During pregnancy what is normal blood pressure

If high blood pressure occurs as a result of preeclampsia, common symptoms include:. Learn more about high blood pressure during pregnancy. The AHA identify the first 24 weeks of pregnancy as a risk factor for developing low blood pressure. It can cause symptoms such as:. Some people have a naturally low blood pressure, but a sudden drop can cause symptoms to develop. Learn more about low blood pressure during pregnancy here.

Any pregnant woman who has any concerns over their health or the developing fetus should talk to or see their doctor or midwife. People who have high blood pressure or are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure might want to monitor their blood pressure at home.

If home monitoring indicates that blood pressure is too high or too low, contact a healthcare provider. Any pregnant woman who experiences signs or symptoms of preeclampsia must seek immediate medical assistance. Learn more about preeclampsia here. According to March of Dimes, a person can take the following steps:. Women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy should follow all instructions from their healthcare provider. They should notify their doctor or midwife if they have any changes in their blood pressure or feelings.

It is not always possible to prevent high blood pressure, but a person can take steps to keep their blood pressure at normal levels before and during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman shows signs of low blood pressure, they should talk to their provider about the best course of action.

Women with previous high blood pressure, multiples, or other risk factors have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure in later pregnancy.

High blood pressure during pregnancy has associations with serious pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders. If blood pressure gets too high or low, a person should talk to their healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment.

Preeclampsia is a condition that can occur during pregnancy when a woman's blood pressure rises sharply. It is usually detected during routine checks….

However, you may be able to prevent problems by attending regular prenatal appointments so your doctor can monitor your blood pressure closely. You may also want to consider learning more about related conditions so you can help manage factors affecting your blood pressure. The AHA defines abnormal blood pressure readings in non-pregnant adults as follows:. You may not always be able to tell whether your blood pressure is too high or too low. In fact, hypertension and hypotension may not cause noticeable symptoms.

If you do experience symptoms, they may include the following:. It may cause:. If you suspect you have symptoms of hypertension or hypotension, you should see your doctor right away to help prevent possible complications.

The best way to know if you have abnormal blood pressure is to take a blood pressure test. Blood pressure tests are often done at regular checkup appointments, and your doctor should perform them throughout your pregnancy.

While these tests are most commonly performed in a medical setting, they can also be done at home. Many local drug stores carry at-home blood pressure monitors that you can use to check your blood pressure. However, make sure to consult with your doctor before you try monitoring your blood pressure at home. Your doctor may have specific instructions regarding when and how often you should check your blood pressure. The AHA estimates that 1 out of every 3 American adults has hypertension.

In pregnancy, hypertension can be classified into two main categories: chronic hypertension and hypertension related to pregnancy. Chronic hypertension refers to high blood pressure that was present before pregnancy. You may also be diagnosed with this condition if you develop hypertension during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. You may still have the condition after giving birth. High blood pressure disorders related to pregnancy generally develop after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

There are several types of disorders that range in severity. A review published in Integrated Blood Pressure Control suggests that age, obesity, and underlying health problems seem to contribute to these conditions. Though these conditions usually go away after you give birth, your risk of getting hypertension in the future is much higher if you develop any of them.

Hypotension, while much less common, can be directly related to pregnancy. Your circulatory system expands during pregnancy to accommodate your fetus. As circulation expands, you might experience a small drop in blood pressure. According to the AHA , this is most common during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Still, this amount is usually not significant enough to cause concern. Hypertension in pregnancy must be monitored closely to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.

Your doctor will recommend frequent doctor visits for fetal monitoring, as well as urine and blood tests. Your doctor will likely ask you to keep track of how often your baby kicks each day. A decrease in movement may be problematic and may indicate the need for an early delivery. Your doctor will also perform ultrasounds throughout your pregnancy to help ensure that your baby is growing properly. Blood pressure often goes up in the weeks after childbirth. You may need to resume taking medication, or your medication dosage may need to be adjusted.

Talk with your ob-gyn about blood pressure medications that are safe to take if you plan to breastfeed. Do not stop any medications without talking with your ob-gyn. A woman has gestational hypertension when:. Most women with gestational hypertension have only a small increase in blood pressure. These women are at risk of very serious complications. All women with gestational hypertension are monitored often usually weekly for signs of preeclampsia and to make sure that their blood pressure does not go too high.

Although gestational hypertension usually goes away after childbirth, it may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure in the future. If you had gestational hypertension, keep this risk in mind as you take care of your health. Healthy eating, weight loss, and regular exercise may help prevent high blood pressure in the future.

It usually develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy, often in the third trimester. When it develops before 34 weeks of pregnancy, it is called early-onset preeclampsia. It also can develop in the weeks after childbirth.

It is not clear why some women develop preeclampsia. Doctors refer to "high risk" and "moderate risk" of preeclampsia. HELLP stands for h emolysis, e levated l iver enzymes, and l ow p latelet count.

HELLP syndrome damages or destroys red blood cells and interferes with blood clotting. It also can cause chest pain, abdominal pain, and bleeding in the liver. HELLP syndrome is a medical emergency. They also can have lifelong health problems from the condition. For women with preeclampsia, early delivery may be needed in some cases. Preterm babies have an increased risk of problems with breathing, eating, staying warm, hearing, and vision.

Some preterm complications last a lifetime and require ongoing medical care. Women who have had preeclampsia—especially those whose babies were born preterm—have an increased risk later in life of kidney disease, heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. Also, having preeclampsia once increases the risk of having it again in a future pregnancy.

If you have any of these symptoms, especially if they develop in the second half of pregnancy, call your ob-gyn right away. A high blood pressure reading may be the first sign of preeclampsia. If your blood pressure reading is high, it may be checked again to confirm the results. You may have a urine test to check for protein. You also may have tests to check how your liver and kidneys are working and to measure the number of platelets in your blood.

You and your ob-gyn should talk about how your condition will be managed. The goal is to limit complications for you and to deliver the healthiest baby possible.

Women who have gestational hypertension or preeclampsia without severe features may be treated in a hospital or as an outpatient. Being an outpatient means you can stay at home with close monitoring by your ob-gyn. You also may need to measure your blood pressure at home. Visits to your ob-gyn may be once or twice a week. At 37 weeks of pregnancy, you and your ob-gyn may talk about delivery.

Labor may be induced started with medications. If test results show that the fetus is not doing well, you may need to have the baby earlier. Women with preeclampsia can have vaginal deliveries, but if there are problems during labor, cesarean birth may be needed.

If you have preeclampsia with severe features, you may be treated in the hospital. If you are at least 34 weeks pregnant, you and your ob-gyn may talk about having your baby as soon as your condition is stable.

If you are less than 34 weeks pregnant and your condition is stable, it may be possible to wait to deliver your baby. Delaying delivery for just a few days may be helpful in some cases. Delaying also can give you time to take medications to reduce your blood pressure and help prevent seizures. There is no screening test that can predict whether a woman will develop preeclampsia during pregnancy. For now, prevention involves identifying whether you have risk factors for preeclampsia and taking steps to address them.

If you have high blood pressure and want to get pregnant, see your ob-gyn for a check-up. Your ob-gyn will want to know if your high blood pressure is under control and if it has affected your health. You may have tests to check how your heart and kidneys are working. Your medications should be reviewed to see if you need to switch to others that are safer during pregnancy.