Understanding Hypertension in Pregnancy, Childbirth & Puerperium: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Hypertension in Pregnancy, Childbirth & Puerperium

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood. Hypertension in pregnancy is high blood pressure that you develop while you are pregnant. It starts at 20 weeks of pregnancy. In many cases, blood pressure in pregnancy does not harm you or your baby, and it usually wears off within 12 weeks after childbirth.

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Signs & symptoms

Symptoms of hypertension in pregnancy usually include: high blood pressure, proteinuria (when there is too much protein in urine), edema (swelling in your feet, face and hands), persistent headaches, vision impairment, and breathing troubles.

Diagnosis

High blood pressure (usually 140/90 or higher) after the 20th week of pregnancy suggests that the patient suffers from hypertension in pregnancy. preeclampsia refers to a new hypertension accompanied by proteinuria.

Treatment

Hypertension in pregnancy and preeclampsia can be cured by delivering the baby. In 37 weeks of pregnancy and higher, your provider will likely want to deliver the baby. If you are less than 37 weeks of pregnancy, you and your baby will be closely monitored. The patient has to maintain her blood pressure, either through diet or medication.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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