- The amount of force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries is blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause serious health problems and can be dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies. Some women have high blood pressure before they become pregnant, which can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. If a woman develops high blood pressure during pregnancy, it's called gestational hypertension. A serious condition called preeclampsia can also develop.
- High blood pressure during pregnancy can be dangerous because it can harm the mother's kidneys, liver and other organs. It can also cause low birth weight because the baby may not get all the nutrients it needs. High blood pressure during pregnancy can put a baby at risk for health problems such as respiratory and neurological problems. Babies can be born too soon, or before 37 weeks, which could cause them to die. The long-term health effects of high blood pressure in pregnancy aren't known. The odds for a woman developing chronic hypertension or heart problems usually are not increased, according to the National High Blood Pressure Education Program.
- Gestational hypertension, or high blood pressure that only occurs near the middle or end of pregnancy, goes away shortly after the baby is born. Preeclampsia is a toxic condition that may develop from gestational hypertension or other causes. Doctors don't know exactly why this happens. Headaches, visual problems, weight gain, upper abdominal pain and excess swelling of the hands and feet are all symptoms of preeclampsia. Some women swell up all over. Hospitalization is required if preeclampsia is severe. It's called eclampsia if seizures occur. The baby may have to be delivered early, which can increase complications for the mother and baby.
- There are several things women can do to prevent high blood pressure during pregnancy. They should talk to their doctor if they have high blood pressure and are thinking about getting pregnant. Exercise, diet and losing weight, if needed, can lower blood pressure. Alcohol and smoking should be avoided. Women who become pregnant and have a history of high blood pressure should visit the doctor right away. The doctor needs to know about any health problems or medications. Always check to see if medications for high blood pressure or other problems are safe to take during pregnancy. Blood pressure and weight can also be checked at home between doctor's visits.
- Doctors may recommend a woman to continue taking high blood pressure medicine if she took it before she became pregnant. Sometimes, if women don't get enough important nutrients from their diet, it may cause high blood pressure. Trials have shown that women who take calcium supplements from approximately 20 weeks of pregnancy can lower the risk almost half of preeclampsia. Research has shown good results for vitamins C and E to prevent preeclampsia. Another cause of high blood pressure during pregnancy is gestational diabetes. It's developed only during pregnancy, and the symptoms usually go away after women give birth. Women with a family history of high blood pressure during pregnancy may also be more at risk.
