Regular measurement of blood pressure during pregnancy becomes a mandatory procedure for a woman. So, with every trip to the antenatal clinic, measurements will be a given - this is a necessary ritual, designed to timely identify any deviations in pressure, thereby protecting the expectant mother and baby from serious complications due to high blood pressure during pregnancy.

As you know, pressure indicators are usually characterized by two numbers, for example, 120/80, where 120 is systolic pressure and 80 is diastolic. So, when the first indicator is 140 or exceeds this figure, they talk about high blood pressure during pregnancy. The pressure may increase both during the bearing of the child, and may be raised already before pregnancy - in this case, doctors talk about chronic hypertension, which requires increased attention and caution during pregnancy.

High pregnancy pressure is a very bad sign, both for the mother and the fetus. The fact is that with increased blood pressure, the walls of the vessels are narrowed, which interferes with the normal flow of oxygen and nutrients to the baby, and as a result, fetal growth can be slowed down. High pressure during pregnancy is also dangerous because it can provoke premature detachment of the placenta, which is accompanied by a strong, dangerous for the pregnant woman and the baby.

High blood pressure during pregnancy can also be a symptom of a very dangerous condition called preeclampsia - a condition that can bring many troubles. The mechanism of the occurrence of preeclampsia is still not fully understood, only assumptions exist. It is believed that preeclampsia can be caused by increased production by the body of a substance that narrows the blood vessels and, conversely, a decreased one - a substance that dilates the blood vessels. Of course, other factors play a role here, such as the amount of protein in the diet of a pregnant woman. In any case, preeclampsia is a condition that requires increased attention from doctors. Leaking in a mild form, preeclampsia may not be particularly felt, only accompanied by increased pressure, but not more than 140/90, sometimes with swelling of the hands and face. Other, more serious symptoms of preeclampsia may include visual impairment, and, acute or vomiting. The greatest danger of preeclampsia is that it can turn into a rare but serious disease - eclampsia. Her convulsions and even coma accompany her, and the threat of eclampsia to the life of the mother and child is very, very great.

In order to avoid problems with high blood pressure during pregnancy, regular visits to the doctor are necessary. Finding that a pregnant woman has high blood pressure, first of all, doctors, as a rule, recommend a diet that excludes fatty, salty foods, sweets. Moderate physical activity is also shown. But all this is only if the form of the disease is mild. If high pressure during pregnancy causes anxiety among doctors, one will have to resort to medical treatment to correct the condition. There are drugs to normalize high blood pressure during pregnancy, which practically do not pose a threat to the fetus and mother, unlike serious forms of hypertension. Among them - papazol, metoprolol, nifedipine. The doctor selects the drug for treatment, its dosage and duration of administration exclusively on an individual basis, focusing on the indicators of the pregnant woman's analysis.

If the complex of measures taken is not effective, the condition not only does not improve, but also worsens, if the pregnant woman suffers from chronic hypertension, there is a need to go to hospital before delivery. Qualified medical staff will provide the expectant mother with proper care by measuring the pressure several times a day, monitoring the amount of protein in the urine and weight daily, which will make it possible to avoid undesirable complications.

Especially for  - Tatyana Argamakova

Arterial hypertension - This is a persistent increase in blood pressure above 140/90 mm. Hg. Art.

When examining a pregnant woman, first of all, her blood pressure before pregnancy. If a woman was previously prone to hypotension, then pressure will be dangerous for her, and not exceeding the above indicators. You can talk about hypertension during the period of bearing a child when blood pressure is increased by 20 mm. Hg. Art. and higher compared to pre-pregnancy.

Information  High blood pressure is common enough in expectant mothers: according to recent data, every 10 women suffer from hypertension during pregnancy.

Causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

After 20 weeks of pregnancy, a physiological increase in blood pressure appearscaused by the appearance of an additional circle of blood circulation. However, the increase should be insignificant and not worsen the general well-being of the woman. In the opposite case, they speak of arterial hypertension, which requires mandatory examination and treatment.

Causes of a pathological increase in blood pressure during pregnancy:

1. Arterial hypertension before pregnancy;
2. Heredity;
3. Overweight;
4. Late gestosis;
5. Low physical activity;
6. Diseases of the endocrine, urinary and cardiovascular systems;
7. History of traumatic brain injury;
8. Excessive consumption of salted and smoked products.

The clinical picture of high pressure

The main symptoms of high blood pressure:

1. Severe tachycardia;
2. Nausea, vomiting;
3. Facial redness;
4. Visual impairment, tinnitus;
5. Feeling of heat.

Treatment of high blood pressure in a pregnant woman

With periodic episodes of a slight increase in blood pressure, a woman is prescribed non-drug treatment:

1. Dieting with strict restriction of salty, spicy, smoked and fatty foods, caffeine;
2. Moderate physical activity (walking, swimming, a set of gymnastic exercises);
3. Long stay in the fresh air;
4. Strong rejection of bad habits.

