Hypertension in Pregnancy

Hypertension in Pregnancy

Gestational Hypertension

Hypertension/high blood pressure while pregnant carries serious health risks to mother and baby. Some women have high blood pressure before they get pregnant. Others develop hypertension for the first time during pregnancy.

Hypertension during pregnancy can lead to a more serious complication preeclampsia. This can progress to an even more dangerous complications such as eclampsia (seizures) and HELLP syndrome.

Pregnant women need to understand the warning signs of these conditions, which can be fatal if left untreated. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are common and remain a significant cause of maternal and fetal morbidity.

Risk Factors for Hypertension in Pregnancy

  • Decreased blood flow to the placenta

  • Prematurity

  • Placental abruption

  • Intrauterine growth restriction

  • Organ damage

  • Caesarean birth

  • Preeclampsia

Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that affects 5-8% of pregnancies.

In pregnancy the placenta is the organ that develops to feed and send oxygen to the fetus to help it grow. New blood vessels must form in order to send nutrient-rich blood into the placenta.

In women with preeclampsia there is narrowing of the placental blood vessels. This restricts the growth of the baby, causes hypertension, and damages other organ systems in the mother- especially the kidneys.

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