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Having a child is one of the greatest joys of life, yet pregnancy itself can come with complications. A common issue that affects one out of every 14 women is pregnancy-induced hypertension. This medical condition can lead to serious consequences and, sometimes, lifelong complications.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in one out of every 12 to 17 pregnancies in the United States, the mother will develop pregnancy-induced hypertension.
What Is Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension?
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is sometimes called gestational hypertension. Both terms refer to high blood pressure in pregnant women.
Hypertension is a common pregnancy complication that could be missed if a medical professional mistakenly believes the symptoms are related to normal pregnancy symptoms. If a doctor fails to diagnose and treat hypertension right away it can have severe consequences, including medical malpractice lawsuits if the mother or baby are harmed.
Women who will be first-time mothers, young females, and those with a history of PIH or past hypertension are more susceptible to PIH. Women with kidney disease or diabetes are also more likely to develop the condition, as are women who are pregnant with multiples. PIH symptoms during pregnancy can be difficult to spot. They include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Protein in the urine
- Abdominal pain
While many forms of this condition last only through pregnancy, some may become lifelong health concerns for both the mother and the child. PIH can cause other complications like poor fetal growth, placental abruption, and stillbirth.
When pregnancy-induced hypertension is not treated, it can cause seizures in the mother or even maternal death. If you’re diagnosed with PIH, your baby will most likely be delivered as soon as it is safe because it’s too dangerous to go full-term.
Types of PIH
There are four major types of PIH. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no way to completely eliminate the risks of developing this condition.
Gestational Hypertension
Gestational hypertension is characterized by a blood pressure higher than 140/90. It develops after 20 weeks into the pregnancy, and the condition disappears after childbirth. This is the mildest form of PIH.
Chronic Hypertension
A female with chronic hypertension may have had high blood pressure before her pregnancy, which she carried with her into the first quarter. Other women experience chronic hypertension at early stages in the pregnancy: before 20 weeks. Chronic hypertension does not disappear after pregnancy.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is similar in some respects to gestational hypertension, but it is much more severe. It is diagnosed after 20 weeks into the pregnancy and requires a blood pressure of over 140/90. Severe preeclampsia presents with a blood pressure of over 160/110. Unlike mild gestational hypertension, protein is typically found in the urine and organ damage results.
When appropriately treated, preeclampsia disappears after pregnancy, and the female’s blood pressure returns to normal after several weeks. If left undiagnosed or untreated, preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia and other complications, including strokes, seizures, and bleeding.
For the child, complications stemming from preeclampsia can cause learning disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and more.
Eclampsia
Eclampsia is a severe and life-threatening condition for both the mother and child. If treated improperly, preeclampsia leads to eclampsia or the onset of seizures. The seizures affect the entire brain.
Preeclampsia and eclampsia also affect the mother’s placenta and the oxygen the infant receives. If left untreated, the child can have low birth weights or other health problems. If eclampsia develops, treatment requires the child to be born.
Although most mothers’ symptoms dissipate several weeks after birth, some women experience future blood pressure issues later in life and in any following pregnancies.
Care for Two
Both mother and child are affected by PIH, and while many women’s symptoms disappear after birth, other symptoms may last a lifetime. PIH is a condition numerous soon-to-be mothers experience, but the severity of the form and the consequences after pregnancy depend primarily on early diagnosis and proper treatment.
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