pressure during pregnancy. High blood pressure during early pregnancy

30.08.2019

For a woman who is carrying a child, a change in hormonal levels is characteristic. Often, hormones "jump" in the first months, which greatly affects blood pressure (BP). It goes down or up, and this has a bad effect on the development of the baby and the health of the expectant mother.

Norm of pressure during pregnancy

For the normal well-being of the child in the womb and its proper development, it is necessary to monitor the functioning of the circulatory system of a woman in position. Normal pressure during pregnancy should not be more than 140 (upper) / 90 (lower) and less than 90/60. How to recognize an increase or decrease in indicators in the first trimester, what to do in such a dangerous situation?

Low blood pressure during pregnancy

When the readings are less than 100/60, then this is a sign that a woman has low blood pressure during pregnancy. This phenomenon is called hypotension - a decrease in vascular tone, which is determined by the blood pressure indicator. It falls at the beginning of the term, until the sixteenth week. Low blood pressure in pregnant women in the early stages is characterized by the following signs:

weakness;
drowsiness;
rapid pulse;
headache;
dizziness, fainting;
shortness of breath, feeling short of breath;
increased fatigue, significant irritability;
noise in ears.

Why do pregnant women have low blood pressure?

Normal indicators are reduced for the following reasons:

sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work;
infections;
pressure can drop with frequent stress, overwork;
during physical activity;
hypotension during early pregnancy occurs with dehydration;
when walking (fast, long);
severe blood loss;
pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
physiological reaction of the female body to the bearing of a child.

Why is low blood pressure dangerous during pregnancy?

Indicators below the medical norm have a very negative impact on the fetus and the condition of the woman. Is low blood pressure dangerous during early pregnancy?

Hypotension is the cause of serious interruptions in blood flow in the placenta. Blood with a high oxygen content does not reach the fetus in the right amount. As a result, the child suffers from lack of air.
The baby receives with the blood a lot of useful nutrients that help in the laying of organs. Reduced rates are often the cause of pathologies of growth and proper development of the baby.

How to increase blood pressure during pregnancy

It is possible and necessary to correct the situation with blood pressure for the better. Only before this, the future mother should consult with a gynecologist without fail. Otherwise, the situation will only get worse. What to do with hypotension, how to raise performance? If there are no serious pathologies when carrying a baby, then you can increase the pressure during pregnancy as follows:

After a night's sleep, doctors do not advise you to immediately get out of bed. It is better to lie down or sit a little. Have a little snack (fruit, crackers).
You need to lie on a horizontal surface, raise your legs up. In this case, the blood will begin to flow more actively to the upper body, filling the brain with oxygen.
It is advisable to periodically take a contrast shower, which has a positive effect on blood circulation.
Wearing compression stockings or pantyhose also helps to normalize blood pressure. It will rise to normal gradually.
Simple physical exercises to maintain general tone are considered a great way to raise low pressure in early pregnancy (aqua aerobics, swimming, yoga for pregnant women, gymnastics on a fitball, dancing, and so on).

High blood pressure during pregnancy

Not only low blood pressure is dangerous. Indicators above the norm also bring discomfort, adversely affect the well-being of the child. A value greater than 140/90 indicates hypertension. When high blood pressure during pregnancy is regular, this phenomenon is called hypertension. It is of two types:

Chronic hypertension. In the case of this type of disease, the indicators “jump” due to pathologies that occur in the body (often these are malfunctions of the kidneys and the endocrine system).
Gestational hypertension is caused by pregnancy. As a rule, this phenomenon appears after 19-20 weeks, but sometimes it happens that the pressure may increase in the first weeks.

Why blood pressure rises during pregnancy

There are several reasons that may cause deviations from the norm:

diabetes;
overweight;
high blood pressure in early pregnancy provoke diseases of the biliary tract;
malfunctions in the functioning of the thyroid gland;
previous traumatic brain injury;
kidney disease;
frequent stress, overexertion;
the age of the expectant mother.

High arterial (rarely intracranial) pressure in the first trimester of pregnancy has the following symptoms:

increased fatigue;
headaches of varying intensity;
redness of the face;
tinnitus;
nausea, sometimes vomiting;
deterioration in the quality of vision, vision problems, flickering flies before the eyes;
heart failure, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
dizziness;
excessive sweating.

