Gestational Hypertension / Hypertension During Pregnancy
Gestational Hypertension, also known as pregnancy hypertension, is high blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg that develops during the second half of pregnancy, usually after the 20-week mark, and typically resolves with delivery of the baby. Left untreated, gestational hypertension can lead to serious health conditions for both the mother and the baby.
Like general hypertension, there are different categories of gestational hypertension:
Chronic Hypertension is considered high blood pressure that developed before the pregnancy began, or during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Pre-eclampsia is recurrent high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy or the postpartum period. It is often associated with high levels of protein in the urine or the new development of decreased blood platelets, trouble with the kidneys or liver, fluid in the lungs, or signs of brain trouble such as seizures and/or visual disturbances. Untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious complications including death, for both the mother and the baby.
Having high blood pressure during your pregnancy could potentially cause complications such as:
Fetal growth restriction due to a low blood supply to the placenta, leading to premature birth, low birth weight, infant breathing complications, and greater risk for infection for the infant
Placental Abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterine wall before birth, causing potential life threatening bleeding for mother and baby
Premature Delivery due to abnormally high and life threatening blood pressure complications
Internal organ damage in the mother
Increased risk for cardiovascular disease in the future