampsia. It can also damage the placenta as well as your brain, liver and kidneys. Pre-eclampsia can lead to eclampsia which is a very dangerous and life-threatening condition.

Read More -(Every Mother Should Know : Pregnancy Problems)

High blood pressure (high BP) in pregnancy can be a common but serious condition that can affect the health of both the mother and the baby. It is called pregnancy-related hypertension or gestational hypertension. If not controlled in time, it can lead to complications like pre-eclampsia, which can affect the mother’s organs and hamper the baby’s growth. Symptoms of high BP can include headaches, blurred vision, and difficulty breathing. Regular blood pressure monitoring, a healthy diet, and medication prescribed by the doctor are essential to control it.