Increased heart pressure during pregnancy. High blood pressure during pregnancy. What to do if you have high blood pressure during pregnancy? How to reduce blood pressure during pregnancy? Symptoms of hypertension

In the article we discuss high blood pressure during pregnancy - its causes, symptoms, consequences and treatment features. You will learn at what pressure levels you should sound the alarm, in what cases hospitalization is carried out, whether it is possible to lower blood pressure using traditional medicine recipes, and what food products will help with this.

Causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

High pressure during pregnancy - a reason to consult a doctor

Blood pressure or blood pressure is the force with which blood presses against the walls of the arteries. Pressure indicators are indicated in the form of two numbers. The first number characterizes blood pressure when the heart contracts (systole), and the second number characterizes blood pressure when it relaxes (diastole).

During pregnancy, blood pressure is measured every week in order to detect any problems in time.

If your “working pressure” is within 120/70, then systolic readings of 140 and above indicate increased blood pressure. Accordingly, with a “working pressure” of 90/60, you should be wary if the tonometer shows 120/70.

For what reasons does blood pressure increase during pregnancy?

stressful situations;
diabetes;
heredity;
poor physical activity;
chronic hypertension;
obesity, overweight;
thyroid diseases.

Sometimes the upper systolic pressure is normal, but the lower reading is above 90 mmHg. The cause of this imbalance is diseases of the heart muscle. Also, increased diastolic pressure during pregnancy is caused by chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis and abnormalities in the development of the kidneys.

What are the dangers of hypertension during pregnancy?

Why high blood pressure is dangerous during pregnancy for mother and child:

fetoplacental insufficiency - the vessels of the uterus and placenta narrow, the intensity of blood flow weakens; the baby receives less oxygen and nutrients, its intrauterine development slows down;
premature placental abruption - the pressure in the space between the placenta and the wall of the uterus increases; the placenta separates from the mucous membrane, damages blood vessels and causes bleeding; at the same time, it ceases to supply the child with oxygen, and he develops acute hypoxia.

In both cases, there is not only a threat to the baby’s health, but also the risk of miscarriage or premature birth.

Another complication of high blood pressure during pregnancy is gestosis. Its two stages are especially dangerous - preeclampsia and eclampsia. The disease causes dystrophic changes internal organs, including the cardiovascular system. As a result, high blood pressure and swelling occur during pregnancy. Not only the arms and legs swell, but also the placenta, which leads to fetal hypoxia. At the most severe stage of gestosis, convulsions begin, loss of consciousness, then coma.

In some cases, a stable increase in blood pressure during pregnancy provokes cerebral hemorrhage during childbirth or retinal detachment and blindness.

Associated symptoms

The best way to check your blood pressure is to measure it with a blood pressure monitor. If you do not have this device, pay attention to how you feel. The main symptoms of high blood pressure in pregnant women are headache and severe dizziness. And the stronger the headache, the higher the blood pressure readings.

Associated signs of high blood pressure during pregnancy:

vomiting and nausea;
general weakness;
noise in ears;
“flies” before the eyes;
redness of the skin on the face and chest.

How to lower high blood pressure during pregnancy

You can drink mint tea to lower blood pressure

Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect high blood pressure in a pregnant woman.- only a specialist can tell you what to do and how to lower blood pressure during pregnancy after a diagnostic examination.

Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. If you have mild high blood pressure, the following will be recommended:

Normalize your sleep schedule - 1-2 hours during the day and 9-10 hours at night.
Eliminate heavy ones physical exercise and stressful situations.
Take walks more often fresh air, moving at a calm pace.
Give up bad habits, including smoking.
Follow a diet with salt intake of no more than 1 tsp. per day.
Add banana, dried apricots, seaweed, raisins and baked potatoes to your diet.

Moderate to severe hypertension will require drug therapy.

Medications

If blood pressure increases only periodically, systolic values are within 140-159 mmHg, and diastolic values are 90-110 mmHg, non-drug treatment supplemented with a course of sedatives based on herbal ingredients.

What can pregnant women drink for sedation if they have high blood pressure:

valerian;
novopassitis;
motherwort;
person;
Peony decoction.

