Updated: 28-05-2025
Hypertension in Pregnancy: Every Woman Should Know the Facts
Hypertension in pregnancy is a common occurrence during the early stage of gestation.
However, pregnant women will be worried about this problem.
Individuals should be aware of the factors causing hypertension during pregnancy to assist them and find relief from this problem.
Individuals should also be aware of its complications to take the right treatment at the proper time.
Most of the women often neglect high blood pressure irrespective of its seriousness.
Sometimes, Hypertension in pregnancy causes maternal death & poor fetal outcomes 5 to 10% of pregnant women are likely to have higher blood pressure during pregnancy.
With proper care and treatment, this problem can be resolved or kept in control.
What is hypertension in pregnancy?
Hypertension is defined as when the blood pressure is over 140/90 mm Hg.
Having hypertension in pregnancy, before or after conception, needs attention.
Presumably, hypertensive during pregnancy is classified into 4 types, such as:
1. Gestational hypertension
In this, the patient will have high blood pressure, which develops after 20 weeks of gestation.
This is because there is no excess protein in the urine or other signs of organ damage.
2. Chronic hypertension
Chronic hypertension will be seen in women before pregnancy or just before 20 weeks of gestation.
However, high blood pressure commonly has no symptoms.
Thus, it might be difficult to determine this.
3. Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia
This problem is seen in women with chronic hypertension before pregnancy, which then develops worsening high blood pressure and protein in the urine or other health concerns during pregnancy.
4. Preeclampsia
Sometimes chronic high blood pressure or gestational hypertension can lead to preeclampsia, a pregnancy difficulty characterised by high blood pressure & symptoms of injury to another organ system, commonly after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Ignoring or neglecting preeclampsia leads to severe complications for both mother and infant.
Also Read: Is Teenage Pregnancy Safe for Health?
Risks or Complications of hypertension in pregnancy
Women suffering from hypertension in pregnancy have a higher risk of:
- Decreased blood flow to the placenta leads to low birth weight or preterm birth and slow growth.
- Prematurity leads to breathing problems in the baby.
- Due to preeclampsia, placental abruption separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery.
- This causes heavy bleeding and damage to the placenta, which can be dangerous for both baby and mother.
- Premature delivery is required to prevent possibly life-threatening complications.
- Hypertension in pregnancy leads to cardiovascular disease in the future.
- Having preeclampsia increases an individual’s risk of future heart and blood vessel disease.
- This risk is higher if the patient has or has had preeclampsia once or has had a premature birth.
The other risks of Hypertension in pregnancy include
- Cerebrovascular accident
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
The fetus has an increased risk of
- Prematurity
- Intrauterine death
- Intrauterine growth restriction
With the proper and precise treatment, hypertension in pregnancy can be controlled and reduced, resulting in a healthy mother and baby.
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