Pregnancy high blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy is an increase in blood pressure, which can be mild or severe.
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High blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy is an increase in blood pressure, which can be mild or severe. Although you may not experience any symptoms at all, headaches, visual disturbances, and vomiting are all warning signs. You may also have water retention, with swelling of your feet, hands, and ankles.
High blood pressure can happen at any time, but it's more likely near your due date. It's more common in women having their first baby, especially if they're over 35, and also in women having more than one baby.
Your midwife will keep a close check on your blood pressure because a rise may be a warning of pre-eclampsia (sometimes called pre-eclamptic toxaemia).
It's not clear why some women get high blood pressure in pregnancy. In some mothers, cells from the placenta produce chemicals called vasoconstrictors that may cause the blood vessels to constrict. This may raise the blood pressure and cause the kidneys to hold on to sodium, leading to water retention. Your blood pressure will return to normal once your baby has been born.
- If you suffered from high blood pressure before you were pregnant, tell your doctor. Keep an eye on your weight. Tell your doctor if you often have headaches and nausea.
- Your doctor will test your blood pressure and urine, and look for any swelling (oedema – see Water retention) of your hands, face, and ankles at antenatal visits.
- If your blood pressure goes up at any stage of your pregnancy, you’ll almost certainly have to see your doctor more often and you may be asked to attend the antenatal day unit at the hospital for checking.
- If the rise is severe, you’ll need to go into hospital, where you can be monitored continuously.
- If your baby appears to be suffering, your labour may be induced or you may have a Caesarean section.
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (see Pre-eclampsia) can slow your baby’s growth rate, because blood flow to the uterus is reduced. Your baby may also be short of oxygen. Both these factors may lead to low birthweight. There is a severe form called eclampsia, which can be life threatening, but thanks to good antenatal care this is now very rare in the West.
Posted 04.05.2011
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