What is dangerous high blood pressure during pregnancy

Non-compliance with medical standards negatively affects the baby and his mother. For this reason, pregnancy and high blood pressure are incompatible concepts. Here are a few examples of what can happen if you don't bring your blood pressure down to normal in a timely manner:

Narrowing of the blood vessels often leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and this becomes an obstacle to the normal development of the child.
A long period of hypertension causes functional insufficiency of female organs.
Strong, sharp jumps in blood pressure can provoke retinal detachment, stroke.
Due to vascular spasms, fetoplacental insufficiency develops, leading to abortion.
Blood pressure above normal leads to detachment of part of the placenta, which disrupts the nutrition of the fetus and sometimes becomes an impetus for premature birth.

How to reduce blood pressure during pregnancy

The return of pressure to normal levels should occur exclusively under the supervision of experienced physicians. What to do to normalize the indicators? Therapeutic techniques that help bring down high blood pressure are divided into drug and non-drug. A therapeutic diet is also recommended. Treatment of hypertension in pregnant women at home without drugs involves the following actions:

avoidance of stressful situations, excessive physical exertion;
regular walks on the street;
the duration of night sleep should be at least ten hours, and daytime sleep should be about two hours.

Foods to lower blood pressure during pregnancy

In the presence of hypertension, it is worth seriously reviewing the daily menu of a woman in position. What should be included in the diet:

berries: raspberries, viburnum, cranberries, lingonberries, wild strawberries, gooseberries, shadberry;
fruits can lower blood pressure and remove unpleasant symptoms: apricots, sweet apples, peaches, grapes, plums (prunes);
milk, kefir, cottage cheese;
products that lower blood pressure during pregnancy include healthy drinks: freshly squeezed juices, a decoction of wild rose, pumpkin, viburnum, cranberry juice;
vegetables and more: carrots, potatoes, broccoli, beets, legumes, fresh herbs, eggs (yolks), sea kale.

Pills for pressure during pregnancy

When periodic jumps in blood pressure are observed in the early stages, therapeutic measures begin with plant-based sedatives. They help to drop the indicators to the norm. For example, infusion of motherwort, valerian tablets or drops, Novopassit, Persen, and so on. Often these drugs give a positive result if they are combined with non-drug therapy.

When high blood pressure in early pregnancy is stable, then you need to drink the following groups of drugs:

Papazol is considered the safest and most effective drug. It is taken for about ten days only as directed by a gynecologist.
Dopegyt is another popular pill for pressure during pregnancy. Analogues of the drug: Methyldopa, Aldomet. They help to effectively and gently reduce performance to normal.
Verapamil, Nifedipine, Normodipin are calcium channel blockers. They are used to quickly lower too high pressure.

Video: increased pressure during pregnancy

From the very moment of conception, the female body undergoes tremendous changes, the load on all the vital systems of the expectant mother increases, and one of the signs of the absence of pathological changes that can affect the development of the fetus can be called pressure during pregnancy.

Significant fluctuations in blood pressure can cause irreparable harm to both the physical and psychological development of the future little man. It can change, but the digital values should remain within the limits: upper (systolic) 90 - 120, lower (diastolic) 60 - 80 mm Hg. is normal blood pressure during pregnancy.

Therefore, at each consultation with a doctor, blood pressure is measured and entered into the exchange card. If the deviations are significant, the obstetrician-gynecologist immediately takes action. It will be great if the pregnant woman can independently control it at home. You should show your own records to your doctor.

Not out of a whim, gynecologists recommend that women register no later than 12 weeks. The first trimester of fetal development is very important. At this time, the female body is completely rebuilt, preparing for future childbirth. The development of the fetus is proceeding at a rapid pace. During the first trimester, all the organs of the future person are laid down, and any failure in the program is fraught with further pathology, often leading to disability or even death.

Low blood pressure during pregnancy

If the pressure that is comfortable for a woman corresponds to the numbers 120/80 mm Hg. , comfortable in this state will be in the womb of the baby. Reducing blood pressure to 100/65 mm Hg. is already stressful for both mommy and baby (if mommy is hypotonic and for her such numbers are the norm, then the baby will feel and develop normally).

What is fraught with low hypotension during childbearing?

