Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesComplicationsDiagnosisWhen to See a ProviderMedicationOther TreatmentWhat to ExpectReducing RisksChecking Your Blood Pressure
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Complications
Diagnosis
When to See a Provider
Medication
Other Treatment
What to Expect
Reducing Risks
Checking Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) has become more common during pregnancy than it was decades ago.Some people have high blood pressure before they get pregnant. It’s also possible to get high blood pressure during pregnancy, even if you didn’t have it before. Hypertension during pregnancy becomes more common at or after 20 weeks (the pregnancy halfway point).
Even if you already have high blood pressure, you can take preventive measures to reduce risks of complications. Being aware of your condition and taking proactive steps to treat it are key.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force that blood flow exerts against the artery walls. Arteries are blood vessels that send oxygenated blood from the heart to your organs and tissues. When the pressure in your blood vessels is too high, you have hypertension (high blood pressure).
Common Types of High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Hypertensive conditions occur in around 5% to 10% of pregnant people. This represents a 25% rise in these conditions since the late 1990s.
High blood pressureand the complications it can cause during pregnancy have a variety of diagnoses. They include:
In some instances, preeclampsia can lead to severe complications, including eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
Additional Severe Complications
Untreated or unarrested high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to complications that are severe and potentially life-threatening. They include:
Why Is High Blood Pressure a Problem During Pregnancy?
When high blood pressure is left untreated, it can pose a variety of serious health concerns for both the pregnant person and the fetus. Where you are in your pregnancy when your blood pressure escalates may determine the issues you face.
Fetal Complications
Placental abruption can cause severe bleeding, which poses a risk to both the fetus and the pregnant person.
Complications for the Pregnant Person
In addition to problems for the fetus, high blood pressure can cause ongoing detrimental effects to the health of the pregnant person, such as:
How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure can be asymptomatic (have no symptoms). This is one of the reasons why seeing a healthcare provider, such as an obstetric-gynecologist (ob-gyn) or midwife, for regular prenatal care is important.
When symptoms do occur, they may include:
If you have chronic hypertension, you may wish to check your levels between healthcare provider visits with anat-home blood pressure monitor.
You can use your healthcare provider’s recommendations or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines as a guide:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Let a healthcare provider know immediately if you have any of the above symptoms or if you think you’re going into labor.
Seek emergency medical treatment for:
Signs of Preeclampsia
Problems with the placenta can cause your blood pressure to rise quickly and significantly. Preeclampsia can swiftly become a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention for symptoms of this condition, such as:
Is Blood Pressure Medication Safe During Pregnancy?
If you have chronic hypertension, your healthcare provider may recommend that you continue to take the medications you used prior to pregnancy. However, certain drugs for high blood pressure, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), are unsafe to take at this time.
Medications considered safe for pregnant people include:
Other Treatment Options for Pregnant People
If you have preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, your healthcare provider may recommend an ongoing hospital stay.
Your healthcare provider will monitor your weight gain and take blood pressure readings to determine whether they’re normal or in the high or moderately high range.
They will also do blood tests that check for the signs of HELLP syndrome and urine tests that check forprotein levels, which can indicate preeclampsia.
Your healthcare provider will measure your abdomen to check on fetal growth. They’ll also perform ultrasounds and check the fetal heart rate.
Ways to Reduce the Risk of Complications
It’s essential to have regular prenatal checkups and to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions to reduce your risk of complications. These guidelines vary, but often include:
How to Check Your Blood Pressure at Home
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends choosing a cuff-style, automatic, upper arm monitor for at-home use.
To take your blood pressurecorrectly at home, follow these steps:
Summary
High blood pressure in pregnancy can be dangerous for both the pregnant person and the fetus. It’s important to know what your numbers are and to monitor them often if you have chronic hypertension.
People who have never had high blood pressure can get it during pregnancy. It is important to get regular prenatal care to monitor for changes in your blood pressure and notify your provider if you have any concerns about your blood pressure or if you are having any symptoms of preeclampsia.
If you have high blood pressure and are pregnant, your healthcare provider can help you control it.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure during pregnancy.Yale Medicine.Hypertension (high blood pressure) during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.Cedars Sinai.Preeclampsia and eclampsia.MyHealth Alberta.High blood pressure in pregnancy: care instructions.American Heart Association.Home blood presure monitoring.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure during pregnancy.Yale Medicine.Hypertension (high blood pressure) during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.Cedars Sinai.Preeclampsia and eclampsia.MyHealth Alberta.High blood pressure in pregnancy: care instructions.American Heart Association.Home blood presure monitoring.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure during pregnancy.Yale Medicine.Hypertension (high blood pressure) during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.Cedars Sinai.Preeclampsia and eclampsia.MyHealth Alberta.High blood pressure in pregnancy: care instructions.American Heart Association.Home blood presure monitoring.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure during pregnancy.
Yale Medicine.Hypertension (high blood pressure) during pregnancy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Cedars Sinai.Preeclampsia and eclampsia.
MyHealth Alberta.High blood pressure in pregnancy: care instructions.
American Heart Association.Home blood presure monitoring.
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