Monitoring your Blood Pressure During Pregnancy is More Important than You Think!

This article is medically reviewed by Dr Valery Feigin | Professor of Neurology & Epidemiology and Director of NISAN (National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences), Auckland University of Technology

Pregnancy is a transformative and exciting time for mothers as their body undergoes numerous physiological changes to support the growing baby within. As a result, expectant mothers should stay vigilant in the management of their body especially when it comes to blood pressure monitoring during their prenatal care. Elevated blood pressure, if left unchecked, can pose serious risks to both the mother’s and fetus’ well-being. Gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia, currently affect 8% of individuals giving birth.

Gestational hypertension and Preeclampsia

During pregnancy, the body changes significantly to accommodate the developing fetus. These changes include, but are not limited to, an increase in blood volume, hormonal fluctuations, and changes in cardiac output.

Such alterations can affect blood pressure, causing it to deviate from normal which can result in Gestational Hypertension or a more severe form, preeclampsia.

Gestational hypertension and Preeclampsia are conditions characterized by elevated blood pressure developed during pregnancy. High blood pressure during pregnancy may be a problem for three main reasons:

• Less blood flow to the placenta which results in your baby receiving less oxygen and fewer nutrients.
• Placental abruption where the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and causes bleeding. This can lead to poor fetal development such as premature birth, low birth weight and other complications.
• High blood pressure during pregnancy increases the risk of stroke in pregnant women by over 5 times compared to pregnant women without hypertension.

While gestational hypertension refers to the development of high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, preeclampsia is marked by additional symptoms such as proteinuria and organ dysfunction.

Preeclampsia, if severe, may progress to eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that can result in seizures. Learn more about preeclampsia here.

Why is monitoring your blood pressure during your pregnancy crucial?

Regular blood pressure monitoring is critical for early detection of any deviations during the pregnancy stage. Catching such deviations early gives healthcare providers the opportunity to detect and manage hypertension early which reduces the risk of developing preeclampsia or worse, eclampsia. Your body goes through rapid changes during pregnancy that can cause a drastic change in blood pressure. Hence, accuracy is even more critical when measuring blood pressure during your pregnancy.

How to better care for your blood pressure during pregnancy?

Going for routine prenatal visits will allow your healthcare providers to identify and address any potential issues promptly. Healthcare providers monitor blood pressure at every prenatal visit, ensuring close surveillance throughout the pregnancy.

However, home blood pressure monitoring is highly recommended according to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Close surveillance aids in the facilitation of early detection of high blood pressure.

OMRON offers a range of blood pressure monitors clinically validated for use during pregnancy which includes HEM-7600T, HEM-7361T, HEM-7156, HEM-7156T and HEM-7155T. Clinically validated with IntelliSense® Technology that provides comfort & accuracy during blood pressure reading, OMRON home blood pressure monitors allow you to keep an eye on your blood pressure between visits to the doctor.