In moderately severe hypertension, the upper blood pressure is above 160 mmHg, and more potent medications are needed for the hypotensive effect.

There is a list of approved pills for high blood pressure during pregnancy, which are relatively safe for the child and his mother.

How to reduce blood pressure during pregnancy in this case:

Dopegit (methyldopa);
Verapamil, Nifedipine, Normodipine;
Labetalol, Atenolol, Nebivolol.

Additionally, No-shpa may be prescribed for high blood pressure during pregnancy. The drug dilates blood vessels, improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles and relieves headaches.

To obtain an antihypertensive effect, do not change the dosage and regimen of medications, and do not stop therapy yourself. Only following your doctor’s recommendations will normalize your well-being.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine recipes are not as effective as pharmaceutical drugs. But if they are added to the main treatment, they help to avoid dangerous manifestations of gestosis, such as preeclampsia and eclampsia.

How to reduce blood pressure during pregnancy using folk remedies:

pumpkin broth with honey;
corn porridge;
infusion of valerian root;
infusion of mint leaves.

A popular recipe for high blood pressure during pregnancy is cranberry porridge. It is made from fresh berries, sugar and semolina.

Ingredients:

Cranberries - 1 cup.
Water (boiling water) - 1 glass.
Semolina - 3 tsp.
Granulated sugar - 4 tbsp.

How to cook: Crush the berries with a masher or grind in a blender. Squeeze the juice through cheesecloth and pour into a separate container. Pour boiling water over the berry pulp and cook for 5 minutes. Strain the broth through a sieve, add semolina, sugar and place on low heat for 15 minutes. Beat the mixture with a blender and add the squeezed juice.

How to use: Take 3 tsp several times a day.

Result: Cranberry normalizes blood pressure and has a mild diuretic effect, relieves swelling and removes toxins, prevents the formation of “bad” cholesterol, and protects blood vessels from hemorrhages.

Products that lower blood pressure

When treating hypertension and preventing it, doctors advise adding foods that lower blood pressure during pregnancy to your daily diet:

beet;
cowberry;
cranberry;
pumpkin;
spinach;
carrot;
cabbage.

If you have high blood pressure, you should not consume chocolate, coffee, strong tea, butter, fatty meats, fried foods, smoked meats and marinades.

When is hospitalization necessary?

If high blood pressure is diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy for up to 12 weeks, you will definitely be hospitalized to clarify the severity of the disease and decide whether to carry a child. In case of mild hypertension, hospital treatment will be replaced with outpatient treatment with regular visits to the doctor.

If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy in the second trimester, you will be sent to the hospital for examination, since preeclampsia may begin at this stage. In the absence of dangerous indicators, further hospitalization is not required.

High blood pressure during pregnancy later requires only hospital treatment, especially at 28-32 weeks and 1-2 weeks before birth. This is a critical period when there is a maximum increase in circulating blood volume. It was at this moment that the state expectant mother most often gets worse. Even if you feel well at 38-39 weeks, hospitalization is necessary. The clinic will not only prescribe medications to reduce blood pressure during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, but will also select the optimal method of delivery and prepare you for childbirth.

If at any time your blood pressure rises above 170/110 mmHg, black spots and confusion appear before your eyes, call an ambulance.

For more information about high blood pressure during pregnancy, watch the video:

What to remember

High blood pressure during pregnancy - if the upper reading is above 140 mmHg, and the lower reading is above 90 mmHg.
Symptoms of high blood pressure are headache, dizziness, tinnitus, spots before the eyes, weakness, nausea, redness on the skin of the face and back.
Hypertension during pregnancy can cause fetal hypoxia, premature placental abruption and miscarriage, gestosis and eclampsia.
To lower your blood pressure, take healthy image life, avoid stress, eat less salt and more fruits, vegetables and berries.
Products that lower blood pressure - cranberries, lingonberries, beets, carrots, cabbage.

In addition to severe toxicosis and other unpleasant symptoms during pregnancy, a woman may experience changes in blood pressure levels. At each visit, the doctor monitors this indicator.