Additionally In the absence of the effect of the above methods, treatment with antihypertensive drugs is started  (metoprolol, nifedipine, etc.). Self-medication, the necessary drug, its dosage and frequency of use are strictly selected only by the attending doctor. With a significant increase in blood pressure or the failure of outpatient treatment, a pregnant woman is required to be hospitalized in a hospital.

Alternative methods of lowering blood pressure

1. Cranberry Mousse. Squeeze juice from a third of a glass of cranberries. Pour the resulting cake with one glass of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes. Then add 1 tablespoon of semolina and cook for 20 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar and bring to a boil. Beat the resulting mass with a blender and pour in the remaining cranberry juice. Take 2-3 teaspoons 3 times a day;
2. Birch juice. Take 1 glass 1 time per day;
3. Freshly squeezed beetroot juice. Take a quarter to half a glass half an hour before meals;
4. Pumpkin infusion with honey. Cut 200 grams of pumpkin, simmer until cooked. Add honey. Take 1 time per day with meals;
5. Corn flour. Pour half a glass of flour with a glass of warm water, insist one day. Take 2 tablespoons before meals 1-2 times a day.

High pressure complications

1. Chronic fetal hypoxia;
2. Intrauterine fetal death;
3. Premature termination of pregnancy.

High pressure prophylaxis

1. Rational fortified nutrition with strict restriction of spicy, salty, smoked foods;
2. Categorical refusal of bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
3. Comprehensive examination during pregnancy planning to identify and, if necessary, treat extragenital diseases;
4. Frequent walks in the fresh air;
5. Moderate physical activity;
6. Avoidance of stressful situations;
7. Weight gain control;
8. Regular blood pressure monitoring.

Content

For a woman who has a baby, a change in the hormonal background is characteristic. Often, hormones “jump” in the first months, which greatly affects blood pressure (BP). It goes down or goes up, and this badly affects the development of the baby and the health of the expectant mother.

Pregnancy Pressure

For the normal well-being of the child in the womb and its proper development, it is necessary to monitor the functioning of the circulatory system of the woman in position. Normal pressure during pregnancy should not be more than 140 (upper) / 90 (lower) and less than 90/60. How to recognize an increase or decrease in indicators in the first trimester, what to do in such a dangerous situation?

Low blood pressure during pregnancy

When the indicators are less than 100/60, then this is a sign that a woman has low blood pressure during pregnancy. This phenomenon is called hypotension - a decrease in vascular tone, which is determined by the rate of blood pressure. It drops at the beginning of the term, up to the sixteenth week. Low pressure in pregnant women in the early stages is characterized by such signs:

• weakness;
• drowsiness;
• rapid pulse;
• headache;
• dizziness, fainting;
• shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air;
• fatigue, significant irritability;
• noise in ears.

Why pregnant women have low blood pressure

Normal indicators are reduced for the following reasons:

• sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work;
• infections
• pressure can drop with frequent stresses, overwork;
• during physical exertion;
• early pregnancy hypotension occurs with dehydration;
• when walking (fast, long);
• severe blood loss;
• pathology of the cardiovascular system;
• physiological reaction of the female body to bearing a child.

The danger of low blood pressure during pregnancy

Indicators below the medical norm have a very negative effect on the fetus and condition of the woman. Is low blood pressure dangerous during early pregnancy:

1. Hypotension is the cause of serious malfunctions in the placenta. High oxygenated blood does not reach the fetus in the right amount. As a result, the child suffers from a lack of air.
2. The baby receives a lot of useful nutrients with blood that help in laying organs. Lower rates are often the cause of pathologies of growth and proper development of the baby.

How to increase blood pressure during pregnancy

Correcting the situation with blood pressure for the better is possible and necessary. Only before this, the future mother should consult with a gynecologist without fail. Otherwise, the situation will only worsen. What to do with hypotension, how to raise indicators? If there are no serious pathologies when carrying a baby, then you can increase the pressure during pregnancy as follows:

1. After a night's sleep, doctors do not advise getting out of bed immediately. It is better to lie down a bit or sit. Have a bite to eat (fruits, crackers).
2. You need to lie on a horizontal surface, raise your legs up. At the same time, blood will begin to flow more actively to the upper body, filling the brain with oxygen.
3. It is advisable to periodically take a contrast shower, which positively affects blood circulation.
4. Wearing compression stockings or tights also helps to normalize blood pressure. It will rise to normal gradually.
5. Simple physical exercises to maintain overall tone are considered a great way to raise low blood pressure in early pregnancy (water aerobics, swimming, yoga for pregnant women, gymnastics on fitball, dancing and so on).

