Pregnancy is a beautiful journey but it comes with health challenges for some women. Hypertension is one such medical problem encountered by women during pregnancy. It is considered to be one of the most common problems that women face during pregnancy. Although it is common, it should be managed carefully to ensure the safety of both the mother and the baby.

Let’s learn about ways to manage high blood pressure during pregnancy. Whether you have had hypertension before pregnancy or developed it during your pregnancy journey (known as gestational hypertension), the right care and treatment can help you have a smooth and healthy pregnancy.

Importance of Managing Hypertension during Pregnancy

Before jumping into ways of managing hypertension, it is important to know what is hypertension. Hypertension also known as high blood pressure is the force or pressure of the blood against the blood vessel walls. If a person has hypertension, it means his/ her pressure of blood against the blood vessel walls is above the normal range.

High blood pressure during pregnancy is different from other times. A woman’s heart works harder during pregnancy as it has to pump much more blood and this puts extra stress on the body. Hypertension can affect the development of the placenta which means the baby doesn’t get the required nutrients. This can cause complications during labour or after delivery. Unlike regular hypertension, pregnancy-related types like preeclampsia are unique and need special care to keep mom and baby safe. High Blood Pressure during pregnancy causes the following risks:

• Less blood flow to Placenta
• Restriction in Intrauterine growth
• Risks to other organs like brain, heart, lungs, kidney and other major organs
• Premature delivery

The common types of hypertension during pregnancy are:

• Chronic Hypertension – High blood pressure before pregnancy or early in pregnancy. This hypertension continues even after the baby is born.
• Gestational Hypertension – High blood pressure in the later part of pregnancy.
• Preeclampsia – This develops typically after 27 weeks of pregnancy.

With the right care and habits, controlling hypertension for pregnant women is absolutely possible.

Prenatal Care of High Blood Pressure

The first and most important step in gestational hypertension management is regular prenatal check-ups. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure closely and may suggest extra tests to keep an eye on your baby’s growth. Monitoring blood pressure in pregnancy helps detect changes early, so that any necessary treatment can begin on time.

Women who have high blood pressure before pregnancy should inform their doctors well in advance so that doctors can adjust medications to ones that are safe during pregnancy.

Who is at higher risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy?

Here are some key groups at higher risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy:

• First time mothers
• Women under the age of 20 and above the age of 35
• Women carrying multiples (twins or triplets)
• Those who have diabetes or gestational diabetes
• Those who have a family history of gestational diabetes
• Overweight or obese women
• Women who had pregnancy complications related to blood pressure

Diet for pregnancy hypertension

Diet plays a major role in managing hypertension during pregnancy. Cravings during pregnancies are common but watching what you eat will help you have a smooth and healthy pregnancy. Here are a few tips:

1. Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Bananas, spinach, broccoli etc are rich in potassium & antioxidants.
2. Have whole grains
3. Have healthy fats like olive oil, unsalted nuts and seeds.
4. Cut down on salty foods like pickles, chips, and processed foods
5. Reduce intake of caffeine
6. Cut down on sugar
7. Drink plenty of water
8. Eat small and frequent meals.

Stress Reduction Practice during Pregnancy

Staying calm is not just good for your mind—it’s good for your blood pressure too. High stress levels can make controlling hypertension harder. Try these simple techniques for stress reduction in pregnancy:

• Practice deep breathing or gentle meditation.
• Listen to calming music or nature sounds.
• Take short breaks during the day to relax.
• Talk to your loved ones or a counsellor if you feel overwhelmed.
• Always have positive thoughts and surround yourself with positive people.

Having hypertension during pregnancy might sound scary, but staying calm and trusting your doctor is very important. Unnecessary thoughts and stress can impact your pregnancy more than hypertension. With the right support and habits, you can still enjoy a healthy pregnancy with hypertension.