It is considered very dangerous during pregnancy and can cause the development of serious pathologies. First of all, this poses a huge danger to the fetus: when blood pressure levels are exceeded, the walls of blood vessels become narrower and oxygen transport worsens. Thus, controlling high blood pressure during pregnancy is very important.

What is dangerous for a pregnant woman?

Normally, blood pressure should be at the level of mm. rt. Art. In some cases these values may extend from up to mm. rt. Art. If the norm is exceeded, doctors diagnose hypertension (gestational hypertension in pregnant women). This is a very dangerous condition, which is accompanied by the development of severe complications.

Research by scientists has shown that high blood pressure in pregnant women often occurs after 35 years. This is due to diseases that already exist at this age. For example, if the patient suffered from severe headaches, then the risk of increased blood pressure during pregnancy increases several times.

Many women are interested in the risks of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Doctors say that deviations from the norm of this indicator lead to the development of such negative consequences, such as gestosis, preeclampsia and eclampsia. Such patients develop pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

Today, research continues into how high blood pressure affects pregnancy. Scientists have found that exceeding this indicator entails:

a decrease in the volume of blood that flows to the fetus;
premature birth;
development of bleeding in a woman;
cerebral hemorrhages.

The degree of danger of high blood pressure depends on the duration of pregnancy and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Early

Most often, blood pressure increases in pregnant women after 20 weeks. However, sometimes doctors diagnose high blood pressure early stages pregnancy. An alarming signal is an increase above 140 mm. rt. Art. In this case, the reason may be:

chronic form. Most often, pressure changes due to existing pathologies of the kidneys or endocrine system. It is worth noting that in most of these patients, changes in blood pressure levels were recorded even before pregnancy;
gestational hypertension. Due to the narrowing of blood vessels, the pressure in pregnant women in the early stages increases greatly, and this is fraught with a lack of oxygen and useful substances reaching the fetus. As a result, normal intrauterine development is disrupted or the woman experiences a miscarriage.

Registration with a gynecologist occurs after the 8th week of pregnancy. At the first examination, the doctor must measure blood pressure; if the obtained numbers deviate from normal values, he will prescribe treatment.

Fetal hypoxia due to arterial hypertension in pregnancy

In the later stages

Most common cause Doctors call high blood pressure in late pregnancy gestosis. Due to increased vascular permeability, fluid begins to penetrate into neighboring tissues and organs. As a result, the woman experiences swelling of the extremities, increased blood pressure, etc.

High blood pressure after 39 weeks of pregnancy may be accompanied by attacks of headaches, dizziness, bleeding, etc. This is a very dangerous condition that requires mandatory supervision by a specialist.

What is the risk for the child?

Today there is confirmed data on how high blood pressure in pregnant women affects the child. When this indicator changes, serious disturbances in the functioning of the blood vessels of the placenta and fetus occur, as a result of which the following complications develop:

Fetoplacental insufficiency. In this case, the fetus does not receive enough necessary oxygen and nutrients. As a result, anomalies are observed intrauterine development fetus
Early placental abruption threatens women who experience frequent changes in blood pressure. The danger of this condition is miscarriage or premature birth.

Another unpleasant condition that develops with increased blood pressure is eclampsia (convulsive syndrome). The attending physician, who has studied the patient’s condition in detail, can say exactly why high blood pressure is dangerous during pregnancy.

Pregnant woman at doctor's appointment

What to do?

During a routine examination, the gynecologist must measure blood pressure. If an excess of the normal value is diagnosed in the early stages of pregnancy (the first 3 months), then the patient is prescribed a set of therapeutic measures to stabilize blood pressure at home.

Among the medications prescribed to pregnant women with high blood pressure, it is worth highlighting calcium antagonists; in parallel, potassium-sparing diuretics are prescribed. If high blood pressure is recorded after 32 weeks, then women are placed on storage until delivery.

Only the attending physician can correctly advise what to do in case of high blood pressure during pregnancy. The treatment regimen depends on the reasons that caused changes in this indicator. Incorrect treatment can cause serious complications for both mother and baby.

What can you drink without affecting the fetus?

After establishing the cause that caused the increase in blood pressure, the doctor selects medications that do not have a negative effect on the fetus. These include Egilok, Dopegit, etc. The doctor prescribes the dosage and duration of use individually. It is very important to strictly adhere to the prescribed regimen and not interrupt treatment.