High blood pressure during pregnancy

Not only low blood pressure is dangerous. Indicators above the norm also bring discomfort, adversely affect the well-being of the child. A value greater than 140/90 reports hypertension. When high blood pressure during pregnancy is regular, this phenomenon is called hypertension. It is of two types:

1. Chronic hypertension In the case of this type of disease, the indicators “jump” due to pathologies that occur in the body (often these are malfunctions of the kidneys and endocrine system).
2. Gestational hypertension is caused by pregnancy. Typically, this phenomenon appears after 19-20 weeks, but sometimes it happens that the pressure can increase in the first weeks.

Why does blood pressure rise during pregnancy?

There are several reasons that may cause deviations from the norm:

• diabetes;
• overweight;
• increased pressure in the early stages of pregnancy provokes diseases of the biliary tract;
• malfunctioning of the thyroid gland;
• previous craniocerebral trauma;
• kidney disease
• frequent stress, overstrain;
• the age of the future mother.

High arterial (rarely intracranial) pressure in the first trimester of pregnancy has the following symptoms:

• fatigue increase;
• different headaches;
• facial redness;
• tinnitus;
• nausea, sometimes vomiting;
• deterioration in the quality of vision, vision problems, flickering flies in front of the eyes;
• heart dysfunction, tachycardia (heart palpitations);
• dizziness
• excessive sweating.

The danger of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Inconsistency with medical standards negatively affects the baby and his mom. For this reason, pregnancy and high blood pressure are incompatible concepts. Here are a few examples of what can happen if you don’t timely lower your blood pressure to normal:

1. The narrowing of blood vessels often leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and this becomes an obstacle to the normal development of the child.
2. A long period of hypertension causes functional failure of the female organs.
3. Strong, sharp jumps in blood pressure can provoke detachment of the retina, stroke.
4. Due to vascular spasms, fetoplacental insufficiency develops, leading to an abortion.
5. Above normal blood pressure leads to detachment of part of the placenta, which disrupts the nutrition of the fetus and sometimes becomes an impetus for premature birth.

How to lower blood pressure during pregnancy

The return of pressure to normal values \u200b\u200bshould occur exclusively under the supervision of experienced physicians. What to do to normalize indicators? Therapeutic methods that help to relieve high blood pressure are divided into medical and non-medical. Healing diet is also recommended. The treatment of hypertension in pregnant women at home without drugs involves the following actions:

• avoidance of stressful situations, excessive physical exertion;
• regular walks on the street;
• the duration of a night's sleep should be at least ten hours, and daytime should be about two hours.

Pregnancy-lowering products

In the presence of hypertension, it is worth seriously reviewing the woman's daily menu in position. What must be included in the diet:

• berries: raspberries, viburnum, cranberries, lingonberries, wild strawberries, gooseberries, iragh;
• fruits can reduce blood pressure and remove unpleasant symptoms: apricots, sweet apples, peaches, grapes, plums (prunes);
• milk, kefir, cottage cheese;
• healthy drinks also relate to products that lower the pressure during pregnancy: freshly squeezed juices, broth from rose hips, pumpkins, viburnum, cranberry juice;
• vegetables and more: carrots, potatoes, broccoli, beets, legumes, fresh herbs, eggs (yolks), seaweed.

Pregnancy Pressure Pills

When periodic jumps in blood pressure are observed in the early stages, then therapeutic measures begin with sedatives on a plant basis. They help to drop indicators to normal. For example, motherwort infusion, valerian in tablets or drops, Novopassit, Persen, and so on. Often these funds give a positive result, if their reception is combined with non-drug therapy.

When high blood pressure in the early stages of pregnancy is stable, then you need to drink the following groups of drugs:

1. The safest and most effective drug is Papazol. It is taken for about ten days only as prescribed by the gynecologist.
2. Dopegitis is another popular pill for pregnancy pressure. Analogs of the drug: Methyldopa, Aldomet. They help to effectively and gently reduce performance to normal.
3. Verapamil, Nifedipine, Normodipine are calcium channel blockers. They are used to quickly lower excessively high pressure.

Video: increased pressure during pregnancy

Attention! The information presented in the article is for guidance only. Materials of the article do not call for independent treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Found a mistake in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we will fix it!

High blood pressure during pregnancy is the result of the not very good health of the expectant mother. His indicators play a big role during the entire period of bearing a child, there are risks and dangers. Therefore, gynecologists who observe pregnant women pay considerable attention to this issue, because increased pressure can have a negative effect not only on the woman, but also on the development of the fetus.

The norm of blood pressure during pregnancy

Normal blood pressure in a pregnant woman is considered indicators in which the heart muscle and blood vessels perform their functions without much stress and excessive load; nutrients are delivered by the bloodstream to the fetus, and the development of the future baby is normal. The average indicators of blood pressure are:

• upper systolic pressure 110-120 mm RT. st .;
• lower diastolic pressure 70-80 mm RT. Art.

