According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 5–10 percent of women during pregnancy have some kind of hypertensive disorder. Some women have high blood pressure before they get pregnant, while others have high blood pressure for the first time during pregnancy.
Discover how to monitor and manage these conditions to ensure a healthy pregnancy for the baby and mother-to-be.
What pregnancy complications can high blood pressure cause
Preeclampsia: This is when a pregnant woman has high blood pressure and signs that some of her organs, like her kidneys and liver, may not be working properly. Signs and symptoms of preeclampsia include having protein in the urine, changes in vision, and severe headaches. Preeclampsia can be a serious medical condition. Even if you have mild preeclampsia, you need treatment to make sure it doesn’t get worse.
Premature birth: This is birth that happens too early — before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Even with treatment, a pregnant woman with severe high blood pressure or preeclampsia may need to give birth early to avoid serious health problems for her and her baby.
Low birthweight: This is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. High blood pressure can narrow blood vessels in the uterus (womb). Your baby may not get enough oxygen and nutrients, causing him or her to grow slowly.
Placental abruption: This is a serious condition in which the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before birth. If this happens, your baby may not get enough oxygen and nutrients in the womb. You also may have serious bleeding from the vagina. The placenta grows in the uterus and supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.
C-section: If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy, you’re also more likely to have a cesarean birth. This is surgery in which your baby is born through a cut that your doctor makes in your belly and uterus.
What kinds of high blood pressure can affect pregnancy?
Two kinds of high blood pressure can happen during pregnancy:
1. Chronic hypertension: This type of high blood pressure occurs before pregnancy or develops before 20 weeks of pregnancy. It doesn’t go away after childbirth. The CDC reports that 1 in 4 women with chronic hypertension (25 percent) experiences preeclampsia during pregnancy. If you are at high risk for preeclampsia, your doctor may give you low-dose aspirin to help prevent it.
2. Gestational hypertension: This condition affects pregnant women after 20 weeks of pregnancy and usually goes away after giving birth. It can cause a small increase in blood pressure, but some women may develop severe hypertension and be at risk for more serious complications later in pregnancy, like preeclampsia. To prevent high blood pressure in the future, it’s important to eat healthily, stay active, and achieve a healthy weight after pregnancy.
How can you manage high blood pressure during pregnancy?
- Go to all your prenatal care checkups, even if you’re feeling fine.
If you need medicine to control your blood pressure, take it every day. Your doctor can help you choose one that’s safe for you and your baby. - Eat healthy foods. Don’t eat foods that are high in salt, like soup and canned foods.
- Stay active. Being active for 30 minutes each day can help you manage your weight, reduce stress and prevent problems like preeclampsia.
- Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, use street drugs, or abuse prescription drugs.
If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor. Managing your blood pressure can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Find an OB/GYN
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As one of the largest healthcare providers in the state, our extensive network is home to everyone from OB/GYNs and midwives to high-risk pregnancy doctors and neonatologists. Find a doctor near you.