In addition to drug therapy, it is worth adjusting your diet and eliminating all foods that increase blood pressure. Many girls are interested in what pregnant women can drink with high blood pressure. Fresh cranberry juice or fruit drink is considered very useful. These drinks are safe for the fetus and help lower blood pressure. An infusion of viburnum fruits is also considered useful.

Any therapeutic measures must be carried out after consultation with a doctor, otherwise the risk of developing associated complications increases.

Why does it rise?

There are several main reasons why blood pressure rises during pregnancy:

overweight;
smoking abuse and other bad habits;
metabolic disorders of carbohydrates and fats;
high cholesterol in the blood;
genetic predisposition;
frequent stress and nervous tension.

Also, pathologies in the kidneys or thyroid gland, problems with the adrenal glands, etc. can serve as an impetus for increasing this indicator.

If a woman experienced an increase in blood pressure before pregnancy, then it is very important to monitor this indicator throughout the entire period of bearing the child.

While expecting a child, the female body becomes very vulnerable, long-standing diseases worsen, previously unknown sensations appear, and sometimes not always pleasant ones.

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

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

110-120 mm. rt. Art. for upper (heart) pressure – diastolic;
70-80 mm. rt. 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 at a medical institution, knows the “working” values of her pressure.

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

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

Why does blood 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 internal organs, which are accompanied by high blood pressure;
hereditary predisposition;
hypertension as an independent disease (in the absence of endocrine disorders or diseases of internal organs).

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

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

However, it also happens that a jump in intracranial pressure in a woman was first noted 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 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 is that its initial stages can easily not be recognized.

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

The body has adapted to this state and is in no hurry to react to it. Therefore, at every routine examination by an obstetrician-gynecologist, a woman is monitored using a tonometer.

With mild hypertension, its signs may be mild:

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

The severity of these symptoms progresses with a further increase in pressure. Added to them:

dyspnea;
areas of redness on the skin throughout the body;
"tinnitus;
weakness;
attacks of nausea, vomiting;
“flies”, “fog” before the eyes.

Pain in the left sternum, insomnia, and excessive nervousness may appear, which are so easily mistaken for characteristics of a “pregnant” body.

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

Dangerous consequences of high blood pressure during pregnancy

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

Careful monitoring of blood pressure values by specialists is due to the likelihood of dangerous consequences for mother and child.

High blood pressure in pregnant women is a “response” to the narrowing of blood vessels, including in the uterus and placenta. This leads to difficulty in blood circulation in the “uterus-placenta-fetus” system, and, consequently, to. Prolonged hypoxia is the cause of intrauterine growth retardation.
, which also develops due to vasospasm, can cause spontaneous abortion.
Due to increased blood pressure in the channel between the uterus and placenta, it can occur, which will lead to insufficient nutrition of the fetus, and also, depending on the scale of the abruption, can cause.
Long-term hypertension can cause functional failure of a woman’s vital organs, which poses a danger to the health and life of the mother and her unborn baby.
Severe hypertension, as a manifestation of gestosis, can lead to the development of complications dangerous for the mother and her unborn child - preeclampsia and eclampsia.
A significant jump in pressure, especially during childbirth, can cause retinal detachment (and subsequent blindness) or even a stroke.

Is hospitalization necessary?

Since hypertension is an extremely 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 period spent in the hospital will be short.

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

In the hospital, the degree of hypertension will be determined and the risk will be predicted possible complications for the woman’s health and select treatment methods.

When hypertension is initially detected during pregnancy, hospitalization is also indicated to search for the causes that caused the increase in pressure.

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

If the degree of hypertension is mild, the pressure is stable and does not adversely affect the well-being of the expectant mother, then the next hospitalization as planned 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 blood pressure moves to the hospital until the birth.

During this time, she will undergo an examination in order to clarify her condition and choose a method of delivery, as well as preparatory procedures.

In case of exacerbation of a hypertensive condition in a woman, going to the hospital is mandatory. This is necessary to determine the factors that caused the worsening of hypertension and prescribe appropriate treatment.

