Hypertension in pregnant women and its impact on fetal health

Hypertension is one of the most common health problems experienced during pregnancy. Although fairly common, hypertension in pregnant women should not be underestimated because this condition can increase the risk of fetal development disorders that are fatal to both mother and baby.

For those of you who are planning to become pregnant or undergoing pregnancy, here are various important things about pregnancy-related hypertension that you need to understand.

Types of hypertension in pregnant women

Hypertension can occur in 10% of all pregnancy cases and is classified as frequent when compared to other health problems. This condition can even happen to pregnant women who previously always had normal blood pressure.

Before determining how to deal with it, you need to know in advance what type of hypertension you are dealing with. Diagnosis of hypertension in pregnant women is generally divided into four categories, namely:

Chronic hypertension that has existed since before pregnancy or was diagnosed before 20 weeks of gestation.
Preeclampsia-eclampsia, namely pregnancy complications that occur when pregnancy enters 24 weeks of age and over. This type of hypertension can appear without a previous history.
Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia, namely a condition when a pregnant woman who has a previous history of chronic hypertension also experiences preeclampsia.
Gestational hypertension or hypertension that only occurs during pregnancy. The blood pressure will then drop again after delivery.

Impact of hypertension on pregnant women and fetuses

Uncontrolled blood pressure during pregnancy can cause various disorders in fetal development. The higher the blood pressure and the longer the mother experiences it, the complications for the fetus will get worse. One of the most dangerous effects is the increased chance of miscarriage in the early trimester and sudden fetal death (stillbirth).

If the pregnancy continues, the growth and development of the fetus will be hampered, even failing. This problem can then have an impact on the cognitive impairment of the child who is born.

Hypertension in pregnant women generally does not cause difficulties for subsequent pregnancies. However, the risk of hypertension remains when you have a second pregnancy and later. Especially if you have chronic diseases such as diabetes.

Can pregnant women who have hypertension have a normal delivery?

You can still have a normal delivery even if you have hypertension. However, there are a number of conditions that must be met. The most important point is that labor should take a short time. For that, you must be able to push effectively so that the baby can quickly get out of the womb.

Some cases of delivery may take up to 2-3 days, but this is a big no-no if you have hypertension. If the labor is taking longer than it should be, you may need to undergo an induction process or even a caesarean section as long as there are no harmful contraindications.

Then, what if you are diagnosed with hypertension when the gestational age is sufficient to deliver? For cases like this, I recommend that the baby be delivered immediately to prevent further complications. Whether delivery can be done normally or by caesarean section depends on the condition of the fetus and on you.

Can hypertension be prevented and treated?

Like hypertension patients in general, pregnant women who have hypertension can also take blood pressure-lowering drugs. However, it should be noted that the consumption of these drugs must be based on the provisions of the prescription because not all types of hypertension drugs can be consumed during pregnancy.

Unfortunately, the consumption of hypertension drugs is not an absolute solution to solve this health problem. Even more so if you only rely on a healthy lifestyle and improved diet when diagnosed with hypertension during pregnancy.

Lifestyle and dietary improvements should be made in advance when you are planning pregnancy, and consist of the following ways:

Maintain an ideal body weight before pregnancy so that you are not too thin or too fat.
Actively moving and exercising to prevent uncontrolled weight gain.
Adjust the weight gain during pregnancy with your body mass index before pregnancy. This means that weight gain should not be excessive if you previously had an excess body mass index, and should not be less if your body is classified as thin.
Not following misleading eating recommendations, for example, increasing the number of sweet foods so that the fetus grows quickly or eating two portions to meet the needs of the fetus.

If you are obese when planning a pregnancy, it is better to postpone pregnancy first. However, sometimes there are certain conditions that may make it impossible for you to delay pregnancy. In cases like this, the main principle is no longer to lose weight, but to keep your weight under control and not to increase it continuously in order to prevent hypertension in pregnant women.

The role of the husband if the wife experiences hypertension during pregnancy

Prevention and treatment of hypertension must be carried out thoroughly. Therefore, the husband also plays an important role in maintaining his wife's commitment to living a healthy lifestyle.

Husbands must be able to adjust their diet and lifestyle to help their wives prevent hypertension. In addition to eating a balanced nutritious diet, husbands must also take part in inviting their wives to be more active and exercise.

An equally important factor is how the husband must be wise in dealing with his wife who is experiencing cravings. Don't get the desire to fulfill cravings it has a negative impact on the health of the mother and the fetus.

Hypertension in pregnant women is quite common, but that doesn't mean it can't be prevented at all. With a strong commitment and support from the environment around you, it is possible to have a healthy pregnancy without hypertension.