| Hypertension is more commonly known as high blood | | | | hypertension, you will need to be under close |
| pressure. About five percent of women who are | | | | supervision throughout your pregnancy. |
| pregnant will experience gestational hypertension, or | | | | Diet, exercise, heredity and lifestyle can all contribute |
| pregnancy induced hypertension. | | | | to high blood pressure. Certain high blood pressure |
| This condition occurs when the pressure in the | | | | medications should not be taken during pregnancy so |
| arteries becomes too high. This can pose a great risk | | | | be sure that you consult with your physician if you |
| to a pregnant woman and her baby. Fortunately, | | | | are on high blood pressure medication and become |
| modern techniques can be very effective in | | | | pregnant. High blood pressure greatly increases your |
| controlling high blood pressure during pregnancy. | | | | chances of having a stroke or a heart attack. |
| Your blood pressure can change all the time. Your | | | | Pregnancy can also increase these risks, so it is |
| doctor will need to get several high readings before | | | | extremely important to keep your blood pressure |
| determining that you have high blood pressure. The | | | | under control throughout your pregnancy. |
| blood pressure cuff will be placed around your arm. | | | | Your doctor will closely monitor your blood pressure |
| Systolic and diastolic pressure will be measured. | | | | and also regularly check for protein in your urine. |
| Systolic pressure refers to the pressure inside your | | | | When gestational hypertension is accompanied by |
| arteries during your heart's contraction. Diastolic | | | | protein in the urine, it is referred to as preeclampsia. |
| pressure is the pressure reading during the resting | | | | Preeclampsia can be a life threatening condition. If |
| stage of your heart, between contractions. You may | | | | you are diagnosed with preeclampsia, you may be |
| be diagnosed with high blood pressure if your | | | | required to stay in the hospital or on bed rest for the |
| readings consistently show a systolic pressure of | | | | remainder of your pregnancy. |
| greater than 140 or a diastolic pressure of 90 or | | | | Symptoms of preeclampsia include swelling of the |
| higher. | | | | hands and face, rapid weight gain, blurred vision, |
| If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure before | | | | headaches, dizziness and abdominal pain on the right |
| becoming pregnant or early on in the pregnancy, it is | | | | side. If you experience any of these symptoms you |
| referred to as chronic hypertension. Many women | | | | should see your doctor right away. Hypertension |
| may have problems conceiving if they have chronic | | | | constricts blood vessels to the uterus and can limit |
| high blood pressure. Gestational hypertension refers | | | | the air and blood supply for the fetus. This can cause |
| to high blood pressure that occurs during or after the | | | | the baby not to receive the nutrients that it needs |
| twentieth week of pregnancy and does not subside. | | | | to grow and can result in low birth weight and early |
| If you are diagnosed with chronic or gestational | | | | delivery. |