Normally, some rises in blood pressure are allowed, but the numbers should not be higher than 140 by 90 mm RT. Art. If such indicators are recorded more than two times, then this is already an alarming symptom, requiring a detailed examination and the appointment of appropriate treatment.

An important point for a pregnant woman at the first examination in a antenatal clinic is the need to inform her doctor about her usual blood pressure. Given the significant restructuring in the body of the expectant mother during the conception of the child and the increased load on the cardiovascular system of the body, blood pressure may increase. And this is fraught with various complications.

Reasons for pressure increase

When pregnancy occurs, significant changes occur in the woman’s body. The metabolism increases, the hormonal background changes. In the new conditions, the work of the nervous and cardiovascular systems is being rebuilt.

1. Active stimulation of B-adrenergic receptors occurs, which is necessary to reduce the tone of the myometrium. But as a result of stimulation of these receptors in the kidney, the formation of renin increases and the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system increases. Due to this, physiological fluid retention in the body occurs.
2. During pregnancy, body weight increases, which is associated with the growth of the uterus, placenta, a growing fetus and increased metabolism. At the same time, the volume of circulating blood in the body also increases.
3. Against the background of changes in the reactivity of the nervous system, an increase in the stroke and minute volume of the heart is observed, tachycardia develops. But at the same time there is an expansion of peripheral vessels. Thus, in the first two trimesters, a decrease in pressure is observed, and in the third trimester it returns to its original level.

With this mode of operation of the cardiovascular system, the compensatory capabilities of the body are limited. With any pathology, a malfunction in the regulatory system can occur.

The reasons that influenced the appearance of high blood pressure during pregnancy can be very different. An increase in blood pressure can be triggered by physiological factors:

• stressful situations;
• overfatigue or overstrain;
• the use of coffee or strong tea;
• active physical activity;
• taking certain medications;
• first birth after 30 years.

Small jumps in blood pressure quickly return to normal if the provoking factors are removed. In this case, the woman has no complaints about her health.

But the main reasons leading to increased pressure in pregnant women are associated precisely with the onset of conception. These include:

• hormonal surge in the endocrine system of the body;
• kidney disease, which worsened during pregnancy;
• obesity and excessive weight gain during an interesting position;
• physical inactivity and lack of physical activity, with an increase in which the cardiovascular system begins to respond with an increase in pressure;
• genetic predisposition;
• smoking even during pregnancy;
• violations in the diet and the use of a large number of salted and smoked products;
• history of traumatic brain injury;
• diabetes;
• the presence of hypertension before pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a great stress for the body of the expectant mother, so the presence of a predisposition to an increase in blood pressure is quite expected. Only careful monitoring of a pregnant woman and taking pressure-lowering drugs will help to avoid various complications.

The danger of high blood pressure during pregnancy

High blood pressure during pregnancy is dangerous for both a woman and an unborn baby. Especially the risk of developing various complications increases in its second half. Therefore, it is so important to monitor the pressure throughout the pregnancy. A pathology that can develop against the background of high blood pressure indicators:

• fetal hypoxia - a spasm of blood vessels that occurs both in the uterus and in the placenta, leads to circulatory failure, as a result of which nutrition is disturbed, intrauterine development of the fetus may be delayed, which can be born on time, but with low weight;
• spontaneous miscarriage - the reason for this phenomenon lies in the development of insufficiency of the functioning of the placenta (fetoplacental insufficiency);
• partial detachment of the placenta - a violation of blood circulation between the uterus and the placenta due to increased pressure leads to premature termination of pregnancy;
• development of preeclampsia - against the background of high blood pressure, disturbances in the functioning of important systems of the woman’s body occur, which are manifested in the development of renal failure with the presence of edema and protein in the urine;
• eclampsia - the development of convulsive syndrome against a background of high blood pressure is life-threatening for both the mother and the child;
• retinal detachment during labor is a dangerous condition that threatens blindness in later life.

The presence of such complications requires a woman's careful attitude to herself and constant monitoring of the tonometer.

Signs of increased pressure

If blood pressure rises, then this will affect the general health of the pregnant woman and manifest itself with certain symptoms. With indicators of blood pressure below 140 per 80 mm RT. Art., but above normal, the clinical picture of the general condition will be slightly expressed:

• periodic headache, slight in intensity, with slight dizziness;
• slight increase in heart rate;
• hyperemia of the skin of the face;
• slight anxiety.

If there is a tendency to increase pressure, clinical manifestations progress and are supplemented by the following symptoms:

• dyspnea;
• areas of hyperemia of the skin extend to the whole body;
• general weakness;
• the appearance of nausea, accompanied by vomiting;
• tinnitus;
• flickering of "flies", stars in front of the eyes or a veil and fog covering the eyes.

