![]() Having chronic hypertension can put you at risk for preeclampsia later in pregnancy. (It's also called preexisting or pregestational hypertension.) Chronic hypertension is also the diagnosis for women who have high blood pressure for longer than 12 weeks after delivery. If you have a high blood pressure reading early in your pregnancy, it's likely you had hypertension before you became pregnant. There are three main types of high blood pressure that women experience in pregnancy:Ĭhronic hypertension is high blood pressure that existed before pregnancy or is diagnosed before 20 weeks. Types of high blood pressure in pregnancy Obstetricians and midwives take hypertension in pregnancy very seriously because of the possible serious complications for both mother and baby (see below), so be sure to follow your provider's directions. If your reading is in the mild range, you may still need to be seen at the hospital for blood work and monitoring, or you may receive further testing in the office, oral medication, and directions to return to the office for monitoring. If your reading is in the severe range, you'll be sent to the hospital for evaluation, where you'll receive IV meds, blood work, and fetal monitoring. If it's still elevated, they'll decide what to do next, based on your current blood pressure, medical history, previous blood pressures, and gestational age. If your blood pressure reading is elevated, your provider will take a reading again in 15 minutes. Some people may have an above-normal blood pressure reading because they get nervous at the doctor's office – a phenomenon called "white-coat hypertension." ![]() That's because your blood pressure varies throughout the day, and it can go down when you're relaxed and up when you're active or stressed. ![]() ![]() Before concluding that you have hypertension, your provider will probably take your blood pressure readings at least two different times. ![]()
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