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The overwhelming joy of expecting a little human in your life is unmatched. The experience comes with so many exciting and anxious feelings especially about what you need to do.
During your pregnancy, you’ll have a lot to keep track of to ensure that when your baby comes everything is set. As you work on that you also need to ensure that you keep your health in check.
The best way to do this is to keep the regular doctor’s appointments to have your well being checked. One of the main problems that could present itself is hypertension which comes with other effects, especially on your heart health.
Getting to learn more about this and staying informed will ensure that things go smoothly for you.
Table of Contents
Hypertension in Pregnancy
Hypertension in pregnancy comes in different types that are developed at different stages during this period. These types include:
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia happens after the 20th week of your pregnancy. It comes with a sudden increase in blood pressure that may cause harm to both you and the baby. It is a serious condition seeing as it could affect your health and your baby’s too or lead to a miscarriage.
Gestational Hypertension
This condition occurs in about 3 out of 50 pregnancies. It usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy and is not as fatal as preeclampsia. Gestational hypertension often goes away after the baby is born.
You should however ensure that you keep tabs on it with constant consultations with your primary health care provider. This is mainly because if left unattended to this condition may morph into preeclampsia which would bring harm to both you and your child.
Chronic Hypertension
Chronic hypertension is a condition that occurs either before you get pregnant or in the early stages of your pregnancy. With constant guidance and help from your doctor, you can easily manage this situation.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to avoid any adverse effects from this condition on your baby or even your heart health.
Risks Associated with Hypertension During Pregnancy
If your high blood pressure goes unchecked, you could be exposing yourself to a lot of health problems for both you and your child. You’ll find that hypertension leads to heart diseases that make its performance very low.
Without oxygenated blood being pumped all through your body, some of your vital organs will fail and your body will no longer be in a position to cater to your unborn child. Hypertension may also lead to a placental abruption or early delivery before the baby’s time is due.
Hypertension also affects those who are trying their best to conceive and hold their baby. It makes this even harder especially if you decide to forget about your blood pressure and neglect your doctor’s advice.
When your baby is born, they could develop the same condition and that could affect their heart. Investing in a kid-use blood pressure monitor will help you keep track of your child’s bp levels.
Risk Factors you Should Consider
Talking to your doctor about any concerns you may have earlier on in the pregnancy is essential. It will help you set the necessary measures required to ensure that you get through your pregnancy without any complications.
To have a better understanding of your hypertension risks, your doctor will consider the following factors.
Family History
Is there a history of people suffering from high blood pressure during pregnancy? You’ll have to have a clear understanding of your family and their health history. This will help inform your doctor if you’re prone to developing hypertension.
Underlying Health Conditions
Some health conditions may cause an increase in blood pressure. Given that you are pregnant this becomes more likely and could lead to hypertension. Discussing this with your doctor will help you get the necessary medication and instructions on how to manage it.
Medication Used
Your doctor will want to know about any medication you took to either avoid getting pregnant or boost your chances to get pregnant. This is because such medication is prone to changing your system’s normal workings and may introduce a few health problems. If you did, your doctor will have a plan for what needs to happen next.
What you Can Do to Keep Your Hypertension in Check
Managing your blood pressure levels and keeping your heart health in check is a matter of leading a healthy lifestyle. Eat the right foods, stay active, and have a clear understanding of what you need to avoid. You should also consider investing in a home-use blood pressure monitor that will help you keep track of your levels.
Conclusion
Hypertension is one of the main determinants of your heart health during pregnancy which is why you need to understand what is entailed. Learn the risk factors, and how to manage the situation to ensure that your pregnancy has no complications.
In case of any issues or concerns, always remember to consult with your doctor. Your doctor will be in a much better position to help you and help boost your heart health while pregnant.
