Most women with high blood pressure (or hypertension) before pregnancy will experience a normal pregnancy. However, these women are more likely to experience certain problems when they become pregnant.
These may include the following:
- Preeclampsia. Women with preeclampsia have high blood pressure and pass large amounts of protein in their urine or have organ dysfunction. Preeclampsia usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy, and is dangerous. It can cause growth retardation in the fetus. It can also affect the mother's liver, kidneys, blood, heart, eyes, and nervous system.
- Placental abruption. During pregnancy, the placenta is the organ that provides nutrients and oxygen to the newborn and removes metabolic waste products. The placenta is attached to the inner surface of the uterus. Placental abruption is the separation of the placenta from its implantation site before delivery. If this occurs, the fetus may not receive enough nutrients and oxygen.
- Fetal growth retardation. That is, the fetus does not develop normally because its growth rate is lower than normal.
If you are already taking antihypertensive medication and your blood pressure is well controlled, your doctor may suggest replacing your medication with another that is safer during pregnancy.
If your blood pressure is uncontrolled, your doctor will work with you to regulate it.
At each visit, the doctor will check the fetus's growth and your blood pressure.
When your doctor takes your blood pressure, they will tell you two numbers. For example, your doctor may tell you that your blood pressure is “140 over 90.” The first number is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart contracts. The second number is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart relaxes.
Your doctor will suggest you take medication if:
- Your "systolic" blood pressure is 140 or higher, ή
- Your "diastolic" pressure is 90 or higher.
If your doctor recommends an antihypertensive medication or replaces an antihypertensive medication you are already taking with another, he or she will have made sure that your antihypertensive treatment is safe during pregnancy.
Your doctor may also suggest taking low-dose aspirin during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (after the twelfth week). This may reduce the risk of preeclampsia. Do not take aspirin or any other medication unless your doctor recommends it.
The doctor will inform you about how to recognize the signs of preeclampsia or placental abruption, or other problems during pregnancy.
Contact your doctor immediately if:
- You don't feel your fetus moving as usual.
- Your stomach hurts.
- You experience vaginal bleeding.
- You start to feel contractions. During a contraction, the muscle wall of your uterus contracts. This can cause pain and make your belly harder.
- Feel any symptoms of preeclampsia, such as:
- Severe headache
- Pain in the upper abdomen
- Visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or blurred vision.
Most women with high blood pressure during pregnancy can have a vaginal birth, but the chances of premature birth are higher. This is because in cases of preeclampsia or placental abruption, or if the fetus is small for gestational age, the doctor may recommend an early delivery. If blood pressure is well controlled during pregnancy, there is a good chance that the newborn will be healthy.
After delivery, your doctor will continue to monitor your blood pressure and will suggest that you start measuring it at home a few days after delivery. This is because sometimes blood pressure drops immediately after delivery and then rises again. In this case, your doctor may suggest that you restart your antihypertensive medication (if you stopped it during pregnancy) or change your medication.
photo Greek Radio FL
