One of the constants in all pregnancy control appointments is, as well as weight control, the blood pressure control. It is done from the first moment to detect possible variations of normal values. We tell you why it is so important to control the tension in pregnancy.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, so measuring it periodically is the only way to detect it. Controlled in time should not present major complications, however, uncontrolled can cause serious problems pregnancy such as preeclampsia, cause growth retardation, premature delivery, placental abruption, low weight in the baby at birth and even fetal death.
What is blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries when circulating to all parts of the body. Stress figures normal are 120/80 mmHg, and hypertension is considered to exist when blood pressure figures are equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg.
Ideally, women should know their usual values before becoming pregnant, if it is normal or has a tendency to low or high blood pressure. In the first trimester the tension tends to decrease slightly due to the physiological changes that occur in pregnancy, since the circulatory system must get used to a greater volume of blood circulating through the veins. But more or less from the fourth month the tension increases until reaching the figures that were before pregnancy in the third trimester.
In some cases the pregnant woman may be hypertensive before pregnancy (chronic hypertension), while in other cases it occurs only during pregnancy, called gestational hypertension, caused by alterations in the circulatory system caused by the pregnancy itself.
Factors that increase the risk of hypertension
There are certain factors related to the risk of developing hypertension in pregnancy such as:
First pregnancy with high age (over 35 years old)
Having suffered hypertension in previous pregnancy
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy (more than two kilos per month)
Women with previous illnesses such as obesity and diabetes
Multiple pregnancies
The risk of preeclampsia
In more severe cases, hypertension may develop preeclampsia in the pregnant woman (or pregnancy-induced hypertension), a condition that It usually appears after week 20 and could have serious consequences for the mother and the babyTherefore, it is essential to permanently monitor the voltage to detect it in time.
It can cause a severe reduction in blood flow to the fetus preventing the blood supply to certain areas of the placenta. If the placenta stops working it can put the baby in danger and the mother could also suffer serious damages such as kidney, liver, and blood clotting problems, among others.
Some preeclampsia symptoms They are severe headaches, edemas on hands, wrists, face and / or ankles, sudden weight gain, vomiting, less need to urinate, rapid heartbeat.
How is the pregnant woman treated with preeclampsia? Treatment may include rest or hospitalization for better control, although there are many degrees and generally they are mild. It is the specialist who has to decide the type of treatment to follow. The signs and symptoms of preeclampsia usually disappear completely a few weeks after delivery.
Most women with hypertension give birth to healthy babies because they are treated on time. That's why it is so important to control the tension in pregnancy.
Photos | jasleen_kaur on Flickr On Babies and more | Diseases that can complicate pregnancy: hypertension
