_{Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, Gynecologist and IVF specialist.}

First time pregnant, please consult Dr. Hrishikesh Pai at Budget Fertility Clinic in Mumbai for a checkup and overall guidance during your pregnancy, especially if you have blood pressure issues.

What is gestational hypertension, and how does it affect you?

Pregnancy-related hypertension is a type of elevated blood pressure. 6% of pregnant women have gestational hypertension. If the woman suffers from hypertension or blood pressure before getting pregnant, it may turn chronic with pregnancy.

Preeclampsia can develop from gestational hypertension. This is a common occurrence in young women who are pregnant for the first time. Twin pregnancies, women over 35, women with chronic hypertension or who have had hypertension in a previous pregnancy, African-American women, and women with diabetes are all at higher risk.

Gestational Hypertension – the women’s blood pressure reading is above 140/90 hg. Preeclampsia – the blood pressure is above 140/90, and protein is found in the urine.

 To tell you the difference between gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, it’s the protein found in urine.

A severe form of preeclampsia is known as eclampsia. Women with eclampsia get seizures as a result of their disease. Eclampsia usually affects when you are just a few weeks away from delivery.

Be very cautious of your health during pregnancy, explains Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, a renowned gynecologist in Mumbai.

He is highly experienced in his field and specializes in infertility and IVF treatments. You may consult with him at the Budget Fertility Clinic in Mumbai.

He explains that preeclampsia or eclampsia may result in hemorrhage due to low platelet count.

What causes hypertension during pregnancy?

Although the cause of gestational hypertension is not very clear, a woman is prone to it if she has either of the following pre-existing conditions.

• High Blood Pressure.
• Damaged or diseased kidneys
• Diabetes.
• Hypertension during a previous pregnancy.
• Underage or over-age mothers to be.
• Several fetuses (twins, triplets)
• Race of African-Americans

Why should you be concerned about gestational hypertension?

The resistance of blood arteries increases in people with high blood pressure. Many organ systems in the expecting mother’s body, including the liver, kidneys, brain, uterus, and placenta, may be hampered as a result of this.

If your blood pressure is measuring more than 160/110, there may be severe complications like placental abruption, undergrowth of the fetus, or even stillbirth.

As a result, if the blood pressure is left untreated, then the baby may need to be delivered preterm. Otherwise, the life of the mother and child is at risk. The mother may go into seizures or even a coma or death.

What are the signs that indicate hypertension in pregnancy?

The most common signs and symptoms of high blood pressure during pregnancy are listed below. However, each woman may have distinct symptoms, and a patient with gestational hypertension may have no symptoms. Among the signs and symptoms are:

• High Blood pressure.
• Protein in the urine might be absent or present (to diagnose gestational hypertension or preeclampsia)
• Edema is a condition in which the body’s (swelling)
• Weight gain that comes on suddenly
• Blurry eyesight.
• Vomiting and nausea combined with upper abdominal pain.
• Small amounts of urine urination
• Tests of liver or kidney function that has changed

How can you know if you have gestational hypertension?

The increase in blood pressure levels is typically used to diagnose gestational hypertension, although other symptoms can also aid in confirming the diagnosis. The following tests for gestational hypertension may be performed: continual monitoring of BP, Weight, urine tests to check for protein, liver, and kidney function tests, and dopplers for blood clots.

 Treatment for preeclampsia during pregnancy:

Your doctor will decide on the best treatment for gestational hypertension depending on the results of the continuous monitoring.

If it is manageable by medications, the doctor will prescribe medicines, and if the observation leads to hospitalization, your condition is more severe. You may have to mentally prepare yourself for surgical delivery of the baby if the doctors think there is a threat to life.

Fetal monitoring (to check the fetus’s health) may entail the following:

• Counting the fetus’s movements, Keeping note of fetal movements and kicks. A shift in the number or frequency of these events could indicate that the fetus is under stress.
• Testing that isn’t stressful. The fetal heart rate is measured in response to the fetus’ movements in this examination.
• Profile biophysical. A non-stress test combined with ultrasonography to study the fetus.
• Corticosteroids are medications that may aid in the maturation of a fetus’s lungs (lung immaturity is a significant problem in premature babies).

Preventing hypertension during pregnancy:

Early detection of women at risk for gestational hypertension may help to avoid some of the disease’s effects. It is particularly crucial because early detection can help women get treatment and prevent deteriorating conditions. Your Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, during the first consultation post-pregnancy confirmation, will tell you about the signs to look out for regarding hypertension.