Gestational Hypertension (Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension)
High blood pressure developing after 20 weeks without protein in urine or organ damage.
Affects: 6-8% of pregnancies
Overview
Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy without the protein in urine or organ damage seen in preeclampsia. Blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.
Unlike chronic hypertension (high blood pressure before pregnancy), gestational hypertension starts during pregnancy and typically resolves after delivery. However, it can progress to preeclampsia.
Management involves monitoring blood pressure, checking for progression to preeclampsia, and determining optimal delivery timing. Most women with gestational hypertension deliver at or near term.
🩺 Symptoms
- •High blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
- •Often no symptoms
- •Headaches
- •May progress to preeclampsia symptoms
- •Usually detected at prenatal visit
🔍 Causes
- →Exact cause unknown
- →Problems with blood vessels
- →Placental factors
- →Genetic predisposition
- →Similar factors to preeclampsia
⚠️ Risk Factors
- •First pregnancy
- •Age under 20 or over 40
- •Obesity
- •Multiple pregnancy
- •Family history of hypertension
- •Diabetes
- •Kidney disease
- •African American ethnicity
- •IVF pregnancy
🔬 Diagnosis
- →Blood pressure 140/90 or higher on two occasions
- →Develops after 20 weeks
- →No protein in urine (differentiates from preeclampsia)
- →No signs of organ damage
- →Regular monitoring to check for progression
💊 Treatment
- ✓Mild: Monitoring blood pressure, weekly appointments
- ✓Home blood pressure monitoring
- ✓Checking for protein in urine at each visit
- ✓Fetal monitoring (NSTs, ultrasounds)
- ✓Medication if blood pressure very high
- ✓Delivery at 37-39 weeks
- ✓Close monitoring during labor
- ✓Blood pressure may remain high after delivery for weeks
🛡️ Prevention
- →Low-dose aspirin if high risk
- →Maintaining healthy weight
- →Regular exercise
- →Healthy diet
- →Managing stress
- →Early and regular prenatal care
⚠️ Potential Complications
- !Progression to preeclampsia (25-50% of cases)
- !Preterm birth if early delivery needed
- !Placental abruption
- !Intrauterine growth restriction
- !Need for induction
- !Increased C-section risk
- !Chronic hypertension later in life
🚨 When to Call Your Doctor
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:
- ⚠Severe headache
- ⚠Vision changes
- ⚠Upper abdominal pain
- ⚠Sudden severe swelling
- ⚠Decreased fetal movement
- ⚠Blood pressure readings consistently above 140/90 at home
Related Conditions
This information is for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.