Proper prenatal care is essential to protecting your health and the health of your unborn child. During prenatal visits, your doctor will look for common issues that may occur during pregnancy so that he or she may help avoid complications.
High blood pressure during pregnancy should always concern a doctor. If you have consistent blood pressure issues, your doctor should take reasonable steps to protect you and your baby. According to the Mayo Clinic, high blood pressure in a pregnant woman can lead to serious complications and even death.
It can develop at any time
Your doctor should check your blood pressure at every visit, even if you have never had issues before. It can suddenly occur, such as with gestational hypertension, which usually happens after the pregnancy reaches 20 weeks. If you had blood pressure issues prior to the pregnancy, then the doctor should do even more testing and monitoring.
There are complications
Preeclampsia is a severe condition that can develop after 20 weeks. The condition involves high blood pressure that is consistent. It can lead to organ failure and seizures in both you and the baby. If your doctor does not treat it properly, you and your baby could die. Typically the best treatment is to deliver the baby since the condition is a direct result of being pregnant. Sometimes, though, if you are too early to deliver, the doctor will treat you with medications. These medications can also cause side effects or damage to your body.
Other complications of high blood pressure include a ruptured placenta, decreased blood flow to the baby, growth restriction of the baby and cardiovascular health issues.