My wife is now pregnant for our second child. We are very expecting our second child since we had to wait for about 1 year before she pregnant. Unfortunately, she was indicated has high blood pressure about 4 months before she’s pregnant. I’m worry about my wife and the baby health. So, I tried to find some articles that is related with this problem and make the summary of the articles.
1. Why is high blood pressure becomes a problem during pregnancy?
High blood pressure can decrease blood flow to the placenta, which will affect the supply of oxygen and nutrients from the baby. This can slow the growth of babies and increase the risk of childbirth. High blood pressure also increases the risk of sudden damage of the placenta, where the placenta separates from the uterus prematurely. Life-threatening complications due to high blood pressure also can occur but are rare.
2. Are there different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy?
Yes. As many as 5% of women have high blood pressure before pregnancy. This is called essential hypertension. This type is no different with high blood pressure are usually suffered by people who are overweight and lazy to move. Some women are not diagnosed with high blood pressure until they begin to conceive.
5% - 8% of other women experiencing high blood pressure in pregnancy. This is called gestational hypertension. Although usually disappears after birth, gestational hypertension can increase the risk of developing chronic high blood pressure in the future.
Sometimes chronic hypertension or gestational hypertension leads to preeclampsia, which is a serious condition characterized by increased blood pressure and protein in urine be a sign of kidney problems.
3. What you need to know about preeclampsia?
One in four women with chronic high blood pressure could be preeclampsia. In addition to the increase in blood pressure and protein in urine, may indicate a swelling of the face and hands, weight gain is sudden, constant headaches, blurred vision, dizziness and abdominal pain.
Preeclampsia can quickly rise to life-threatening condition is eclampsia. This rare condition can cause seizures and sometimes coma.
When you have signs of preeclampsia, you and your baby will be monitored closely. Sometimes bed rest or hospitalization is recommended for those conditions.
4. Is it safe to use medicine for blood pressure during pregnancy?
All medications that you use during pregnancy can affect the baby. Although several drugs used to lower blood pressure is considered safe to use during pregnancy, drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are not safe.
However care is very important. The risk for heart attacks, strokes and other problems associated with high blood pressure during pregnancy and still threatens to harm the baby as well. When the drug was needed to cope with blood pressure, then the prescription must be the most safe and with the smallest effective dose. Use the medication as prescribed. Do not stop the indiscriminate or adjust the dose of the drug itself.
5. What should be prepared prior to pregnancy?
You and your doctor will evaluate how well you handle your blood pressure, and will consider possible changes needed before becoming pregnant. If you are overweight, it will be recommended to reduce excess body weight before planning to become pregnant.
During pregnancy, you need to go to the doctor more often. Blood and urine tests, routine examination of body weight and blood pressure should also be done more regularly.
6. What can be done to prevent complications?
By maintaining good health with a great way to keep safe your baby's future.
- Drinking blood pressure medications as prescribed.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Limit the amount of sodium in foods.
- Take vitamins.
- Follow the advice of a doctor for sports and everyday activities.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs are not necessary.
7. What about when giving birth?
Your doctor will probably recommend to the induction of birth a few weeks before giving birth to avoid complications, or when suffering from preeclampsia or other complications. If you experience severe preeclampsia, then you will be given medication during labor to prevent seizures. In some cases, plan C need to be prepared. Depending on the time, you may be given potent steroid injection to ensure that the baby's lungs fully formed before birth.
When I made this summary, my wife is about 5 month pregnancy. I hope she will be fine until the baby is born. Insyaallah….