Some women have high blood pressure during pregnancy. This can put the mother and her baby at risk for problems during the pregnancy. High blood pressure can also cause problems during and after delivery.1,2 The good news is that high blood pressure is preventable and treatable. Show
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is very common. In the United States, high blood pressure happens in 1 in every 12 to 17 pregnancies among women ages 20 to 44.3 High blood pressure in pregnancy has become more common. However, with good blood pressure control, you and your baby are more likely to stay healthy. The most important thing to do is talk with your health care team about any blood pressure problems so you can get the right treatment and control your blood pressure—before you get pregnant. Getting treatment for high blood pressure is important before, during, and after pregnancy. What are high blood pressure complications during pregnancy?Complications from high blood pressure for the mother and infant can include the following:
Discuss blood pressure problems with your health care team before, during, and after pregnancy. Learn what to do if you have high blood pressure before, during, or after pregnancy. What should I do if I have high blood pressure before, during, or after pregnancy?Before Pregnancy
During Pregnancy
After Pregnancy
What are types of high blood pressure conditions before, during, and after pregnancy?Your doctor or nurse should look for these conditions before, during, and after pregnancy:1,11 Chronic HypertensionChronic hypertension means having high blood pressure* before you get pregnant or before 20 weeks of pregnancy.1 Women who have chronic hypertension can also get preeclampsia in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.1 Gestational HypertensionThis condition happens when you only have high blood pressure* during pregnancy and do not have protein in your urine or other heart or kidney problems. It is typically diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy or close to delivery. Gestational hypertension usually goes away after you give birth. However, some women with gestational hypertension have a higher risk of developing chronic hypertension in the future.1,12 Preeclampsia/EclampsiaPreeclampsia happens when a woman who previously had normal blood pressure suddenly develops high blood pressure* and protein in her urine or other problems after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Women who have chronic hypertension can also get preeclampsia. Preeclampsia happens in about 1 in 25 pregnancies in the United States.1,13 Some women with preeclampsia can develop seizures. This is called eclampsia, which is a medical emergency.1,11 Symptoms of preeclampsia include:
Some women have no symptoms of preeclampsia, which is why it is important to visit your health care team regularly, especially during pregnancy. You are more at risk for preeclampsia if:1
In rare cases, preeclampsia can happen after you have given birth. This is a serious medical condition known as postpartum preeclampsia. It can happen in women without any history of preeclampsia during pregnancy.14 The symptoms for postpartum preeclampsia are similar to the symptoms of preeclampsiaexternal icon. Postpartum preeclampsia is typically diagnosed within 48 hours after delivery but can happen up to 6 weeks later.9 Tell your health care provider or call 9-1-1 right away if you have symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia. You might need emergency medical care.9,10 *In November 2017, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) updated the definition of chronic stage 2 hypertension to mean having blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg.15 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ recommendations on hypertension in pregnancy predate the 2017 ACC/AHA’s guideline and definition of hypertension and stage 2 hypertension.
What is considered high blood pressure in pregnancy?What is gestational hypertension? You have gestational hypertension when: You have a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher and/or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. The high blood pressure first happens after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
What are the 3 early signs of preeclampsia?Along with high blood pressure, preeclampsia signs and symptoms may include: Excess protein in urine (proteinuria) or other signs of kidney problems. Decreased levels of platelets in blood (thrombocytopenia) Increased liver enzymes that indicate liver problems.
How high is too high preeclampsia?How is preeclampsia diagnosed? Your health care provider will check your blood pressure and urine at each prenatal visit. If your blood pressure reading is high (140/90 or higher), especially after the 20th week of pregnancy, your provider will likely want to run some tests.
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