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Is tension during pregnancy serious?
In general, the blood pressure of the pregnant woman is monitored at each antenatal visit. A blood pressure considered normal is around 12-7. But expecting mothers are sometimes victims of small drops in blood pressure related to fatigue (hypotension). What future mom has never felt a feeling unwell when changing from lying down to standing? We are reassured, this phenomenon, very common during pregnancy, is not serious and does not require any medical treatment.
Watch out for high blood pressure before pregnancy
Women with high blood pressure before pregnancy should schedule it and undergo medical treatment before stopping contraception. They will benefit from increased surveillance during their pregnancy anyway.
Detect and treat hypertension during pregnancy
More rarely, women without a history see their blood pressure rise when they are pregnant. Headaches, visual problems, ringing in the ears: these signs of hypertension often go unnoticed and we must therefore be vigilant. We talk about hypertension above 14-9, but we usually only treat from 16-10. The best remedy: rest. You may eventually have recourse to hypotensive drugs, which are safe for your child, combined with home monitoring by a midwife.
Pregnant hypertension: a risk of pregnancy toxemia
The doctor will order additional examinations when hypertension occurs in the second part of pregnancy, especially between the 6th and 8th month, and when it is accompanied by edema and albumin in the urine. She is then a symptom of severe disease of the placenta, called toxemia of pregnancy. The risks concern the baby and the mother. Dysfunction of the placenta can cause the baby to grow stunted (growth retardation in utero). For the mother, poorly tolerated hypertension can cause an attack of eclampsia.