Body Mass Index (BMI): A number calculated from height and weight. BMI is used to determine whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Show
Cesarean Birth: Birth of a fetus from the uterus through an incision (cut) made in the woman’s abdomen. Chronic Hypertension: Blood pressure that is higher than normal for a person’s age, sex, and physical condition. Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen as a result of another disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurs as a result of the flu. A complication also can occur as a result of a condition, such as pregnancy. An example of a pregnancy complication is preterm labor. Corticosteroids: Drugs given for arthritis or other medical conditions. These drugs also are given to help fetal lungs mature before birth. Diabetes Mellitus: A condition in which the levels of sugar in the blood are too high. Diastolic Blood Pressure: The force of the blood in the arteries when the heart is relaxed. It is the lower reading when blood pressure is taken. Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization. Gestational Hypertension: High blood pressure that is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. HELLP Syndrome: A severe type of preeclampsia. HELLP stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count. High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure above the normal level. Also called hypertension. Hypertension: High blood pressure. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A procedure in which an egg is removed from a woman’s ovary, fertilized in a laboratory with the man’s sperm, and then transferred to the woman’s uterus to achieve a pregnancy. Kick Count: A record kept during late pregnancy of the number of times a fetus moves over a certain period. Kidneys: Organs that filter the blood to remove waste that becomes urine. Lupus: An autoimmune disorder that affects the connective tissues in the body. The disorder can cause arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, blood disorders, and complications during pregnancy. Also called systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. Nutrients: Nourishing substances found in food, such as vitamins and minerals. Obstetrician–Gynecologist (Ob-Gyn): A doctor with special training and education in women’s health. Oxygen: An element that we breathe in to sustain life. Placenta: An organ that provides nutrients to and takes waste away from the fetus. Placental Abruption: A condition in which the placenta has begun to separate from the uterus before the fetus is born. Preeclampsia: A disorder that can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth in which there is high blood pressure and other signs of organ injury. These signs include an abnormal amount of protein in the urine, a low number of platelets, abnormal kidney or liver function, pain in the upper abdomen, fluid in the lungs, or a severe headache or changes in vision. Prenatal Care: A program of care for a pregnant woman before the birth of her baby. Preterm: Less than 37 weeks of pregnancy. Stroke: A sudden interruption of blood flow to all or part of the brain, caused by blockage or bursting of a blood vessel in the brain. A stroke often results in loss of consciousness and temporary or permanent paralysis. Systolic Blood Pressure: The force of the blood in the arteries when the heart is contracting. It is the higher reading when blood pressure is taken. Trimester: A 3-month time in pregnancy. It can be first, second, or third. Ultrasound Exams: Tests in which sound waves are used to examine inner parts of the body. During pregnancy, ultrasound can be used to check the fetus. Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when this force against your artery walls is too high. There are different types of high blood pressure in pregnancy:
What causes preeclampsia?The cause of preeclampsia is unknown. Who is at risk for preeclampsia?You are at higher risk of preeclampsia if you:
What problems can preeclampsia cause?Preeclampsia can cause:
What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?Possible symptoms of preeclampsia include:
Eclampsia can also cause seizures, nausea and/or vomiting, and low urine output. If you go on to develop HELLP syndrome, you may also have bleeding or bruising easily, extreme fatigue, and liver failure. How is preeclampsia diagnosed?Your health care provider will check your blood pressure and urine at each prenatal visit. If your blood pressure reading is high (140/90 or higher), especially after the 20th week of pregnancy, your provider will likely want to run some tests. They may include blood tests other lab tests to look for extra protein in the urine as well as other symptoms. What are the treatments for preeclampsia?Delivering the baby can often cure preeclampsia. When making a decision about treatment, your provider take into account several factors. They include how severe it is, how many weeks pregnant you are, and what the potential risks to you and your baby are:
The symptoms usually go away within 6 weeks of delivery. In rare cases, symptoms may not go away, or they may not start until after delivery (postpartum preeclampsia). This can be very serious, and it needs to be treated right away. Start Here
Symptoms
Diagnosis and Tests
Treatments and Therapies
Related Issues
Specifics
Genetics
Videos and Tutorials
Statistics and Research
Clinical Trials
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Patient Handouts
Stay ConnectedSign up for the My MedlinePlus newsletter What's this? GO MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Related Health Topics
National Institutes of HealthThe primary NIH organization for research on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Other LanguagesFind health information in languages other than English on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
DisclaimersMedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines. Does high blood pressure harm baby during pregnancy?High blood pressure during pregnancy poses the following risks: Less blood flow to the placenta. If the placenta doesn't get enough blood, the fetus might receive less oxygen and fewer nutrients. This can lead to slow growth (intrauterine growth restriction), low birth weight or premature birth.
What are signs of high blood pressure when pregnant?Some signs of high blood pressure in pregnancy include:. Severe headaches.. Nausea or vomiting.. Excess protein in urine (a urine sample is gathered at each doctor visit during pregnancy). Changes in vision.. Upper abdominal pain.. When should I worry about high blood pressure in pregnancy?If your blood pressure reading is high (140/90 or higher), especially after the 20th week of pregnancy, your provider will likely want to run some tests. They may include blood tests other lab tests to look for extra protein in the urine as well as other symptoms.
|