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Complications in Pregnancy
Pregnancy Symptoms
Staying Fit During Your
Pregnancy
Fun Ways to Announce
Your Pregnancy
Complication in
Pregnancy Stretch
Marks
Preparing the kids for
Pregnancy
Morning Sickness During
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding While Pregnant
Eating During Pregnancy
Holidays During Pregnancy
Concerns During Pregnancy
Complication in
Pregnancy - Diabetes
How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy
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Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH)
What is
pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) ?
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a form of high blood pressure in
pregnancy. It occurs in about 5 percent to 8 percent of all pregnancies.
Another type of high blood pressure is chronic hypertension - high blood
pressure that is present before pregnancy begins.
Pregnancy-induced hypertension is also called toxemia or
preeclampsia. It
occurs most often in young women with a first pregnancy. It is more common
in twin pregnancies, in women with chronic hypertension, preexisting
diabetes, and in women who had PIH in a previous pregnancy.
Usually, there are three primary characteristics of this condition,
including the following:
* high blood pressure (a blood pressure reading higher than 140/90 mm Hg,
or a significant increase in one or both pressures)
* protein in the urine
* edema (swelling)
Eclampsia is a severe form of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Women with
eclampsia have seizures resulting from the condition. Eclampsia occurs in
about one in 1,600 pregnancies and develops near the end of pregnancy, in
most cases.
HELLP syndrome is a complication of severe preeclampsia or eclampsia.
HELLP syndrome is a group of physical changes including the breakdown of
red blood cells, changes in the liver, and low platelets (cells found in
the blood that are needed to help the blood to clot in order to control
bleeding).
What causes pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) ?
The cause of PIH is unknown. Some conditions may increase the risk of
developing PIH, including the following:
* pre-existing hypertension (high blood pressure)
* kidney disease
* diabetes
* PIH with a previous pregnancy
* mother's age younger than 20 or older than 40
* multiple fetuses (twins, triplets)
Why is pregnancy-induced hypertension a concern ?
With high blood pressure, there is an increase in the resistance of blood
vessels. This may hinder blood flow in many different organ systems in the
expectant mother including the liver, kidneys, brain,
uterus, and
placenta.
There are other problems that may develop as a result of PIH. Placental
abruption (premature detachment of the placenta from the uterus) may occur
in some pregnancies. PIH can also lead to fetal problems including
intrauterine growth restriction (poor fetal growth) and stillbirth.
If untreated, severe PIH may cause dangerous seizures and even death in
the mother and fetus. Because of these risks, it may be necessary for the
baby to be delivered early, before 37 weeks gestation.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy-induced hypertension ?
The following are the most common symptoms of high blood pressure in
pregnancy. However, each woman may experience symptoms differently.
Symptoms may include:
* increased blood pressure
* protein in the urine
* edema (swelling)
* sudden weight gain
* visual changes such as blurred or double vision
* nausea, vomiting
* right-sided upper abdominal pain or pain around the stomach
* urinating small amounts
* changes in liver or kidney function tests
How is pregnancy-induced hypertension diagnosed ?
Diagnosis is often based on the increase in blood pressure levels, but
other symptoms may help establish PIH as the diagnosis. Tests for
pregnancy-induced hypertension may include the following:
* blood pressure measurement
* urine testing
* assessment of edema
* frequent weight measurements
* eye examination to check for retinal changes
* liver and kidney function tests
* blood clotting tests
Treatment for pregnancy-induced hypertension:
Specific treatment for pregnancy-induced hypertension will be determined
by your physician based on:
* your pregnancy, overall health, and medical history
* extent of the disease
* your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
* expectations for the course of the disease
* your opinion or preference
The goal of treatment is to prevent the condition from becoming worse and
to prevent it from causing other complications. Treatment for
pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) may include:
* bedrest (either at home or in the hospital may be recommended)
* hospitalization (as specialized personnel and equipment may be
necessary)
* magnesium sulfate (or other antihypertensive medications for PIH)
* fetal monitoring (to check the health of the fetus when the mother has
PIH) may include:
o fetal movement counting - keeping track of fetal kicks and movements. A
change in the number or frequency may mean the fetus is under stress.
o nonstress testing - a test that measures the fetal heart rate in
response to the fetus' movements.
o biophysical profile - a test that combines nonstress test with
ultrasound to observe the fetus.
o Doppler flow studies - type of ultrasound that uses sound waves to
measure the flow of blood through a blood vessel.
* continued laboratory testing of urine and blood (for changes that may
signal worsening of PIH)
* medications, called corticosteroids, that may help mature the lungs of
the fetus (lung immaturity is a major problem of premature babies)
* delivery of the baby (if treatments do not control PIH or if the fetus
or mother is in danger). Cesarean delivery may be recommended, in some
cases.
Prevention of pregnancy-induced hypertension:
Early identification of women at risk for pregnancy-induced hypertension
may help prevent some complications of the disease. Education about the
warning symptoms is also important because early recognition may help
women receive treatment and prevent worsening of the disease.
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