Various types of hypertension in pregnancy need to be watched out for

Hypertension is a condition in which blood flow from the heart pushing against the walls of the blood vessels (arteries) is very strong. A person is diagnosed with hypertension when their blood pressure is high, reaching 140/90 mmHg or more. While normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.

Hypertension is the most common medical problem encountered during pregnancy. About 10% of pregnant women are said to have experienced high blood pressure during their pregnancy. Then, what are the types of hypertension in pregnancy? The following is the explanation:

1. Gestational hypertension

Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy. Gestational hypertension usually appearsafter 20 weeks of gestation and this hypertension can disappear after childbirth.

In this condition, there is no excess protein in the urine or other signs of organ damage.

The University of Rochester Medical Center said, this condition has no known exact cause. The reason is, gestational hypertension can be experienced by mothers who have never suffered from high blood pressure before their pregnancy.

However, the following conditions can increase the risk of developing gestational hypertension during pregnancy:

If you have had high blood pressure before becoming pregnant or during a previous pregnancy
You have kidney disease or diabetes
You were less than 20 years old or over 40 years old when you were pregnant
Multiple pregnancy
Pregnant with the first child

2. Chronic hypertension

Chronic hypertension is a condition of high blood pressure that occurs before pregnancy and continues throughout pregnancy.

Sometimes, a woman does not know that she has chronic hypertension because high blood pressure does not show symptoms.

Therefore, doctors consider pregnant women who experience high blood pressure before 20 weeks of gestation is called chronic hypertension.

Unlike gestational hypertension, usually chronic hypertension will not go away even though the mother has given birth to her baby.

3. Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia

This condition occurs in women with chronic hypertension who experience high blood pressure during pregnancy accompanied by high levels of protein in the urine or other blood pressure-related complications.

If you show these signs at less than 20 weeks of gestation, you may have chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia.

4. Preeclampsia

Gestational hypertension and chronic hypertension that are not treated immediately can develop into preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia or pregnancy poisoning is a serious blood pressure disorder that can interfere with the work of the organs.

Usually this occurs at 20 weeks of gestation and will disappear after you have delivered your baby.

Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria (presence of protein in the urine). In addition, preeclampsia can also be characterized by:

Swelling of the face or hands
Headaches that are hard to go away
Pain in the upper abdomen or shoulders
Nausea and vomiting
Difficulty breathing
Sudden weight gain
Impaired eyesight

You are at high risk of developing preeclampsia if your mother and in-law (mother of husband) experienced the same thing during pregnancy.

You are also at high risk of developing this type of hypertension if you have had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy.

The cause of preeclampsia is not certain. However, preeclampsia appears to be caused by disruption in the growth of the placenta so that blood flow to the placenta does not work properly.

Preeclampsia can harm the condition of you and the fetus in the womb. Blood flow from the mother and the fetus can be impaired, making it difficult for the baby to get the oxygen and nutrients needed for development.

In addition, preeclampsia can also affect the health of organs, such as the mother's liver, kidneys, lungs, eyes and brain. Preeclampsia can then progress to eclampsia.

5. Eclampsia

Preeclampsia that is not detected quickly can lead to eclampsia. This condition is rare, it is estimated that only 1 in 200 cases of preeclampsia develop into eclampsia.

However, eclampsia is a serious health condition. In this condition, hypertension or high blood pressure that occurs can affect the brain and cause convulsions or comain pregnancy.

This is a sign that the preeclampsia you have experienced has developed into eclampsia.

Eclampsia can have serious and fatal consequences for both the mother and the fetus in the womb.

Preeclampsia and eclampsia can cause disruption of the function of the placenta, which in turn can result in babies born with low birth weight, health problems in babies, and even stillbirths (in rare cases).

Why is hypertension during pregnancy dangerous?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) says, high blood pressure or hypertension in pregnancy can put extra stress on the work of your heart and kidneys.

Thus, your risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke will be higher in the future.

This condition can also cause injury to other organs, such as the lungs, brain, liver and other major organs, which can be life threatening.

In addition, some complications in pregnancy may arise with this condition, namely:

1. Stunted fetal growth

High blood pressure can decrease the flow of nutrients from your body to the fetus through the placenta. When this happens, the baby in your womb may be deprived of oxygen and nutrients.

This can result in stunted fetal growth or what is commonly called Intra Uterine Growth Restriction or IUGR and lead to low birth weight babies.

2. Placental abruption

Preeclampsia increases the risk of placental abruption, which is a condition in which the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery.

A severe abruption can cause heavy bleeding and damage to the placenta which can be fatal for you and your baby.

3. Premature birth

When hypertension occurs in pregnancy, the doctor may decide to deliver prematurely (prematurely).

This is necessary to prevent potential fatal complications. As for preterm birth, it can cause breathing problems as well as an increased risk of infections and other complications for your baby.

Is it okay to use blood pressure medications during pregnancy?

Any medicine you take while pregnant can affect you and your baby.

Although some drugs used to lower blood pressure are generally safe to use during pregnancy, others such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and renin inhibitors are generally avoided during pregnancy.

However, treatment is important. Your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other problems related to high blood pressure doesn't go away when you're pregnant.

High blood pressure can also harm your baby.

If you need drugs to control blood pressure during pregnancy, your doctor will prescribe the safest medicines and in the right dosage.

Take medication as prescribed. Do not stop use or adjust the dose yourself.

What should I do to prevent hypertension in pregnancy?

To take precautions, you need to know whether you have risk factors for developing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia or not.

If you already know, you can take steps to overcome these risk factors.

If you have hypertension and are planning a pregnancy, you should always check with your doctor.

Find out, is your hypertension under control or has it affected your health? Likewise, if you had diabetes before becoming pregnant, make sure your diabetes is under control.

The key is to always have your condition checked before and during pregnancy.

If you are overweight before becoming pregnant, it's a good idea to lose weight before becoming pregnant so that your pregnancy conditions are healthier.

If you start experiencing preeclampsia symptoms in the middle of pregnancy, you must keep your blood pressure stable.

Maybe the doctor will give drugs to help lower blood pressure and to prevent seizures, so that preeclampsia does not develop into eclampsia.

If preeclampsia occurs during pregnancy, your doctor may consider delivering your baby as soon as the baby is developmentally ready for birth.

Sometimes, babies have to be born prematurely to protect the health of both mother and baby.