What happens if bp increases during pregnancy

It is typically diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy or close to delivery. Gestational hypertension usually goes away after you give birth. However, some women with gestational hypertension have a higher risk of developing chronic hypertension in the future. Women who have chronic hypertension can also get preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia happens in about 1 in 25 pregnancies in the United States. This is called eclampsia , which is a medical emergency. Some women have no symptoms of preeclampsia, which is why it is important to visit your health care team regularly, especially during pregnancy. In rare cases, preeclampsia can happen after you have given birth. This is a serious medical condition known as postpartum preeclampsia. It can happen in women without any history of preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Postpartum preeclampsia is typically diagnosed within 48 hours after delivery but can happen up to 6 weeks later. Tell your health care provider or call right away if you have symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia. You might need emergency medical care. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. High Blood Pressure. Section Navigation. March of Dimes, a not-for-profit, section c 3.

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Saving Just a moment, please. You've saved this page It's been added to your dashboard. In This Topic. If you need medicine to keep your blood pressure under control, take it every day. What is high blood pressure? How do you know if you have high blood pressure? Your blood pressure reading is given as two numbers: Systolic blood pressure.

This is the upper first number in your reading. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats and pumps blood. Diastolic blood pressure. This is the lower second number in your reading. Your blood pressure falls because your heart is at rest between beats. Your blood pressure reading fits into one of five categories: Normal. This is when your systolic blood pressure is between and your diastolic pressure is less than Stage 1 high blood pressure.

This is when your systolic pressure is between or your diastolic pressure is between Stage 2 high blood pressure. This is when your systolic pressure is at least or your diastolic is at least Hypertensive crisis. Call your health care provider right away if your blood pressure is this high. What pregnancy complications can high blood pressure cause?

Frequent ultrasounds might be used to track your baby's growth and development. Fetal heart rate monitoring might be used to evaluate your baby's well-being. Your health care provider might also recommend monitoring your baby's daily movements. Researchers continue to study ways to prevent preeclampsia, but so far, no clear strategies have emerged. If you had a hypertensive disorder in a prior pregnancy, your doctor might recommend a daily low-dose aspirin 81 milligrams beginning late in your first trimester.

Your health care provider might suggest inducing labor before your due date to avoid complications. The timing of your induction is based both on how well-controlled your blood pressure is, whether you have end-stage organ damage, and whether your baby has complications, such as intrauterine growth restriction due to your hypertension.

If you have preeclampsia with severe features, you might be given medication during labor to help prevent seizures. Breast-feeding is encouraged for most women who have high blood pressure, even those who take medication.

Discuss medication adjustments you'll need to make with your health care provider before your baby is born. Sometimes an alternate blood pressure medication is recommended. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.

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This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Food Poisoning.

Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Table of Contents. What is high blood pressure during pregnancy?

There are three main types of high blood pressure during pregnancy: Chronic hypertension. This is high blood pressure you had before you became pregnant. It can also refer to high blood pressure you get before the 20th week of pregnancy. Chronic hypertension can lead to serious problems, including preeclampsia. This type of high blood pressure continues after you have your baby. Gestational hypertension. This is high blood pressure you get after your 20th week of pregnancy.

You may not even have other symptoms. However, sometimes this type of hypertension is severe. It can cause your baby to be born smaller than normal have a low birth weight. Your baby may even be born early because of it.

It can lead to preeclampsia. And while it usually goes away within three months of giving birth, it can raise your risk of getting high blood pressure in the future.

This is a sudden rise in your blood pressure after your 20th week of pregnancy, typically in your third trimester.