With hypotension, the speed of blood movement through the cardiovascular system decreases. Blood is a "vehicle" for oxygen and other nutrients necessary for the full functioning of the mother's and child's organisms. A decrease in the rate of blood circulation leads to their deficiency, which provokes the progression of hypoxia (oxygen starvation). The lack of oxygen in the cells of the uterus is directly related to pathological changes in the formation of the fetus and problems in the process of childbirth itself.
The placenta is the "dining room" for the fetus, where it draws all the nutrients and oxygen. A decrease in the rate of blood circulation in it leads to placental insufficiency. There is a failure in the development of the fetus, the baby begins to choke.
If the problem is ignored, hypoxia can lead to spontaneous abortion in late pregnancy and preeclampsia (complex disorders of body functions).
Hypotension can provoke collapse. This condition leads to the death of the fetus and severe pathology in a woman.

Causes

First trimester. For this period, a slight decrease in blood pressure is the norm. The causes of low pressure during pregnancy are the hormonal changes in the female body, which is preparing to endure and give birth to a healthy child. Progesterone begins to be produced more intensively, which relaxes not the uterine muscles, preventing spasms, but, accordingly, miscarriage. But the walls of blood vessels are exposed to the same effect. In response to progesterone, the vascular cross section expands, which in turn leads to a decrease in the rate of blood circulation, and hence to a drop in pressure, a deficiency of nutrients and oxygen in the organs and systems, both of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

Women who have a history of vegetative-vascular dystonia, which provokes vascular instability, as well as anemia caused by voluntary or forced dietary restrictions, are more prone to hypotension.

It is worth avoiding conflicts, watching "stressful" programs and films.

The cause of hypotension during childbearing can also be severe bleeding or dehydration.

Symptoms

There is nothing to worry about in blood pressure fluctuations if the amplitudes do not cross the threshold of normal values. When fixing the numbers below the allowable, symptoms of hypotension begin to appear during the bearing of the child:

Periodically observed fainting.
Nausea in the morning gradually begins to be felt throughout the day.
Decreased vitality, drowsiness.
Noise in ears.
Decline in work capacity.
There is a feeling of lack of air.
Pre-fainting state, accompanied by dizziness, darkening in the eyes.
Pain in the head.

Diagnostics

It is desirable to have such a device as a tonometer in any family, then the diagnosis of low pressure during pregnancy will be easy. With little experience, a pregnant woman is able to make measurements on her own. If the patient encounters difficulties when using a mechanical tonometer, it is worth purchasing its electronic version. No special skills are required here, and outside help is not required.

A wide selection of different modifications will allow you to acquire a compact travel device or an apparatus with a memory function, which is effective when tracking changes in blood pressure over time.

It is necessary to measure the pressure daily (in the morning and in the evening at a certain time). If discomfort or doubts arise, it is desirable to carry out measurements several times a day. Blood pressure readings at home are more informative, since the pregnant woman is in her usual environment. In line for an appointment with an obstetrician - gynecologist, a woman may feel tired or nervous, which will immediately affect the result of the measurement.

How to measure the pressure yourself? It is necessary to measure blood pressure in a calm state, if the pregnant woman is excited, it is worth relaxing and bringing yourself back to normal.

Take a chair with a comfortable back and sit on it, lean on your back. Put your hand on the table.
Put the cuff of the tonometer on the arm above the elbow. Fix so that a finger can pass between the arm and the cuff.
Further, depending on the model and type of tonometer, follow the instructions.

Treatment

How to raise blood pressure with hypotension? Treatment of low blood pressure during pregnancy is usually limited to non-pharmacological therapy.

Daily routine with 10 hours of sleep.
Nutrition adjustment: berries, vegetables and fruits, fruit and vegetable juices. Food rich in vitamins, protein, minerals and trace elements. The food is balanced and varied.
Increase your salt intake to 7-9 grams per day. This will force the pregnant woman to take more fluids, and, accordingly, stimulate blood circulation. Do not just be zealous, in order to avoid puffiness.
A small amount of coffee.
Hot tea.
Do not jump out of bed abruptly after resting. You must first lie down, already waking up, slowly sit down, then slowly get up.
A contrast shower ending in an ice jet.
Walking in the fresh air, toning exercises are effective for maintaining physical fitness, restoring the elasticity and firmness of blood vessels.
It is worth resting with a high pillow under your head.
In the event of an attack of nausea, it is necessary to take a supine position, raising the legs above the head. So you can achieve an outflow of blood from the limbs to the brain.
Do not lie on your back for a long time, especially in the later weeks of pregnancy. In this case, the growing fetus with an increasing mass presses on the genital artery, which impairs blood flow to the mother's heart.
Multiple acupuncture massages are useful, activating the work of various organs.
It is not bad to master the technique of proper breathing, which allows you to saturate the blood with oxygen as much as possible.
- Deep strong inhalation and active exhalation.
- Hold your breath for 15 seconds.
- Do six breathing exercises.
- Carry out breathing procedures three times a day.
- Three to four weeks of daily exercise is enough to remove this problem.
- Aromatherapy with essential oils of basil, laurel and rosemary.