How to reduce blood pressure during pregnancy

Depending on the causes of arterial hypertension, the doctor chooses tactics for further pregnancy management and treatment methods aimed at normalizing blood pressure.

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

Non-drug method

The non-drug method consists of limiting physical and social activity, namely:

refusal to participate in stressful situations.
creating a comfortable psychological environment.
excluding excessive physical effort, therapeutic exercises and swimming at a calm pace are allowed.
Maintaining a sleep and rest schedule.

In addition, it is important to follow some nutritional principles aimed at:

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

To prevent excessive weight gain you should:

limit fat intake to 40 g per day, giving preference to vegetable fats;
reduce the presence in the diet as much as possible simple carbohydrates: sugars, refined foods, delicacies;
adjust your food intake towards fractional meals.

Traditional methods

Among the non-drug ways to combat high blood pressure, folk methods have also found their place:

Grind and mix an equal amount of rose hips, hawthorn, red viburnum, linden flowers, calendula, blueberry and heather shoots and motherwort herbs. Separate 2 tbsp. l. , pour 2 cups of boiling water over them, simmer for 15 minutes. in a water bath and leave for room temperature. Drink 100 g of the 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 crushed valerian root, cudweed herb, heather shoots and viburnum flowers. Pour 2 cups boiling water over 2 tbsp. l. mixture and leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Sweeten the warm, strained infusion with honey and take ¼ cup 4 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-1.5 months.

Before you use herbal remedies approval should be obtained from the doctor monitoring the pregnancy to exclude possible contraindications.

Medication method

At slight increase pressure, herbal remedies that have a calming, mild sedative effect, based on motherwort, valerian, lemon balm, mint, etc., will be sufficient.

With persistent hypertension, there is a need to use 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 blood pressure medication is approved for use from the earliest stages of pregnancy. Methyldopa does not have a negative effect on placental blood circulation, does not pose a threat to the intrauterine development of the fetus, and does not cause adverse effects for the unborn child in the future.

The effect of the substance occurs within 2-6 hours and manifests itself:

in a relaxing effect for the central nervous system;
in suppressing the activity of hormones that cause an increase in blood pressure;
in suppressing the activity of a blood plasma enzyme (renin), which can affect blood pressure levels and sodium metabolism;
in relieving vascular hypertension;
in general sedative effect.

For pressure in late pregnancy when protein is detected in a urine test and taking everything into account possible risks for the fetus, β-blockers are prescribed.

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

In the fight against high blood pressure, the effect they have directly on cardiac activity is important:

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

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

Currently, bisoprolol is more preferable due to its ease of use (1 tablet per day), reliable round-the-clock action, possibility of use in diabetics and less pronounced “withdrawal syndrome” compared to other drugs.

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

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

The force of muscle contraction depends on the calcium concentration in its cells. Activation of calcium channels occurs under the influence of adrenaline and norepinephrine. Blockade of calcium channels prevents spasm of the heart muscles and blood vessels.

Based on the direction of action of calcium antagonists, they can be divided into groups:

acting only on smooth vascular muscles (nifedipine, normodipine, amlodipine, etc.) and therefore recommended for use simultaneously with β-blockers;
acting on the muscles and heart and blood vessels (verapamil) and therefore 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 when taking other groups of antihypertensive drugs is impossible.

Measures to prevent high blood pressure during pregnancy

A woman's blood pressure almost inevitably increases during pregnancy due to an increase in circulating blood volume with increasing pregnancy.

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

If blood pressure readings are elevated already in the early stages of pregnancy, or “jumps” in blood pressure have occurred before, she should adjust her lifestyle and diet to prevent hypertension.

Namely:

do not limit the duration of sleep and rest;
avoid excessive physical activity, giving preference to feasible exercise at a calm pace;
avoid stressful situations;
control weight gain during pregnancy (no more than 15 kg);
adjust your diet and menu by making smaller meals and eliminating foods that are undesirable for hypertension;
Regularly monitor your blood pressure values (daily, at least twice a day) on both the right and left arms.

If this happens, at the next doctor’s appointment or during self-measurement, the mother discovers that the pressure has exceeded the norm, then first of all you should stop panicking, otherwise the readings will rise even higher.

