High blood pressure is very common in pregnant women. Sadly, this condition can cause several problems for the mother and fetus. Not only that, it turns out that high blood pressure can cause problems during pregnancy and after childbirth. Even so, don't worry, high blood pressure can be prevented and treated. Peel the full facts about high blood pressure in pregnant women and how to prevent it and treat it!
The impact of high blood pressure (hypertension) on pregnant women and the fetus
Blood pressure that is not controlled during pregnancy can cause several disturbances to the development of the fetus. Complications for the fetus will get worse if the mother has higher blood pressure for a long period of time. One of the most dangerous effects is miscarriage in the early trimester or sudden fetal death.
If the pregnancy continues, the development and growth of the fetus will most likely be hampered, or even fail. This condition can then have an effect on the cognitive impairment of children born.
So, before a prospective mother decides to get pregnant, it would be nice to control her blood pressure first. That way, if hypertension is detected, the mother can get treatment before, during and after pregnancy, so she can avoid various risks.
Common types of hypertension in pregnant women
Diagnosis of hypertension in pregnant women is usually divided into four categories, namely:
- Chronic hypertension, has existed since before pregnancy or was just diagnosed at the gestational age before 20 weeks.
- Preeclampsia-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication that occurs when pregnancy enters the age of 24 weeks and above.
- Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia, a condition when a pregnant woman who has a previous history of chronic hypertension also has preeclampsia.
- Gestational hypertension or hypertension that occurs only during pregnancy. Blood pressure will then fall back after delivery.
Risk factors for pregnant women are at higher risk of developing hypertension
There are several factors that cause pregnant women to experience hypertension, namely: under 20 years of age or over 40 years, have a history of chronic hypertension, have had hypertension since before pregnancy, have diabetes, are overweight, have kidney disease, have had IVF. , has a family history of gestational hypertension.
How to prevent and treat hypertension in pregnant women
Like people with hypertension in general, pregnant women who suffer from hypertension are also allowed to take blood pressure-lowering drugs. However, drug consumption must be based on a doctor's prescription because not all types of hypertension drugs can be consumed during pregnancy.
In addition, mothers must improve their lifestyle and diet by maintaining an ideal body weight, actively moving and exercising, adjusting the weight gain during pregnancy with your body mass index before pregnancy.
Those are some things that expectant mothers need to know about the impact of hypertension on pregnant women. It would be nice if you consult a doctor first regarding your own health condition before carrying out a pregnancy program, so as to avoid dangerous risks.
Article written by dr. Diyah Metta Ningrum, Sp.OG (Obstetric Specialist at EMC Cikarang Hospital).