M Health’s Maternal Fetal Medicine providers specialize in caring for high-risk pregnancies, including those affected by high blood pressure. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are common– affecting about 1 in 7 pregnancies– but they can also be serious. Our team is here to support you with expert care, individualized plans, and close monitoring to keep you and your baby safe.

What Are Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy?

Hypertensive disorders are conditions that cause high blood pressure during pregnancy. These can affect both your health and your baby’s development. The most common diagnoses are:

• Chronic Hypertension – High blood pressure that was present before pregnancy or diagnosed before 20 weeks.
• Gestational Hypertension – High blood pressure (systolic or upper number is 140 or more and/or the diastolic or lower number is 90 or more) that develops after 20 weeks without signs of organ damage.
• Preeclampsia – High blood pressure that starts after 20 weeks and may involve the kidneys, liver, brain, or placenta. For more information about preeclampsia, please visit The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
• Eclampsia – A rare but severe form of preeclampsia that includes seizures.
• Chronic Hypertension with Superimposed Preeclampsia – When someone with long-term high blood pressure also develops preeclampsia during pregnancy.

For more information on each disorder, you can also explore an overview of hypertensive disorders from ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).

Why It Matters

If not managed properly, high blood pressure in pregnancy can cause:

• Life-threatening seizure or stroke in the mother
• Maternal organ damage, such as to the kidneys or liver
• Placental abruption (the placenta detaches from the uterus)
• Slowed or restricted growth of the fetus
• Preterm (early) birth
• Stillbirth (fetal death)

It’s important to recognize symptoms early and contact your prenatal care provider right away with any concerns you might have about your body. 

Most people diagnosed with hypertension during pregnancy will have normal blood pressures again soon after delivery, but some can experience high blood pressures for weeks or months following pregnancy. This can be very dangerous if not treated with medication. Ask your Maternal Fetal Medicine provider if you are eligible for the Home Observation of Postpartum Elevated Blood Pressures (HOPE-BP) program to monitor your blood pressure to make sure it returns to a safe level after you go home from the hospital.

Many people do not know that being diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy also increases your risk of developing a cardiovascular (heart-related) disorder later in life. Healthy eating, weight loss, and regular exercise helps reduce your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease in the future.

Know the Signs and Take Action

It’s important to know the warning signs of preeclampsia. Contact your prenatal care provider right away if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Severe headache that doesn’t go away or gets worse over time
• Vision changes (blurry vision, seeing spots)
• Swelling in the face, eyes or hands
• Severe upper belly pain, especially on the right side
• New nausea or vomiting
• Sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a week)
• Difficulty breathing or tightness in your chest

You can read more about symptoms and what to do on the Preeclampsia Foundation’s “Is It Preeclampsia?” page. Many alternate language resources are also available here.