The most reasonable thing in such a situation is not to self-medicate, but to trust qualified specialists and then the pregnancy and birth of the baby will go well.

At each appointment at the antenatal clinic, the pregnant woman is examined by a doctor and a nurse. So, the nurse records changes associated with the growth of the child in the womb (for example, weight gain and an increase in abdominal circumference), and also measures blood pressure. If its indicators exceed the norm, there is cause for concern.

Perhaps the standard blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. everyone heard. “They fly into space with this.” But modern doctors prefer not to talk about standards, since they consider the pressure norm to be an individual trait of each person, depending on many factors, such as his height and weight, lifestyle, etc. They define normal pressure not by any average indicator, but by a whole range: from 90/60 mm Hg. Art. up to 140/90 mm Hg. Art.

The changes in the functioning of a woman's body during pregnancy are enormous. All her organs and organ systems begin to work differently. An additional load is placed on the heart and blood vessels: another, third, circle of blood circulation is formed. The volume of blood in the body of the expectant mother increases. By the middle of pregnancy it increases by 0.5 liters, closer to childbirth - by 1 liter.

The heart needs to pump this blood faster, so doctors consider a slight increase in blood pressure in expectant mothers to be normal.

IMPORTANT: Blood pressure in pregnant women, which is at the upper limit of normal and is 140/90 ml Hg. Art. does not cause concern among doctors

If its indicators are above this limit, it is necessary to find out the reasons for this increase in pressure and undertake treatment.

IMPORTANT: Blood pressure is a variable indicator that can change within a few minutes. A surge in blood pressure in a pregnant woman can be caused by stress (for example, fear of an appointment with a gynecologist or worry about the child), climbing stairs (you must admit, it’s hard for a pregnant woman in the third trimester to climb to the 5th floor of the clinic), or drinking a cup of coffee the day before the appointment. To ensure the reliability of blood pressure measurement results, the pregnant woman should be calm and rested and should not drink invigorating drinks several hours before the appointment.

Symptoms of high blood pressure during pregnancy

There are many reasons why an expectant mother’s blood pressure rises. Some of them are not at all related to bearing a child; hypertension could have been present in a woman before; others are caused by the “interesting situation” itself. For example:

Hypertension (arterial hypertension). Unfortunately, many women of childbearing age are burdened with chronic diseases, among which hypertension is especially common. This is due to genetic characteristics, poor lifestyle, stress, bad habits, and many other factors. During pregnancy, a woman’s condition – hypertension may worsen
Other chronic diseases. If the expectant mother has a diseased liver, kidneys, or organs of the endocrine system, it is quite possible that her blood pressure may increase
Pregnancy diabetes. This diagnosis almost always accompanies hypertension
Preeclampsia. But this pathology occurs precisely during and because of pregnancy. It is characterized by a disorder in the functioning of many body systems of a pregnant woman and can be deadly for both the child and the woman herself.

Headache, nausea, tinnitus are signs of hypertension in pregnant women.

As a rule, it is possible to suspect high blood pressure in an expectant mother even before measuring this indicator, because the woman literally complains of feeling unwell right from the start. She exhibits the following symptoms:

headache
dizziness
nausea
noise in ears
"floaters" before the eyes
redness of the skin on the face and neck

Thematic video

Why is high blood pressure dangerous during pregnancy?

Arterial hypertension is dangerous for any person. For a pregnant woman, it is doubly dangerous, since she and her baby can suffer from the consequences of increased blood pressure.
Complications of high blood pressure during pregnancy may include:

IMPORTANT: To avoid trouble, you cannot ignore high blood pressure during pregnancy.

High blood pressure during pregnancy in the first trimester

If high blood pressure was recorded in the first half of pregnancy, most likely the woman suffered from hypertension before, or chronic diseases of the kidneys, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, etc. made themselves felt.

IMPORTANT: A slight increase in blood pressure in the first three months of pregnancy can be triggered by stress due to the woman’s new condition and changes in her life associated with pregnancy and imminent birth child. The situation needs to be kept under control, but perhaps it will resolve itself as soon as women will pass toxicosis and she will get used to her new role

Increased blood pressure due to any disturbances in the functioning of the pregnant woman’s body can be dangerous for the child: the pregnancy may fail, or due to hypoxia, pathologies may develop in the baby.

