What is pregnancy induced hypertension?
Pregnancy induced hypertension is a condition of high blood pressure that sometimes occurs during pregnancy. It usually begins in the third trimester, or last 3 months of pregnancy. Occasionally it can begin even earlier, but this is not common.
What causes pregnancy induced hypertension?
No one understands what is the trigger for the development of this condition. However, it seems to strike most often in first pregnancies and becomes less common with subsequent pregnancies.
How is pregnancy induced hypertension diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made by comparing blood pressures taken of the mother at the prenatal visits. Once a certain threshold level is attained, or a significant elevation of the blood pressure from baseline has occurred, then pregnancy induced hypertension is present.
How is pregnancy induced hypertension treated?
Treatment for pregnancy induced hypertension depends on a number of factors, including how far along in the pregnancy the woman is, the severity of the hypertension, and how well the baby is tolerating the increased pressure.
The standard treatment is bed rest with increased frequency of blood pressure monitoring. Other monitoring tests might include blood tests, fetal heart rate monitoring, urine tests for protein, and assessment of amniotic fluid volume and fetal growth if necessary.
Can pregnancy induced hypertension be cured?
The only cure for this condition is delivery, but even with birth, the condition may continue for several hours or weeks.
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