A measured blood pressure is high when it is above 140/90 mm hg. If the blood pressure is high when measured at least twice 6 hours apart, then such a person has hypertension. Hypertension in pregnancy fall under 3 categories:

1. It can be pregnancy-induced; the high BP is entirely due to the pregnancy, occur after 20 weeks into the pregnancy and usually resolve after birth (within 6 weeks)
2. A patient who had hypertension before pregnancy
3. Pregnancy-aggravated hypertension; a woman with background hypertension now worsened during pregnancy

What may have caused it;

There are no identifiable causes, but a high blood pressure is common in;

1. women who are having their first baby
2. obese or overweight pregnant women
3. pregnant women more than 35 years of age
4. pregnant adolescent girls
5. women carrying twins or triplets
6. pregnant women whose relation has high blood pressure

What are the effects of high Blood pressure in pregnancy?

1. it can lead to premature delivery, poor growth, or death of the baby
2. it may lead to sudden separation or rupture of the placenta
3. it can become severe and make a pregnant woman to convulse or faint (called eclampsia)
4. if it is not controlled, it can affect the woman’s kidneys and liver

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure in pregnancy?

1. headaches
2. poor sleep
3. blurred vision
4. heartburn or pain in the upper part of the tummy
5. the woman may have difficulty breathing
6. the woman’s urine test may show presence of protein in the urine

What you can do

1. visit your doctor, check your blood pressure and be regular on antenatal visits
2. take the necessary blood pressure drugs as prescribed
3. reduce your salt intake
4. monitor your blood pressure regularly
5. reduce stress