A pressure of 140 per 100 during pregnancy and above may indicate the development of signs of gestosis. The development of this pathology threatens big problems for the mother and the unborn child. This condition is manifested by pathological changes in the kidneys.

But not always elevated blood pressure figures make themselves felt in a change in the general condition of a woman and clinical symptoms. In this case, the absence of clinical manifestations does not exclude the possibility of developing serious complications in relation to a woman and her unborn child. Therefore, this condition requires mandatory treatment in order to reduce pressure and normalize the processes of pregnancy.

Classification

Hypertension in pregnant women means an increase in blood pressure to 140/90 mm RT. Art. and higher. A diagnosis is made based on at least two measurements taken at different times. They do this in a calm environment against the background of the absence of antihypertensive therapy. High blood pressure occurs in 7-30% of pregnant women. It can be detected before conception, but can be registered for the first time during gestation.

The division of hypertension in pregnant women is slightly different in terms of the degree of pressure increase:

• moderate - from 140/90 to 159/109;
• heavy - from 160/110 and above.

According to the classification, 4 pathology options are distinguished:

1. Pre-pregnancy hypertension: hypertension or symptomatic arterial hypertension. In this case, a standard classification is used that takes into account the degree of pressure increase, the stage of the disease, target organ damage, and associated clinical conditions.
2. Gestational arterial hypertension. It occurs in about 6% of pregnant women. Pathology begins to be detected from about 20 weeks (2nd trimester). If, against the background of increased pressure, protein in the urine is also detected (0.3 g per day or more), then they speak of preeclampsia. This is one of the manifestations of late gestosis. Both the mother’s body and the child suffer, since placental circulation is disturbed. With moderate preeclampsia, a pressure of 140–159 / 90–109 is recorded, with severe - 160/110 mm Hg. Art. and more. If you do not reduce the pressure in time, then eclampsia develops. This condition can lead to the death of a woman.
3. A combination of the first two options to which proteinuria joins. They think of this form of pathology when, prior to conception, a woman suffered from hypertension. During the bearing of the child, the numbers become even higher, and protein appears in the urine in an amount of 3 g / day or more. This is characteristic of the second trimester. The occurrence of edema is not an important diagnostic criterion, since in normal pregnancy, edema is also observed in 60% of cases.
4. Unclassifiable form. This form is talked about if a woman was not observed anywhere before 20 weeks. Pressure is measured for the first time and pathology is revealed. Such women should be observed after delivery by a doctor for a long time and constantly monitor their condition.

What to do if blood pressure rises during pregnancy

The management of pregnant women with high blood pressure depends on the cause of this pathological reaction. Therefore, in each case, a specific treatment is determined according to the symptoms.

For the most part, drug therapy is carried out comprehensively and is combined with non-drug treatment, as well as with the recommendation of observing the regimen of the day, rest and diet. Non-medication treatments for high blood pressure include the following measures:

• limitation of physical and domestic stress;
• protecting a pregnant woman from stressful situations;
• compliance with the regime of the day;
• full night rest at least 9 hours;
• balanced diet with limited salt intake;
• restriction in the use of animal fats;
• restriction in the use of confectionery and sugar;
• switching to fractional nutrition 5-6 times a day;
• the use of juices: carrot, apple, pumpkin, cranberry.

The main goals of antihypertensive therapy:

1. Prevention of complications that may occur if the pressure is not reduced in time.
2. Preservation of pregnancy until the optimal time of delivery.
3. Providing conditions for the normal development of the fetus.

If a woman has long suffered from hypertension and is already receiving treatment, then the prohibited drugs are canceled, replacing them with safer ones for the child.

If gestational hypertension is detected, treatment is carried out in an obstetric hospital. If the pressure returns to normal, there is no protein in the urine, nothing threatens the life of the mother and the child, then further treatment continues on an outpatient basis. About 2-3 weeks before the expected date of birth, the pregnant woman should go to the hospital, where the issue of delivery methods is being decided. If stabilization of the state does not occur, then the woman will have to spend all the time remaining until the birth of the child in the hospital.

Not all antihypertensive drugs are suitable for pregnant women. These are specially approved drugs that do not adversely affect the unborn child. These include:

• Dopehyde - is prescribed up to 28 weeks of pregnancy;
• Nifedipine, Verapamil - is prescribed from the second trimester of pregnancy;
• Atenolol, Labetalol - is prescribed from the second trimester of pregnancy.

If there is a slight increase in pressure, it is recommended to take drugs with a sedative effect, such as valerian, motherwort, lemon balm.

It is strictly forbidden to conduct treatment on your own - both medically and with traditional medicine. The consequences of such treatment can lead to unpredictable results and complications.