With more significant deviations in blood pressure, medications are connected. It is not recommended to use dihydroergotamine or ethylephrine in this case. Their side effects include a negative effect on the fetus.

Gutron. Prescribed only by a doctor after a detailed study of the anamnesis. It is prescribed to take 2.5 mg in the morning and evening, if necessary, add a third dose.

Cortineff. This drug can adversely affect the endocrine system of the expectant mother. Therefore, only a doctor is able to assess the need for its use. The dosage is appointed individually. The medicine is taken after a meal with plenty of water. 100 to 200 micrograms three times a day.

Recently, medicines with succinic acid in the composition have been used to raise pressure. Such drugs stimulate vitality, activate cardiac activity.

ethylephrine (Effortil). The drug is taken orally 5 mg two to three times a day. In case of a critical drop in blood pressure or if it is necessary to achieve quick results, a 1% solution of the drug is injected under the skin or into the muscle in 1-2 ml. If medically necessary, the procedure is repeated after two hours.

Treatment of hypotension during childbearing can be carried out with folk remedies.

Introduction to food celery root, preferably fresh (salads).
Strawberry berries. It promotes the growth of hemoglobin and the normalization of blood pressure.
Onion decoction. In half a liter of water, put an unpeeled onion (along with the husk). Boil for a quarter of an hour. Drink 100 grams throughout the day in small sips.

Prevention

If there are no significant pathological changes in the history of the pregnant woman, then normal pressure can be maintained without much effort.

To stop fainting, it is worth reviewing the diet. It is necessary to focus on protein products, diversify the diet. Make meals frequent, but in small portions.
Long walks in the fresh air.
Regulation of weight gain.
Avoid stress.
Morning green tea is recommended.
Compliance with the regime of the day: the alternation of rest and exercise.
- At least 10 hours of sleep at night.
- Two hour day off.
Cold and hot shower.
Swimming in the pool.
Constant control of arterial pressure.
You should also undergo a medical examination, as the cause of low blood pressure may be diseases (for example, stomach ulcers or pituitary dysfunction). In this case, the prevention of low blood pressure during pregnancy is reduced to the treatment or maintenance therapy of the diagnosed disease.

High blood pressure during pregnancy

The pathology of reverse hypotension is hypertension - high blood pressure during pregnancy. This is a very disturbing symptomatology in this condition. Hypertension means that the blood vessels are constricted. The flow section is narrowed, which does not allow pumping blood in the required volume, and with it, nutrients and oxygen do not enter the vital systems and organs of the mother and child, which causes pathology of fetal development, early detachment of the placenta and premature birth. The consequences for the body of the expectant mother are also unpredictable.

If measures are not taken in time, hypertension can worsen and lead to preeclampsia, a form of late toxicosis, which is a threat to the life of both the child and his mother.

Even one attack of high pressure is enough to go to the hospital for examination. It is necessary to identify the cause and take measures for adequate treatment.

One of the dangerous diseases provoked by prolonged hypertension is preeclampsia. Its clinical manifestations are large numbers of systolic pressure, swelling and protein in the urine. Diagnosing this disease is a bad symptom. There is a failure in the permeability of blood vessels, which causes the fluid to penetrate into the tissues, while the protein goes into the urine, and with it from the body of the pregnant woman. Emergency medical measures are needed. Otherwise, you have to artificially terminate the pregnancy.

Therefore, it is necessary to constantly monitor blood pressure.

Causes

They say about a pathological increase in blood pressure when the systolic indicators exceed the figure of 140 mm. rt. Art. But do not be so categorical. After all, if before pregnancy a woman felt great with figures of 90/70 mm. rt. Art, then the value of 120/90 can already be considered critical.

The causes of hypertension during childbearing are as follows:

Chronic hypertension before childbirth.
Diseases of a neuroendocrine nature:
- Diabetes.
- Pathology of the thyroid gland.
- Adrenal problems.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia of the hypertensive type.
Neuralgia:
- Encephalitis.
- Myelitis.
- Spinal or brain injury.
Diseases of the kidneys and heart.
hereditary pathology.
Constant tension and nervousness.
Smoking and alcoholism.
Overweight, obesity.
Poor, unbalanced diet.
Sedentary work.
Sedentary lifestyle.

