Written by Editorial Team
If a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy, but her urine does not show any traces of protein and she also does not experience any major symptoms of preeclampsia, then she is most likely suffering from gestational hypertension or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Gestational hypertension or PIH is that kind of hypertension that occurs only during pregnancy and disappears after delivery. If the blood pressure is greater than 140/90 Hg, then a pregnant woman is diagnosed with gestational hypertension. It is not impossible to have natural delivery with gestational hypertension. Many women have successfully delivered the baby vaginally with gestational hypertension. However, there are some risks involved and precautions that need to be taken. Read on to know all about it.
Gestational hypertension is generally hereditary, so if a pregnant woman has a family history of gestational hypertension, chances are she will have it too. If a woman is pregnant for the first time, chances of developing gestational hypertension is quite common. The risk of gestational hypertension is higher in women:
Gestational hypertension can be found early during prenatal visits. Some signs and symptoms of Gestational hypertension are:
Treatment options depend on the severity. Mild PIH can be treated at home by taking complete bed rest and following a healthy diet. However, moderate to severe PIH need close observation and medication and hence a pregnant woman should be admitted to the hospital until her blood pressure is under control.
Gestational hypertension can result in:
As gestational hypertension can cause complication during labor and delivery or can cause critical issues (even a seizure or stroke) to the pregnant woman immediately after delivery so it is advisable to have the delivery in the hospital rather than at home.
Normal labor and vaginal delivery are preferred if the cervix is dilated and the mother and baby are healthy and strong enough to undergo a vaginal delivery. Otherwise, the doctor prefers to perform a C-section. It is possible to have high blood pressure and have a vaginal birth. Some precautions to be taken are:
If medication is prescribed for gestational hypertension, the pregnant woman will need to continue taking it even during labour. Some pregnant women with severe high blood pressure may not respond to treatment. In such cases, the doctor may offer an assisted birth where he helps the baby to be born using instruments that are attached to the baby’s head. This speeds up the second stage of labour. Worse case, the doctor may recommend a Cesarean section if the health of the pregnant woman or her baby’s health is in danger.
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