If you’re expecting a baby for the first time, You may think of consulting Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, a gynecologist, and an expert IVF doctor in Mumbai for a checkup and general pregnancy advice, especially if you have blood pressure problems.
What is gestational hypertension and how does it affect you during pregnancy?
Hypertension caused by pregnancy is a type of high blood pressure. Gestational hypertension affects 6% of pregnant women. If the woman had hypertension or high BP before becoming pregnant, it may become chronic during the pregnancy.
Gestational hypertension could lead to preeclampsia. This is a common problem among young women who are expecting their first child. Women over 35, women who have chronic hypertension or who have had hypertension during a prior pregnancy, and women that have diabetes are all at higher risk.
To differentiate between pregnancy hypertension and preeclampsia, look at the protein present in urine. Gestational hypertension is defined as a blood pressure value of 140/90 hg or above in a pregnant woman. Preeclampsia is defined as a blood pressure value of 140/90 or higher, with protein in the urine.
Eclampsia is a severe form of preeclampsia. Women who have eclampsia get seizures as a result of their condition. Eclampsia frequently strikes when you’re barely weeks away from giving birth.
Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, a renowned gynecologist and IVF doctor in Mumbai, advises that you should be extremely mindful of your health during your pregnancy.
He specializes in infertility and IVF therapies and has a lot of experience in his profession. You can meet with him at Mumbai’s Budget Fertility Clinic.
He says that due to a low platelet count, preeclampsia or eclampsia might cause bleeding.
What causes high blood pressure during pregnancy?
Although the etiology of gestational hypertension is not known, a woman is more likely to develop it if she has one or more of the pre-existing diseases listed below.
- High Blood Pressure is a condition that affects many people.
- Kidneys that are damaged or diseased
- Diabetes.
- During a prior pregnancy, I had hypertension.
- Mothers-to-be, whether young or old.
- a number of fetuses (triplets, twins)
Why is gestational hypertension a cause for concern?
In persons with high blood pressure, the resistance of blood vessels increases. The kidneys, liver, uterus, brain, and placenta, among other organ systems in the pregnant mother’s body, may be impeded as a result of this.
If your blood pressure is higher than 160/110, you could face serious issues such as placental abruption, fetal undergrowth, or stillbirth.
As a result, if the blood pressure is not managed, the baby may have to be born prematurely. Otherwise, the mother’s and child’s lives are in jeopardy. The mother may experience seizures, a coma, or even death.
What are the symptoms of hypertension during pregnancy?
Below listed are the most typical indications and symptoms of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Each woman, however, may experience different symptoms. A patient with gestational hypertension may experience none at all.
The following are some of the signs and symptoms:
- The level of blood pressure has risen.
- Protein may or may not be present in urine Edema – a condition in which the body’s fluid levels rise (swelling)
- Weight gain that appears out of nowhere
- have blurry vision.
- Vomiting and nausea, as well as pain in the upper abdomen.
- Changes in the results of liver or kidney function.
- Urine urination in little amounts
What is the best way to diagnose gestational hypertension?
The rise in blood pressure is commonly used to identify gestational hypertension, but other symptoms might also help to confirm the diagnosis. Continuous blood pressure monitoring, weight, urine tests for protein, liver and kidney function testing, and dopplers for blood clots are all possible tests for pregnant hypertension.
Pre-eclampsia treatment during pregnancy:
Depending on the results of the continuous monitoring, your doctor will determine the appropriate treatment for gestational hypertension.
If the condition is treatable with medication, the doctor will prescribe them, and if surveillance leads to hospitalization, your condition has worsened. If the physicians believe the baby’s life is in danger, you may need to psychologically prepare yourself for a surgical delivery.
The following may be included in fetal monitoring (to examine the fetus’s health):
- Counting the fetus’s movements Observing the movements and kicks of the fetus. A change
- the number or frequency of these occurrences could indicate that the fetus is in distress.
- Fetal heart rate is recorded in reaction to the fetal movements.
- Biophysical profile The fetus is studied using a non-stress test paired with ultrasonography.
- Corticosteroids are drugs that can help a fetus’s lungs grow (lung immaturity is a major problem of premature babies).
Preventing high blood pressure during pregnancy:
Early diagnosis of pregnant women at risk for gestational hypertension may assist to prevent some of the disease’s consequences. During your initial consultation after pregnancy confirmation, your gynaecologist and obstetrician will discuss the signs and symptoms of hypertension to watch for. It’s especially important bas early detection can help women obtain treatment and keep their disease from getting worse.
