Overview
Some women exhibit vital signs and symptoms during pregnancy. This can put the mother and her baby at risk for problems during the pregnancy. Such vital signs and symptoms can cause problems during and after delivery. However, high blood pressure is preventable and treatable.
High vital signs are called hypertension. Hypertension is a common health condition. However, a woman and her baby are more likely to remain healthy with reasonable vital sign control.
Normal blood pressure range during pregnancy
To know what the normal blood pressure is during pregnancy, a doctor will take a baseline vital sign measurement at your first visit. Then they're going to measure your blood pressure at every visit that follows.
A normal vital sign is anything less than 120/80 mm Hg.
What are the high blood pressure conditions before, during, and after pregnancy?
A doctor or a healthcare provider should search for these conditions before, during, and after pregnancy.
Chronic Hypertension
Chronic hypertension means high blood pressure before a woman gets pregnant or before 20 weeks. Women having chronic hypertension also can get preeclampsia during her second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Gestational Hypertension
This condition happens once a woman has high blood pressure during pregnancy and does not consume enough protein. This can lead to heart or kidney problems. It's typically diagnosed after a few weeks of pregnancy or close to delivery. Gestational hypertension usually goes away after the woman gives birth. However, some women with gestational hypertension have a greater risk of developing chronic hypertension sooner.
Preeclampsia or Eclampsia
Preeclampsia happens when a lady with normal blood pressure suddenly develops high blood pressure. Women who have chronic hypertension also can get preeclampsia.
Some women with preeclampsia can develop complications like seizures. This is often called eclampsia. It is considered as a medical emergency compelling proper assistance.
Some of the symptoms of preeclampsia include.
- A headache which will not go away
- Changes in vision, including blurry vision, seeing spots, or changes in eyesight.
- Pain in the upper stomach
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swelling of the face or hands
- Unexplained weight gain
- Trouble breathing
Some women do not experience and exhibit any symptoms of preeclampsia, so it's essential to visit a doctor regularly, especially during pregnancy, to check for any health problems.
Why high vital signs be a problem during pregnancy?
High vital signs during pregnancy put a woman at the following risks.
Less blood flow to the placenta
If the placenta doesn't get enough blood, the fetus receives less oxygen and nutrients. This will lead to slow growth, low birth weight or premature birth. Babies born early can have difficulties like breathing problems, increased risk of infection and other complications.
Placental abruption
While suffering through this condition, the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. Preeclampsia and high vital sign increase the chances of placental abruption. Severe abruption can result in heavy bleeding, which life- threatening for the mother and the baby.
Intrauterine growth restriction
A high vital sign might result in slow or decreased fetal growth.
Injury to other organs
A poorly controlled high vital sign can result in injury to organs like the brain, eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver or any other major organs. In extreme cases, it is often life-threatening.
Premature delivery
In certain cases, early delivery is required to prevent life-threatening complications arising from high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Future disorder
Having preeclampsia increases the danger of future heart or blood vessel disease. These diseases are collectively called cardiovascular diseases. The danger of future cardiovascular disease is greater if a woman has preeclampsia more than once. It is also higher if they had a premature birth due to having high blood pressure during pregnancy.
What causes high vital signs during pregnancy?
There are a few possible causes of the high vital signs. They are as follows.
- Being overweight or obese
- Not getting enough physical activity
- Smoking
- Consuming alcohol
- First-time pregnancy
- A case history of pregnancy-related hypertension
- Age
- Some of the assistive reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization and IVF
- Diabetes or other autoimmune diseases
Risk factors for high blood pressure during pregnancy
There are various risk factors that could make high blood pressure more likely during pregnancy.
Lifestyle
Unhealthy lifestyle choices may cause high blood pressure. Being overweight or obese and not staying active are some of the major risk factors for high blood pressure.
Preventing high vital signs during pregnancy
Diet and exercise often minimise common risk factors for high blood pressure and obesity.
During pregnancy, it’s normal to put on some weight. If anyone is concerned about their weight, consulting a doctor is advised to know the right weight and ways to stay healthy within a specified range.
Dietary guidelines for pregnant women vary from person to person. A nutritionist can help create a plan for the specific height and weight.
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Both are known to boost blood pressure and cause other complications during pregnancy.
Restricting salt to an excessive amount is harmful to pregnant women and can impact fetal growth and development.
Pregnancy causes hormone shifts also as psychological and physical changes. This will bring stress, making high blood pressure harder to manage. Try stress reduction techniques like yoga and meditation.
Medication for top blood pressure during pregnancy
Some traditional vital sign medications can cause problems in pregnant women.
These medications for lower the high vital signs are typically not recommended during pregnancy:
- ACE inhibitors and
- angiotensin receptor blockers.
These medications can pass through the bloodstream to the baby that can negatively impact the developing baby’s health.
Treating high blood pressure during pregnancy
A doctor or midwife can check the vital sign regularly. If they have high blood pressure, it's essential to
- Stop smoking
- Consume healthy meals
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain healthy weight
If a high vital sign is caused by a medical condition such as kidney disease, it's essential to speak to your doctor about what medications are safe to take during pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is often managed with medication and close monitoring of both mother and the baby. However, it can go to pot very quickly. You'll need to go to a hospital or have the baby delivered early if this happens.
Delivering the baby can often cure preeclampsia. When choosing treatment, your provider takes into consideration several factors. They include how severe it's, what percentage of weeks pregnant you are, and what the potential risks to you and your baby are.
If the parent is more than 37 weeks pregnant, a doctor or a health care provider will likely want to deliver the baby.
If the parent is less than 37 weeks pregnant, a healthcare provider will keenly monitor the parent and the baby.
Watching the baby often involves ultrasound, pulse monitoring, and checking on the baby's growth. A patient needs to take medicines to regulate their blood pressure to prevent seizures. In some cases, women take steroid injections to help the baby's lungs mature faster. If the preeclampsia is severe, your provider might want you to deliver the baby early.
The symptoms usually get away within six weeks of delivery. In rare cases, symptoms might not go away, or they'll not start until after delivery (postpartum preeclampsia). This will be very serious, and it must be treated right away.
Is doctor consultation necessary?
Usually, the symptoms of high blood pressure subside within a few weeks. If they are persistent for more than 3 weeks, it is better to consult a medical professional for help. They will examine the body and rule out other underlying health conditions if any.
Proper guidance or assistance of a doctor is necessary to maintain pink health of a mother and a baby.
Conclusion
Some women exhibit vital signs and symptoms during pregnancy. Pregnancy causes hormone shifts also as psychological and physical changes. This will bring stress, making high blood pressure harder to manage. Try stress reduction techniques like yoga and meditation.
The symptoms usually get away within six weeks of delivery. In rare cases, symptoms might not go away, or they'll not start until after delivery (postpartum preeclampsia). This will be very serious, and it must be treated right away.
It is better to consult a medical professional for help. They will examine the body and rule out other underlying health conditions if any.
FAQ
What is the normal BP for a pregnant woman?
How can I lower my blood pressure during pregnancy?
2. Weight management
3. Restricting salt
4. Quit smoking and
5. Medications can help manage blood pressure during pregnancy