Symptoms

As in normal life, the symptoms of high blood pressure during pregnancy are similar.

Ringing noise in the ears.
Headache of varying intensity and localization.
Before the eyes begin to "fly midges", vision falls.
Dizziness.
The sweat glands are activated.
Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).
Arrhythmia (failure of the heart rhythm).
Nausea not only in the morning, but throughout the day.
Redness of the skin.
Pain in the abdomen.

Diagnostics

At any visit to the obstetrician - gynecologist, the future mother is measured with a tonometer blood pressure. This is the only, but fairly simple diagnosis of high blood pressure during pregnancy. The above symptoms also help in making a diagnosis.

Laboratory tests are also carried out to check the indicators of blood clotting, the number of red blood cells, and the biochemistry of liver enzymes. A clinical urine test is ordered.

In order not to miss pressure surges, a pregnant woman should purchase a tonometer for herself. By measuring the readings daily and writing them down in a diary, the statistics obtained must be shown to the doctor at the next scheduled visit.

Treatment

First of all, in order not to miss the critical moment, the expectant mother must be registered with the doctor of the antenatal clinic on time, not to miss scheduled examinations and consultations. Diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure during pregnancy begins when at least one surge in blood pressure is recorded.

First of all, nutrition is corrected. Food should contain the necessary vitamins and minerals. Thrombus-forming foods are excluded from the diet. Reduce the amount or completely remove sweets, smoked meats, salty and fatty foods.
The regime of the day is also subject to correction. Loads should be insignificant, a promenade in the fresh air is required.
Effectively swimming, water procedures.
If such a correction does not bring significant results, the doctor resorts to drug treatment, trying to prevent further complications.

In this case, the following drugs are often prescribed:

Nifedipine. The doctor prescribes the drug, dosage and duration of the course individually for each pregnant woman.

The introduction of Nifedipine is not associated with food intake. The drug is administered orally at 10-30 mg three to four times a day, but the daily dosage should not exceed 120 mg. The course of treatment is from a month to two.

To relieve a hypertensive crisis, 10 mg of the drug is taken under the tongue (sublingually). In this case, the patient should lie down for half an hour to an hour. If there is a medical need, the medicine can be taken again after 20 to 30 minutes. If necessary, the dosage is increased to 20 - 30 mg.

Metoprolol. Inside the drug is administered at a dose of 100 mg daily in one or two doses. For medical reasons, the daily dosage is increased to 200 mg. With the introduction of metoprolol in the form of injections into a vein, a dose of 2–5 mg is repelled. If necessary, repeat the injection after five minutes. The maximum daily dosage for oral administration is 400 mg, a single intravenous dose is 15-20 mg.

Retard. The drug is taken before meals inside with a small amount of water. Dosage 60 - 120 mg three times a day. The maximum daily dosage should not exceed 360 mg.

Hydralazine. The initial dosage is from 10 - 25 mg two to three doses per day. Gradually increase the amount of medicine. The dose can be adjusted: single - 100 mg, daily - 300 mg. The duration of priming is from two weeks to a month. Cancellation of the drug is carried out gradually.

Taking the drug can provoke side effects:

dizziness and headaches,
swelling,
nausea turning into vomiting
tearing and sweating,
tachycardia.

The drug hydralazine is completely contraindicated in a person with hypersensitivity to its components, who has a history of stomach ulcers, pathology of the vessels of the brain and heart.

All medicine prescribed by an obstetrician must be absolutely harmless to a man growing in the womb. Therefore, in order to reduce pressure, in the case of treating hypertension during childbearing, do not use diuretics that work effectively at other times. Drugs that have diuretic properties reduce the degree of blood circulation and can lead to a lack of oxygen and nutrients in the placenta, which inhibits the development of the fetus. The worst case scenario is placental rejection. Therefore, in no case should you self-medicate.

For many centuries, people have collected their own recipes to fight hypertension during childbearing. It should be noted that they should also be taken with the consent of the observing obstetrician - gynecologist. The most effective complex treatment.

Cranberry juice. Wash half a glass of berries thoroughly and squeeze the juice. Put the resulting cake in hot water and boil for no more than five minutes on a small fire. Strain. In the resulting liquid, add three teaspoons of semolina. Put on a slow fire for another 10 - 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Add four tablespoons of sugar, after boiling, remove from heat. Beat the boiled mass in a blender, gradually adding cranberry juice. The resulting medicine is taken several times a day for three teaspoons.
Corn grits. Get cornmeal by grinding the groats in a coffee grinder. Dilute half a glass of flour with one glass of warm water. Leave to infuse throughout the day, stirring occasionally. "Medicine" take two tablespoons before meals.

