How To Avert High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

The onset of high blood pressure during pregnancy is called Preeclampsia. Although they can be related, they are different.


If you were diagnosed with hypertension before becoming pregnant, you may be wondering how this will affect your pregnancy, or even if you should become pregnant at all.

Can I have a healthy pregnancy with High Blood Pressure?

It is ideal to see your doctor before you become pregnant. This gives your healthcare provider an opportunity to see if your high blood-pressure is under control and review your medications.

Certain medications are not safe during pregnancy and can harm your baby.

During pregnancy, chronic hypertension can worsen, especially if you develop preeclampsia in addition to the chronic hypertension.

If this happens, you may develop complications such as congestive heart failure, vision changes, stroke, seizures, and kidney or liver problems.

Am I predisposed to develop preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that occurs exclusively in pregnancy. Therefore, even if your chronic high blood pressure is under control before you are pregnant, you may later develop preeclampsia, as well.

If you have chronic hypertension, you are more likely to develop preeclampsia, but it does not necessarily mean you will.

Also, should you develop preeclampsia, your doctor may recommend inducing labor a few days before your due date to prevent further complications. And if it is severe enough, you may need a cesarean birth.

Will my pregnancy be classified as high-risk?

One indicator of a high-risk pregnancy includes certain chronic medical problems, such as high blood pressure. Therefore, since you already have hypertension and have become pregnant, your pregnancy is automatically classified as high risk.

High-risk pregnancies typically need expert advice and the care of a healthcare specialist. You will most likely see a perinatologist an obstetrician who specializes in the care of high-risk pregnancies.

Perinatologists give expert care to women who have pre-existing medical conditions, as well as, women who develop complications during pregnancy.

In addition, you may be referred to a perinatal care center, before delivery, to lessen the likelihood your baby may become ill or die.

Usually, these centers work together with obstetricians and a newborn intensive care unit to provide the best care for you and your baby.