High blood pressure during pregnancy
High blood pressure
is a major concern during pregnancy, especially for women with chronic
hypertension. Chronic hypertension refers to high blood pressure that was
already present before pregnancy. This also includes high blood pressure that
develops before 20 weeks of gestation or persists beyond 12 weeks postpartum.
The occurrence of
high blood pressure during pregnancy can be a sign of preeclampsia. Although
high blood pressure and preeclampsia may be related, they are different. If you
were diagnosed with high blood pressure before you got pregnant, you may be
wondering how it will affect your pregnancy, and even if you should even get
pregnant.
Can I have a healthy pregnancy with high blood pressure?
It is ideal to
consult a doctor before becoming pregnant. This gives your doctor a chance to
see if your high blood pressure is under control and review your medications.
Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy and may harm your baby.
Chronic hypertension
can get worse during pregnancy, especially if you develop preeclampsia in
addition to chronic hypertension. If this happens, you may develop
complications such as congestive heart failure, vision changes, stroke,
seizures, and kidney or liver problems.
Am I predisposed to developing preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is high
blood pressure that occurs exclusively during pregnancy. So even if your
chronic high blood pressure is under control before you become pregnant, you
may also develop preeclampsia later. If you have chronic hypertension, you are
more likely to develop preeclampsia, but that doesn't necessarily mean you
will. Also, if you develop preeclampsia, your doctor may recommend that you
induce labor before your due date to prevent further pregnancy complications. If
preeclampsia is severe, your doctor may recommend a caesarean section.
Will my pregnancy be classified as high risk?
The high-risk
pregnancy rate includes certain chronic conditions such as high blood pressure.
Therefore, since you already have high blood pressure and become pregnant, your
pregnancy is automatically classified as high risk.
High-risk pregnancies
usually require specialist advice and care from a doctor. You will most likely
meet with a perinatologist, an obstetrician who specializes in managing
high-risk pregnancies. Perinatologists provide specialized care for women with
pre-existing diseases, as well as women who develop complications during
pregnancy.
In addition, you may
be referred to a perinatal center before delivery to reduce the risk of your
baby getting sick. These centers usually work in conjunction with obstetricians
and the neonatal intensive care unit to provide the best possible care for you
and your baby.
How can high blood pressure during pregnancy affect my baby?
It is possible to
have chronic hypertension and give birth to a healthy child. However, chronic
hypertension can have a number of adverse effects on your developing child.
These possible
problems include:
- Impairment of the baby’s growth
- Higher risk of breathing problems before or during labor
- Higher risk of placental abruption (placenta separating from the uterus before labor)
- Possible side effects of the medications you are taking.
How can I manage my hypertension during pregnancy?
Although there is no
cure for chronic hypertension, there are ways to successfully manage your
condition during pregnancy. Taking care of yourself is the best way to take
care of your developing child.
Below are some
examples:
- Eat a healthy diet, and especially limit your sodium intake
- Take your blood pressure medications the way you are supposed to
- Keep all your prenatal appointments
- Stay physically active, although your doctor may prescribe bed rest if you develop preeclampsia
- Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or take illicit drugs
- Monitor your weight gain – do not gain too much