High blood pressure during pregnancy in the second trimester. High blood pressure during pregnancy in the third trimester

An increase in blood pressure starting from the second trimester of pregnancy is an alarming harbinger of gestosis.

IMPORTANT: The reasons for the development of gestosis have not yet been precisely established. But it is known that a condition characterized by disturbances in the functioning of many organs and systems of the expectant mother most often occurs in those who, before or during pregnancy, did not suffer from hypertension, kidney disease, biliary tract, or endocrine system

With gestosis, a spasm of blood vessels occurs, which disrupts blood circulation and clotting. As a result, tissues and organs receive insufficient oxygen and nutrients. Dystrophic changes begin to occur in them, sometimes irreversible, even to the point of death.

The first to suffer from gestosis are the kidneys, heart and brain. The placenta also ceases to cope with its functions, as a result of which the child suffers from a lack of oxygen and nutrients.

In the first few days, gestosis manifests itself as edema, then - renal failure, preeclampsia and eclampsia.

IMPORTANT: The cause of high blood pressure in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy may be much more trivial than gestosis. This - excess weight. To prevent blood pressure from rising, a woman needs to control its increase

Treatment of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Anti-high blood pressure pills for pregnant women

Treatment of hypertension during pregnancy cannot follow a pattern. First of all, the doctor finds out why the blood pressure has increased in a particular pregnant woman, and only then chooses medications and makes recommendations.

IMPORTANT: If the expectant mother’s blood pressure is 170/110 mm Hg. Art., she is urgently hospitalized, examined and treated in a hospital

Typically, women whose blood pressure is slightly elevated and have no other signs of dangerous conditions do without medications. To normalize it, it is often enough to normalize the daily routine of the expectant mother and her diet.

If the pressure threatens to disrupt the functioning of a woman’s organs and systems, or deteriorate the uteroplacental blood flow, she is prescribed medications.

“Drug of choice” for high blood pressure in pregnant women.

Tablets that are safe for children are:

Egilok
Nifedipine
Labetalol
Pipazole
Dopgit
other

Foods that lower blood pressure during pregnancy

To prevent blood pressure from rising or normalizing, a pregnant woman should consume foods containing:

ascorbic acid
omega-3 acids
potassium and magnesium
folic acid

natural and high-quality dairy and fermented milk products
vegetable oils
Fish and seafood
cereals and cereals
bran
vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries and dried fruits
lean meat
egg yolk

To prevent the expectant mother’s blood pressure from increasing, she needs:

Maintain a work-rest schedule. Sleep at night should be at least 8 hours. If possible, a pregnant woman should sleep during the day, 1-1.5 hours. Overwork at work overtime work and night work is contraindicated for her
Avoid invigorating drinks – coffee and strong tea
Limit salt intake
Avoid stress
Control your weight
Go for walks and do as much exercise as possible

We live in a fast-paced and busy time, which brings us not only the benefits of civilization, but also some “ side effects", for example, high levels of stress. And stress, in turn, also gives us surprises, for example, high blood pressure during pregnancy - after all, the body also perceives pregnancy as a kind of stress...

Therefore, blood pressure control is a mandatory procedure for all expectant mothers. It makes sense to measure your blood pressure once a week, and if any problems begin, do it daily. Of course, for this you need to know the normal values.

You've probably heard that the first number means systolic and the second number means diastolic pressure, and that healthy person should they be 120/80? However, it is worth focusing on your individual indicators. It is believed that normal blood pressure during pregnancy is no higher than 140/90 and no lower than 90/60.

Quite a large range of values, isn't it? This means that you must know your “working pressure”, the one that you usually experience. 90/60 for a 20-year-old girl weighing 50 kg who has not given birth is absolutely normal, but the notorious 120/80 would already be considered rather high.

Why is high blood pressure dangerous during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, a steady increase in pressure during this period is an alarming symptom. If blood pressure rises during pregnancy, doctors are afraid possible development– a dangerous and insidious complication during pregnancy, which consists in disrupting the functioning of vital organs, and primarily the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.