Pregnancy complications

If the bearing of a child is accompanied by high blood pressure, the following complications may develop: premature detachment of the placenta, placental insufficiency, death of the child, acute renal failure, eclampsia followed by coma, acute heart failure, DIC, cerebral hemorrhage. All these complications can occur if the disease is completely launched, therefore it is very important to speak with your doctor about all the symptoms.

Inpatient treatment

Treatment of gestational arterial hypertension and preeclampsia is carried out in a hospital.  In addition to tablets, other means are also used. Nitroglycerin can be administered intravenously. Magnesium sulfate is used to prevent convulsive syndrome. The drug is administered intravenously in a jet for 15–20 minutes, then they switch to intravenous drip. An overdose of magnesium can be manifested by drowsiness, respiratory depression and a decrease in the knee reflex.

Hypertensive crisis in pregnant women

During pregnancy, significant pressure surges can occur - hypertensive crises. They are provoked by an error in nutrition, when a lot of salt and liquid are used, mental stress, unauthorized withdrawal of drug therapy.

If the numbers reach 170/110 mm RT. Art. or exceed these indicators, immediate hospitalization in the department of pathology of pregnant women is required. Constant medical monitoring of the condition of the woman and her child is required. Medications are usually administered intravenously. This allows you to gradually reduce the pressure and timely stop the infusion of the drug, preventing the development of hypotension.

Prevention

The doctor's recommendations will help reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure:

• compliance with the regime of work and rest;
• good nutrition;
• restriction from stressful situations and physical activity.

Self-monitoring of blood pressure and regular monitoring in a antenatal clinic will help in identifying and preventing an increase in blood pressure, the development of pathological symptoms that pose a threat to both the woman’s health and her future baby.

Conclusion

When planning a pregnancy, a woman should undergo a full examination. If at the same time it has high blood pressure, it is necessary to be examined more thoroughly with an assessment of the state of all organs and systems: kidneys, brain, heart and blood vessels. If antihypertensive therapy is used, it is necessary to correct it in advance.

If the pathology has developed against the background of pregnancy, then it is necessary to constantly be under medical supervision, clearly comply with all the requirements. Pills for pressure during pregnancy are prescribed only by a doctor. You cannot do this on your own, as you can harm not only yourself, but also the unborn baby. After delivery, you should carefully monitor the pressure and continue to be observed by a doctor.

During the period of expectation of a child, the female body becomes very vulnerable, long-standing diseases are aggravated, previously unknown sensations appear, sometimes, not always pleasant.

Quite often, one of the symptoms of the development of pathologies during pregnancy is high blood pressure. Therefore, during the examinations, obstetrician-gynecologists each time monitor the pressure of the expectant mother.

Normal pressure during pregnancy, in which the heart and blood vessels perform their functions without experiencing excessive load, are considered indicators:

• 110-120 mm. Hg. Art. for upper (heart) pressure - diastolic;
• 70-80 mm. Hg. Art. for the lower (vascular) - systolic.

For chronic hypotensive patients, these limits may be lower: 90/60 mm Hg. Art.

It is important that a woman, when registering for pregnancy in a medical facility, knows the “working” values \u200b\u200bof her pressure.

Indeed, often (as, for example, in hypotensive patients), increased pressure is ascertained based on an increase in values: more than 30 mm. Hg. Art. for the upper indicator and 15 mm RT. Art. for the lower one, it means that blood pressure has risen beyond the permissible level.

Of course, a one-time increase in pressure for some reason is not a reason for the diagnosis of hypertension. But if the increased level is recorded at least twice in a row, then this is already cause for concern.

Why does the pressure rise?

Factors contributing to the appearance of high blood pressure during pregnancy differ little from the causes of hypertensive conditions in the "non-pregnant" period:

•   (obesity);
• bad habits (alcohol, smoking);
• chronic diseases of the internal organs, which are accompanied by high blood pressure;
• hereditary predisposition;
• hypertension as an independent disease (in the absence of endocrine disorders, diseases of internal organs).

Since the period of carrying a child for the female body is a period of increased stress, then, with a known predisposition, problems with pressure in the expectant mother are quite expected.

Moreover, if previously the expectant mother already suffered from high blood pressure (including during a previous pregnancy), then in the vast majority of cases (about 80%) during the next pregnancy, high blood pressure is inevitable.

However, it also happens that a jump in intracranial pressure in a woman was first noted precisely during the current pregnancy. The reason for this may be:

•   . Then hypertension is one of the symptoms of the triad of this pathology (along with proteinuria and).
• Gestational arterial hypertension, which is not combined with other symptoms of gestosis. It occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy and, as a rule, heals itself after childbirth.

The insidiousness of hypertension lies in the fact that its initial stages can easily be not recognized.

This is especially true for future mothers, for whom high blood pressure is common.