Prevention

The above recipes of traditional medicine can also be used as a prevention of high blood pressure. In addition, the prevention of high blood pressure during pregnancy includes other recipes and methods of influencing the body.

Acupuncture:
- Visually divide the cervical spine into three equal parts. In these places, stepping back from the spine in different directions (horizontally), find three pairs of points. Alternately act on each pair, pressing (with the pads of the thumbs of both hands) at the same time both points of the pair for 10 seconds. Go through each pair of points three times.
- Find the junction of the head and neck (their junction). With the thumb pad of the right (if left-handed - left) hand, find the painful point "at the bottom" of the occipital fossa. Click on it and mentally count to ten. Terminate contact. Carry out this manipulation twice.
- Locate the solar plexus (the central point of divergence of the “wings” of the chest along the midline of the abdomen). Bring together the ring, middle and index fingers of both hands and simultaneously press on the found point. Hold for 10 seconds. Let go. Do 10 sets of this manipulation.
- You feel anxiety and excitement. Massage the anti-stress point located in the middle of the chin. Massage with your index finger. First, nine circular motions clockwise, then nine circular motions against the hands of the clock.
A good lowering blood pressure - the effect is also shown by birch sap, which should be taken in a glass daily.
Freshly squeezed beetroot juice. Reception is carried out half an hour before meals. Take half or a quarter of a glass of liquid, after keeping it in an open container for two hours.
Decoction of pumpkin with honey. Grind 200 grams of pumpkin pulp and boil over low heat until soft. Throw in a colander or sieve. Cool down. Mash and add some honey.

Pressure surges during pregnancy

It is not uncommon for blood pressure to rise during pregnancy. For example, it is low in the morning, reaches high values in the afternoon, and decreases again in the evening.

Symptoms of sudden blood pressure:

Throughout the day, the tonometer shows numbers that are higher, then below the norm, then the norm.
Dizziness and nausea are abruptly replaced by an undulating rush of blood to the limbs and to the head.
The body is either cold or hot.
It gets dark in the eyes, and "midges" begin to fly.

Such a pathology is very dangerous and can not only push the body to hypoxia, but also, if the problem is ignored, lead to the death of the fetus. For a woman, this is fraught with severe heart problems, a stroke.

Causes

In most cases, the causes of pressure surges during pregnancy lie in heredity, unbalanced nutrition (excessive consumption of fatty, salty and sweet foods), improper organization of the day, as well as complications during pregnancy.

Other causes of pressure surges during pregnancy can be:

Lack of fluid intake (affects blood density). Therefore, each pregnant woman must decide on her daily fluid intake. Do not deprive the work or overload the kidneys.
Pathological changes in the heart.
Increased fluid intake (causes hypertension, swelling, makes breathing difficult).
Severe condition of the vascular system.
Change in the blood formula.
stressful situations.
Increased physical activity.
High intracranial pressure.
Deficiency of oxygen in the blood. Showing long walks in the fresh air.

Especially dangerous is spasmodic pressure directly during childbirth. Sudden changes in blood pressure can provoke the cessation of labor, cause heavy bleeding, and lead to a heart attack. Therefore, you should not leave such a situation to chance, but self-treatment is not the best way out of this situation.

Diagnosis and treatment should take place under the constant supervision of an obstetrician - gynecologist.

Treatment

If during the day there is a sharp change in blood pressure from low to high and vice versa, the treatment of pressure surges during pregnancy is carried out only in a hospital. At the same time, the diet and fluid intake are adjusted. Multivitamins and medications of a supporting nature are attributed. They do not directly affect the readings of the tonometer, but providing good nutrition, they stabilize the work of the whole organism and the vascular system in particular.

You can balance the jumps with massages of acupuncture points (exercises are described above).
Oxysize breathing exercises (four-stage diaphragmatic breathing):
- Inhale deeply through the nose, filling the “belly” with air to capacity. The muscles of the buttocks are in tension.
- Contracting the muscles of the lower abdomen, take three breaths, filling the lungs to capacity with air.
- Exhale through a small space formed between the compressed lips. While exhaling, try to insert the stomach under the ribs.
- At the end, make three sharp ejections of air, freeing the lungs as much as possible.

