{"id":55278,"date":"2022-11-16T09:30:30","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T14:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=55278"},"modified":"2024-10-25T11:02:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T15:02:38","slug":"high-blood-pressure-during-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/high-blood-pressure-during-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prevent\u2014and treat\u2014high blood pressure during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maintaining a healthy <\/span>blood pressure<\/span><\/a> is a key marker of overall health, and one of the most important vital signs monitored at each pregnancy visit. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause serious health problems in people when they are not pregnant—and complications in both the mother and child when it occurs during pregnancy. Hypertensive complications range from more frequent monitoring and medication to life-threatening for both the mother and baby. Complications can be prevented when high blood pressure is detected, aggressively managed, and closely monitored. <\/span><\/p>\n

What causes high blood pressure during pregnancy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Blood pressure changes during pregnancy are normal. Most pregnant women experience a lower blood pressure than usual during their second trimester. This is because during the first trimester pregnant woman make 50% more blood (to help feed the fetus) than when they are not pregnant. Due to this increase in blood volume and dilation of blood vessels, pregnant women may feel lightheaded and tired. Of course, pregnant women may also feel tired because of the work of growing a fetus. Blood pressure may slightly increase during their third trimester. <\/span><\/p>\n

While a bit of an uptick is normal at the end of pregnancy, when blood pressure is high, it needs to be managed. The reason for pregnancy-induced hypertension is that “blood volume increases during pregnancy,” explains <\/span>Alan Lindemann<\/span><\/a>, MD, an obstetrician and maternal mortality expert. “If arteries don’t expand to adjust for the additional volume, blood pressure goes up.” <\/span><\/p>\n

Normal blood pressure when not pregnant is lower than 120\/80 <\/span>mmHg<\/span>, <\/span>according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a>. Normal blood pressure for pregnant women<\/span> can vary from individual to individual, usually from 90\/60 to 130\/80. <\/span><\/p>\n

Variations in blood pressure can be attributed to stress levels, age, and medical history—but measurements should always be below 140\/90. <\/span>Gestational hypertension is a diagnosis of new onset of hypertension (meaning a systolic blood pressure ≥140 and\/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90) at more than 20 weeks pregnant. <\/span>To diagnose gestational hypertension, blood pressure must be elevated at least four hours apart on two or more occasions.<\/span> If a woman has elevated blood pressure before 20 weeks gestation, then it is considered that hypertension is a pre-existing condition, not related to pregnancy.  Many women do not have medical care when not pregnant and are often unaware of their elevated blood pressure. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Blood pressure during pregnancy chart<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Normal<\/b><\/td>\n<120\/80 mmHg<\/span><\/td>\nContinue with healthy diet and exercise<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elevated<\/b><\/td>\nSystolic 120-129 mmHg <\/span>and <\/b>diastolic <80 mmHg<\/span><\/td>\nSee your physician. Avoid salt. Continue with healthy exercise and home blood pressure monitoring. Schedule more frequent physician visits, maternal lab, and fetal monitoring.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stage 1 hypertension<\/b><\/td>\nSystolic 130-139 mmHg <\/span>or <\/b>diastolic 80-89 mmHg<\/span><\/td>\nSee your physician. Use home blood pressure monitoring. Avoid salt. Schedule more frequent physician visits, maternal lab work, fetal ultrasounds and fetal testing (biophysical profile BPP and nonstress test NST). <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gestational hypertension<\/b><\/td>\nSystolic 140+ mmHg <\/span>and\/or <\/b>diastolic 90+ mmHg<\/span><\/td>\nSee your physician. You may need to take medications, change diet, have more frequent physician visits, maternal lab work, fetal ultrasounds, and have fetal testing (BPP and NST). You also may need induction of labor.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Severe gestational hypertension<\/b><\/td>\nSystolic 160+ mmHg <\/span>and\/or <\/b>diastolic 110+ mmHg<\/span><\/td>\nSee your physician. You will need medications. Frequent maternal lab testing, fetal ultrasounds and fetal testing (BPP and NST) will be performed. May need hospital admission, bed rest, and early fetal delivery.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source: <\/span><\/i>The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Possible causes of and risk factors for high blood pressure during pregnancy include:<\/span><\/p>\n