The body has adapted to this state and is in no hurry to respond to it.  Therefore, at each scheduled examination by an obstetrician-gynecologist, a woman passes control with a tonometer.

With a mild degree of hypertension, its signs may be weakly expressed:

• mild, dizziness;
• rapid pulse;
• excessive sweating;
• bright “blush” on the cheeks;
• anxiety.

The severity of these symptoms progresses with a further increase in pressure. To them are added:

• dyspnea;
• areas of redness on the skin throughout the body;
• "tinnitus;
• weakness;
• bouts of nausea, vomiting;
• "Flies", "fog" before the eyes.

Pain may appear in the left sternum, insomnia, excessive nervousness, which are so easily mistaken for the features of a "pregnant" body.

Perhaps this is true, but the doctor must confirm or refute the suspicion.

Dangerous effects of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Of course, high blood pressure is a pathology and requires immediate correction.

Careful monitoring of blood pressure values, which are experts, is caused by the likelihood of dangerous consequences for the mother and child.

1. Increased pressure in pregnant women is the “answer” to narrowing of blood vessels, including in the uterus and placenta. This leads to obstruction of blood circulation in the uterus-placenta-fetus system, and, therefore, to. Prolonged hypoxia is the cause of intrauterine growth retardation of the baby.
2.   , which also develops due to vasospasm, can cause spontaneous abortion.
3. Due to the increased blood pressure in the bed between the uterus and the placenta, it can occur, which will lead to insufficient nutrition of the fetus, and also, depending on the extent of detachment, it can cause.
4. Prolonged hypertension can cause functional failure of the vital organs of a woman, which is dangerous for the health and life of mom and her unborn baby.
5. Severe hypertension, as a manifestation of gestosis, can lead to the development of complications that are dangerous for the mother and her unborn child - preeclampsia and eclampsia.
6. A significant jump in pressure, especially during childbirth, can cause retinal detachment (and subsequent blindness) or even stroke.

Do I need hospitalization?

Since hypertension is a very dangerous phenomenon for a pregnant woman, it is unreasonable to refuse the proposed hospitalization. In addition, it is very likely that with a favorable prognosis, the time spent in the hospital will be small.

If hypertension was listed in the woman’s medical history even before being registered for pregnancy, a referral to hospitalization will be issued at the first appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist.

The hospital will determine the degree of hypertension, predict the risk of possible complications for a woman’s health and select treatment methods.

At the initial detection of hypertension during pregnancy, hospitalization is also indicated to search for the causes that caused the increase in pressure.

If the growth of indicators occurred in the second trimester, it is important to exclude the development of gestosis or to diagnose it in a timely manner.

If the degree of hypertension is mild, the pressure is stable and does not negatively affect the well-being of the future mother, then the next hospitalization according to the plan will follow at the beginning of the third trimester, since during this period the likelihood of a crisis increases.

At 38-39 weeks of pregnancy, the expectant mother with high pressure moves to the hospital until the birth.

During this time, she will be examined, in order to clarify her condition and choose a method of delivery, preparatory procedures.

In the case of an exacerbation of the hypertensive state in a woman, treatment is mandatory. This is necessary to determine the factors that caused the aggravation of hypertension and the appointment of appropriate treatment.

How to lower blood pressure during pregnancy

Depending on the reasons that caused arterial hypertension, the doctor chooses the tactics of further pregnancy and treatment methods aimed at normalizing pressure.

As a rule, a combination of drug and non-drug therapy is used.

Non-drug method

The non-drug method is to limit the physical and social workload, namely:

• refusal to participate in stressful situations.
• the creation of a comfortable psychological environment.
• the exclusion of excessive physical effort, therapeutic gymnastics is allowed, swimming at a calm pace.
• Compliance with sleep, rest.

In addition, it is important to observe some nutrition principles aimed at:

• adjustment of potassium-sodium metabolism (to prevent fluid retention in the body);
• prevention of further excessive weight gain (if it is excessive).
• To improve water metabolism in the body:
• limit or completely eliminate the use of table salt with food, as a source of sodium, leading to fluid retention in tissues;
• include in the diet foods rich in potassium, which reduce the tone of blood vessels and magnesium, which also has a light diuretic property.

To prevent excessive weight gain:

• limit fat intake to 40 g per day, giving priority to vegetable fats;
• minimize the presence of simple carbohydrates in the diet: sugars, refined foods, treats;
• adjust the mode of eating in the direction of fractional nutrition.