They will help normalize blood pressure and herbal tinctures based on radiola rosea, ginseng, eleutherococcus.

Prevention

A simple, but the only prevention of pressure surges during pregnancy is the constant control of blood pressure, the reduction of physical activity, the normalization of the psycho-emotional state of the expectant mother.

A reasonable alternation of loads and hours of rest, a balanced diet, long walks in the fresh air, combined with constant monitoring of blood pressure will minimize the harmful effects of blood pressure surges on the body of a woman and a future little man, and if necessary, an obstetrician-gynecologist will be able to quickly take adequate measures. By controlling pressure during pregnancy, you can always be sure that the health of your child and your own is in good hands.

pain in the head, intense or not very;
ringing in both ears or only one;
blurred vision, flickering "flies" before the eyes and other problems with the visual apparatus;
increased sweating, even if it is not very hot in the room or on the street where the woman is located;
problems in the work of the heart, doctors diagnose tachycardia.

Depending on how high the pressure during pregnancy is in each case, the indicators may change, the symptoms may be weaker or stronger.

Reasons for this phenomenon

An increase in pressure is a fact that is most characteristic of the second half of pregnancy, i.e. after 20 weeks. The weight of the fetus increases, the overall load on the female body increases, so this is quite understandable. In some, an increase in pressure is possible at the very beginning.

Factors that increase the risk of hypertension in the early stages:

kidney disease;
pathology of the biliary tract;
diabetes;
problems in the functioning of the thyroid gland;
excess weight in a woman;
traumatic brain injury in history;
constant stress;
the mature age of the woman.

How to lower blood pressure at the beginning of pregnancy?

If the problem is not regular, it occurs periodically and its causes are not diseases of organs and systems, then normal indicators can be achieved by changing the diet. Before introducing new foods into the diet, it is worth consulting with a specialist who monitors the course of pregnancy.

Doctors recommend adding beets and juice from this vegetable, cranberry juice, pumpkin-honey decoction to food.

It is easy to prepare pumpkin broth with honey:

200 g pumpkin cut into cubes;
put in a small saucepan;
are filled with water.

Pumpkin slices should be boiled until tender, and then put a little honey in a container.

The diet should be made in such a way that the main share is made up of vegetable, seasonal products and greens.

If a woman has no contraindications, such as gastritis, stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal pathologies, then you can drink cold hibiscus. This red tea also helps to slightly reduce blood pressure readings.

A woman in position should not give up physical activity. Moderate physical activity will only benefit. For example, you can go to yoga classes for pregnant women, just walk in the park or in the yard. For expectant mothers, swimming is also useful.

Preventive actions

Pressure surges during pregnancy are observed in those who lead an unhealthy lifestyle. If earlier the deterioration of well-being was not considered as something critical, then during the period of expectation of a child, it is worth thinking not only about your health, but also about the development of the fetus.

Nutrition plays an important role. The menu of a pregnant woman must be varied. A large proportion of the diet should be proteins. In addition, you need to eat regularly and in small portions. The ideal option is 4-6 times a day.

For those who feel that the pressure may drop, it is better to drink a cup of green or black tea in the morning. And sometimes it’s even worth making coffee or a drink from chicory.

Women who are at risk of high blood pressure should not drink such drinks. And such people should reduce the consumption of salty foods. It is better to refuse pickled tomatoes, cucumbers and other preparations that the body of a pregnant woman often requires - this will benefit the unborn child, and the woman will begin to feel lighter.

You need to sleep at night. In this case, the rest should take at least 8-10 hours. Only a full sleep is already a big step towards excellent well-being. Women who do not work and can afford to sleep during the day should not neglect this opportunity. Working pregnant women should definitely go for a walk at lunchtime before or after meals, and not be constantly in the office.

All this improves mood, improves muscle tone, promotes good blood circulation and metabolism. The woman as a whole will feel great, and pressure surges in this case will not be scary for her.

In the structure of diseases of pregnant women, arterial hypertension is 15-20%. Among these 20%, primary hypertension makes up a third, hypertension with preeclampsia - about 70% and secondary hypertension due to other diseases - 25%. Arterial hypertension is a serious disease that imperceptibly undermines the strength of the body from the inside. The essence of the disease: vasoconstriction occurs under the influence of nerve impulses and certain hormones. At first, arterial hypertension does not manifest itself. The woman does not feel the increase in pressure and performs the same load. However, the internal organs suffer, because little blood flows through the narrowed vessels, there is not enough oxygen (hypoxia), connective tissue begins to grow in the organs (its cells can grow with a lack of oxygen). Specialized cells of organs do not live without oxygen, and the organ loses its function. That's when women complain. They can be different: dizziness, headaches, flies before the eyes.

