What Causes High Triglycerides in Pregnancy?

While you are pregnant, your doctor may order laboratory tests such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels to monitor your health. Triglyceride levels are a part of cholesterol tests and measure the amount of fats circulating in your blood. According to the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine, causes of high triglycerides during pregnancy include certain personal habits and blood disorders that may develop during pregnancy.

Blood Pressure

Pregnancy may cause you to experience an increase in your blood pressure, which may result in an increase of your triglyceride levels.

Blood Sugar

Eating a lot of sugary foods while you are pregnant can elevate the amount of sugar in your blood, which can lead to high triglyceride levels.

Gestational Diabetes

High triglycerides during pregnancy may be a result of gestational diabetes, which is a type of diabetes that can develop while you are pregnant.

Medications

If you are taking certain types of medications while you are pregnant, including steroids such as prednisone or diuretics ("water pills"), these can cause high triglyceride levels.

Overweight

Gaining too much weight during your pregnancy may cause your triglyceride levels to become high; if you have a history of being overweight, your triglyceride levels may increase even more.

Personal Habits

High triglycerides during pregnancy may be caused by certain personal habits including a lack of exercise and eating fatty or fried foods.

Resources

• National Library of Medicine: High Triglycerides