Gestational Hypertension
Gestational hypertension is a form of high blood pressure in pregnancy that resolves after delivery. It is thought to affect 6-8% of women. It is typically diagnosed after 20 weeks or pregnancy when numbers are higher than 140/90 mm Hg.
Hypertension can impact the placenta getting enough blood which can impact babies’ oxygen and food often resulting in a low birth weight. Gestational hypertension can also evolve into preeclampsia which is a serious condition that affects mom and baby.
An important factor to note is that even if your blood pressure returns to normal after the delivery of your baby, gestational hypertension increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, specifically Black Americans are 30% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease.
Statistics show that this increased risk in Black Americans comes from higher rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes (conditions that increase the general risk of cardiovascular disease), genetic factors as well as societal factors such as gaps in income and education, and inequities such as discrimination and health care access.
Gestational Hypertension:
Symptoms:
· Headache that doesn't go away
· Swelling
· Vision changes, blurred or double vision
· Making less urine than usual
· Nausea or vomiting
Risk factors for developing gestational hypertension:
· Obesity
· Diabetes
· First time mothers
· Younger than 20, or over 40 years old
· Being African American
· Pregnant with multiples
· Women who had high blood pressure or kidney disease prior to pregnancy
Risks of gestational hypertension:
· Reduced blood flow to the placenta
· Poor fetal growth (intrauterine growth restriction)
· Placenta abruption
· Can cause baby to be born early
· Seizures (eclampsia)
Long term risks:
· Even if your blood pressure returns to normal after birth women that develop gestational hypertension are at increased risk to develop heart disease in the future. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in women.
· Can cause damage to your kidneys or other organs
Treatment/Management:
· Blood pressure checks more often
· Fetal monitoring: fetal movement counting, nonstress testing, biophysical profile and doppler flow studies
· Testing of blood and urine at every prenatal appointment
· Liver and kidney function test
· Blood clotting test
· In some cases, medication may be prescribed
· Delivery of the baby
My hope is that through education and awareness we can start to make a difference. If you find this blog helpful, please share with friends and loved ones.
If you are pregnant check out our pregnancy prep class:
If you are pregnant check out our pregnancy prep class:
It has a focus on:
· Prenatal work outs to keep you active during pregnancy with intentional core and pelvic floor components
· Hands on techniques to help baby engage with the pelvis during early labor
· Hands on techniques to open up the mid pelvis, and what to do if baby gets stuck or stops descending
· Various modifications for a medicated birth
· Pushing positions and what to look for to reduce the risk of injuries
