As soon as you go to the gynecologist with a suspicion of pregnancy, they will immediately measure your blood pressure. And they will do this every time you find yourself in their office. This is not a useless ritual, but a very important procedure!
What does blood pressure indicate?
Blood pressure is a measure of the force that your heart uses to pump blood around your body [1].
Knowing your current blood pressure, can help your doctor compare your blood pressure history throughout the pregnancy. If there are any difficulties with the pregnancy associated with high blood pressure such as hypertensive disorders, your doctor will be immediately alerted and provide treatment to remedy the condition as soon as possible.
A woman may have high blood pressure before pregnancy — this is called chronic hypertension. This condition can also develop in the second half of pregnancy, which is referred to as gestational hypertension. The risks and management strategies for chronic hypertension and gestational hypertension are different. So it’s important to know when the hypertension began [2].
What pressure is considered normal and what is high?
Normal values are about 120/80 mm Hg. The first number indicates the pressure during the heart contraction (upper, or systolic pressure) and the second number indicates the pressure during relaxation (lower, diastolic).
A normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg. Systolic pressure ranging from 130 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg is considered stage one hypertension. Systolic pressure of 140 or higher or diastolic 90 is second stage hypertension [3].
Lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help lower high blood pressure. In some cases people may also need to take medicines. High blood pressure can be serious if not treated.
Why is high blood pressure dangerous for pregnant women?
Due to high blood pressure, blood flow to the placenta decreases, and the baby may not get enough oxygen and nutrients. The baby may be low in weight, their lungs and brain develop more slowly and they may be born prematurely [2].
Due to high blood pressure, a mother may experience bleeding, premature birth, and damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, the heart, the brain or the lungs [2].
But preeclampsia and eclampsia are the most dangerous complications related to high blood pressure [3], affecting both mother and child. These complications develop after the 20th week of pregnancy. If an increase in blood pressure is noted at this time, then additional tests will help the doctor distinguish gestational hypertension from preeclampsia [3].
If my blood pressure rose once, and then did not recur, am I still at risk?
Not necessarily. Various factors can affect the level of blood pressure (BP): air temperature, brisk walking, excitement, fear of the procedure, medications, food, errors during measurement, and much more. You will not be considered a risk group based on the results of one measurement alone [4]. This is why ongoing appointment with health practitioners are important throughout pregnancy to keep both mother and baby safe.
Do I need to constantly measure blood pressure myself?
If you were obese or had diabetes or hypertension before pregnancy, the doctor will tell you how often you need to measure your blood pressure and what to do when the indicators change [2].
It is recommended to measure blood pressure every day for those who have had preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy. And also to those who are carrying twins or triplets [3].
This article was created in association with UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.
