Ever wonder why your healthcare provider checks your blood pressure at every routine prenatal checkup?
Blood pressure checks can diagnose gestational hypertension, a serious condition that affects about 6% of pregnant women, according to a WiserPregnancy survey. Gestational hypertension develops in or after the 20th week of pregnancy and goes away after delivery.
Unmanaged high blood pressure can lead to a host of complications:
- Less blood flow to the placenta, which reduces the fetus’s nutrient and oxygen supply
- Placental abruption, when the placenta separates from the uterus too early
- Preeclampsia, a potentially deadly condition
- High blood pressure and preeclampsia in future pregnancies
- Induced premature delivery to protect the mother or fetus from life-threatening complications
- Future cardiovascular problems, even if high blood pressure goes away after delivery
And since women with high blood pressure usually don’t experience symptoms, routine checks are important. If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor can tell if it has improved or worsened. If your BP is the same as before or worse, your doctor may suggest treatment.