Folk ways

Among non-drug methods of dealing with high blood pressure, alternative methods have also found their place:

• Grind, mix equal amount of rose hips, hawthorn, red viburnum, linden flowers, calendula, blueberry and heather shoots and motherwort grass. Separate 2 tbsp. l , pour them with 2 cups boiling water, then simmer for 15 minutes. in a water bath and insist at room temperature. Drink 100 g of strained mixture with honey after meals 3-4 times a day. The duration of the course is 1.5 months.
• Mix half a glass of cranberry juice with the same amount of honey. Take 1 tsp. 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 14 days.
• Mix an equal amount of shredded valerian root, dried cinnamon grass, heather shoots and viburnum flowers. Pour 2 cups boiling water 2 tbsp. l mix and insist in a thermos for 2 hours. Sweetened strained infusion sweeten with honey and take ¼ cup 4 times a day. The course of admission is 1-1.5 months.

Before using herbal remedies, you should get approval from a doctor who is pregnant to rule out possible contraindications.

Medication method

With a slight increase in pressure, phytopreparations that have a calming, light sedative effect based on motherwort, valerian, lemon balm, mint, etc., will suffice.

With persistent hypertension, there is a need for the use of more serious pharmacological agents.

The most common remedy, due to its availability and safety at the same time as its effectiveness, is methyldopa (“Dopegit”).

The drug for pressure is approved for use from the very early stages of pregnancy. Methyldopa does not adversely affect placental circulation, does not pose a threat to fetal development, and also does not cause adverse effects in the long term for a born child.

The action of the substance occurs within 2-6 hours and is manifested:

• in a relaxing effect for the central nervous system;
• in suppressing the activity of hormones that cause an increase in pressure;
• in suppressing the activity of the blood plasma enzyme (renin), which is able to affect the level of blood pressure and sodium metabolism;
• in the removal of vascular hypertonicity;
• in general sedative effect.

With pressure in late pregnancy, when a protein is detected in a urinalysis and taking into account all the possible risks to the fetus, β-blockers are prescribed.

As a medicine for pressure, pregnant women are often prescribed cardioselective β-blockers, because they have fewer side effects compared to non-selective ones.

In the fight against high blood pressure, the effect exerted by them directly on cardiac activity is important:

• reduced heart rate and strength;
• the body's susceptibility to stress is reduced;
• renin activity decreases;
• conductivity in the AV node is reduced to the desired level, normalizing the contractile-conducting activity of the heart departments;
• the oxygen demand of the heart muscle is normalized (anti-ischemic effect);
• the risk of cardiac arrhythmias is reduced.

Popular β-blockers prescribed for pregnant women help to relieve pressure during pregnancy: atenolol, metaprotolol, labetalol, nebivolol, bisoprolol.

Bisoprolol is currently preferable because of its ease of use (1 tablet per day), reliable round-the-clock action, the possibility of use in diabetics and the less pronounced "withdrawal syndrome" in comparison with other means.

Calcium antagonists or calcium channel blockers are similar in effectiveness to β-blockers.

But they do not act on the nervous system, but on the channels in the cardiac and vascular muscles through which calcium enters the muscle cells.

The strength of muscle contraction depends on the calcium concentration in its cells. Activation of calcium channels occurs under the influence of adrenaline, norepinephrine. The blockade of calcium-conducting channels prevents spasms in the muscles of the heart and blood vessels.

According to the direction of action of calcium antagonists, it can be conditionally divided into groups:

• acting only on smooth vascular muscles (nifedipine, normodipine, amlodipine, etc.) and therefore are recommended for use simultaneously with β-blockers;
• acting on muscles and heart and blood vessels (verapamil) and therefore are prohibited for use simultaneously with β-blockers.

Taking calcium antagonists during pregnancy does not exclude a possible detrimental effect on the fetus and is often accompanied by unpleasant side effects.

Therefore, they are prescribed in the case when taking other groups of antihypertensive drugs is impossible.

Measures to prevent high blood pressure during pregnancy

Blood pressure in a woman during pregnancy almost inevitably rises due to an increase in the volume of circulating blood with an increase in the duration of pregnancy.

Therefore, a slight increase in blood pressure in some pregnant women may be the physiological norm.

If the pressure indicators are increased already in the early stages of pregnancy, or the “jumps” in pressure occurred earlier, she should adjust her lifestyle and diet for the prevention of hypertension.

Namely:

• do not limit the duration of sleep and rest;
• avoid excessive physical activity, preferring feasible exercise at a calm pace;
• avoid stressful situations;
• to control weight gain during pregnancy (not more than 15 kg.);
• adjust the diet and menu, making the meal fractional and abandoning unwanted foods with hypertension;
• regularly monitor your blood pressure (daily, at least twice a day) on both your right and left hands.

If this happened, at the next doctor’s appointment or with an independent measurement, mom found that the pressure exceeded the norm, then in the first place the panic should be stopped, otherwise the indicators will rise even higher.

The most reasonable thing in this situation is not to self-medicate, but to trust qualified specialists and then the pregnancy and the birth of the baby will be successful.