It arises from the fact that the placenta produces substances that cause microholes to form in the vessels. Through them, plasma protein and fluid enter the tissues from the blood, which causes swelling, primarily in the legs and hands. The worst thing is that not only the limbs swell, but also the placenta, and this already causes a lack of oxygen in the fetus.

Even if high blood pressure during pregnancy is not a sign of gestosis, you still can’t give up on it; after all, it’s not for nothing that doctors in the antenatal clinic pay so much attention to monitoring blood pressure in women who are registered as expecting a baby. The fact is that high blood pressure during pregnancy provokes changes in the blood vessels of the placenta and fetus.

Reduced blood circulation between mother and child is called fetoplacental insufficiency. If a child does not have enough oxygen and nutrients, intrauterine growth retardation may begin, and this is very serious.

If blood pressure fluctuates regularly during pregnancy and the readings are quite high (140-150 and above), this can lead to premature placental abruption– a very dangerous complication normal course pregnancy. Hypertension in the mother may well cause a threat of miscarriage or premature birth. Finally, high blood pressure in the mother during childbirth can lead to eclampsia - a convulsive syndrome, which is also not beneficial for either the woman or her child.

Signs of high blood pressure during pregnancy

The most accurate way to find out your blood pressure is to measure it using a special device (tonometer), which it is advisable for every pregnant woman to purchase, and if there are problems with blood pressure, then purchasing it is a must. At home, it is more convenient to use an electronic tonometer, but a regular one is also quite suitable - some doctors even believe that its readings are more accurate, and it costs less.

But a woman can also find out about increased blood pressure by her own feelings: this condition may be accompanied by headaches, sometimes very strong, dizziness.

Also characteristic:

deterioration of health;
noise in ears;
nausea, vomiting;
the appearance of “flies” before the eyes;
the appearance of red spots on the skin of the face and chest or general redness of the skin in these areas.

But it also happens that hypertension is asymptomatic, does not bother the pregnant woman and is detected only during the next blood pressure measurement.

Causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Why does blood pressure increase during pregnancy? There are several most common reasons for this.

stress, already mentioned above. The stress on the body is so great that it does not have time to adapt and reacts with pressure surges;
insufficiency of the compensatory forces of the pregnant woman’s body. The heart, which must pump blood “for two,” cannot cope with the increased volume of circulating blood;
heredity. If any of your close relatives had high blood pressure, there is a chance that you will have to deal with it too;
diabetes. It does not increase blood pressure during pregnancy, but diabetes can be an unfavorable factor;
smoking. In any case, it does not add health, but cardiovascular system Nicotine is one of the first to strike;
weak physical activity. A trained heart copes with stress much better;
overweight or obesity. Carefully monitor how much you gain during pregnancy, control this process;
kidney problems. Oddly enough, there is a direct relationship - often people suffering from kidney diseases (for example, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis) have high blood pressure;
disturbance of hormonal activity of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary gland. Often, high blood pressure during pregnancy is the result of these hormonal shocks, because at this time women experience real hormonal storms.

Reduced blood pressure during pregnancy

Many women are interested in how to reduce blood pressure during pregnancy on their own? But just in this case, self-medication is unacceptable. Do not take any blood pressure pills during pregnancy, or drink any “herbs” until you consult your doctor!

The doctor will examine you and prescribe medication. Strictly adhere to the regimen of medications and their dosage, do not stop taking medications without permission - when it comes to high blood pressure, the result is achieved only by carefully following all recommendations.

You may need to be hospitalized in the pregnancy pathology department of the maternity hospital. There you will not only be treated, but also treated individual plan childbirth taking into account high blood pressure. Often in this case, epidural anesthesia is prescribed during childbirth,

At the end of pregnancy, closer to childbirth, you will most likely be offered re-hospitalization to correct the pressure before childbirth.

There are also blood pressure lowering products during pregnancy - their use, of course, will not eliminate the problem completely, but can serve as a preventative measure. First of all, these are beets and beet juice, cranberry juice - in addition to lowering blood pressure, it is also a source of vitamins!