In severe forms of hypertension, there may be a sharp rise in blood pressure - a hypertensive crisis (a complication of hypertension). There is the following classification of hypertensive crises: neurovegetative form, edematous form, convulsive form. During a crisis, the woman's health deteriorates sharply: a sudden onset, arousal, fear, sweating, pallor of the skin appear (neurovegetative form). Another form of crisis is edematous: the development is gradual, the woman has drowsiness, lethargy, there is a decrease in activity and poor orientation in space, swelling and puffiness of the face and whole body increase. With a sudden loss of consciousness, the appearance of convulsions, a convulsive form develops, threatening sudden death as a result of cerebral edema. First aid for hypertensive crisis in pregnant women should be carried out only by doctors of the "Ambulance". When a pregnant woman complains of feeling unwell, an ambulance is immediately called. Arterial hypertension has its own classification, which is based on the levels of pressure increase: the optimal pressure is 120 to 80 mm Hg. Art., in pregnant women it is desirable 100-110 and 60-70 mm Hg. Art.

I degree - 140-159 and 90-99 mm Hg. Art.
II degree - 160-179 and 100-109 mm Hg. Art.
III degree - 160-179 and more 110 mm Hg. Art.

Causes of hypertension during pregnancy

Arterial hypertension during pregnancy often occurs if:

the woman had hypertension before pregnancy;
a woman suffers from kidney diseases (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, kidney infarction, diabetic nephropathy, etc.) and (or) diseases of the endocrine system (hypothyroidism, hypercortisolism, etc.), which can contribute to the development of hypertension during pregnancy;
there are mental and (or) neurogenic disorders, which can also serve as triggers for increasing blood pressure.

Symptoms and signs of hypertension during pregnancy

The main symptom of hypertension is an increase in blood pressure. An increase in blood pressure may be asymptomatic, but often a woman may experience the following unpleasant symptoms.

headache;
heartbeat;
sleep disorders;
fatigue;
visual impairment;
noise in ears;
nosebleeds, etc.

The main difficulty in diagnosing arterial hypertension in pregnant women is as follows: young women do not measure their pressure, and if there is hypertension, they do not feel it. Due to the peculiarities of pregnancy at its beginning, blood pressure decreases in all expectant mothers. In addition, the presence of preeclampsia, which is also manifested by an increase in pressure, masks hypertension. It is possible to make a diagnosis of "arterial hypertension" only under certain criteria: the presence of a disease in the next of kin and an increase in pressure in a woman at least once in her life, in comparison with blood pressure levels during previous pregnancies, if any, complaints of a pregnant woman about frequent headaches, nasal bleeding or pain in the heart, etc. Naturally, the main criterion for hypertension is the fact of increased blood pressure. At the first stage of hypertension, a pregnant woman does not experience any inconvenience. May complain of recurrent headaches (often after a stressful situation), tinnitus, or nosebleeds. At the same time, there are no changes in other organs; the kidneys, the brain and the fundus of the eye are the first to suffer in hypertension. In the second stage of arterial hypertension, there are constant headaches, limitation of physical activity and stress due to shortness of breath. Here hypertensive crises can appear. There are changes in the fundus when examined by an ophthalmologist, the wall of the left ventricle of the heart thickens (hypertrophy). With hypertension of the third degree, pregnancy and the ability to conceive a child are unlikely due to adverse conditions. When diagnosing hypertension in a pregnant woman, it is necessary to begin immediate treatment to create conditions for normal growth and maturation of the fetus. First you need to create a calm environment for a pregnant woman, protect her from stress and worries, provide her with sufficient good sleep and rest, and a balanced diet. With excessive excitability, sessions of auto-training and hypnosis, acupuncture can help well. The expectant mother should be under the constant supervision of a general practitioner, who must prescribe certain drugs to reduce pressure. Women should remember: many drugs that they took before pregnancy to reduce pressure are not suitable during pregnancy, as they negatively affect the child. Arterial hypertension has an adverse effect on the course of pregnancy, woman and child. The child suffers the most. Against the background of hypertension, preeclampsia develops, accompanied by insufficiency of all organs. The placenta, which nourishes and protects the fetus, uteroplacental blood flow suffers. These manifestations lead to a lack of oxygen, nutrients, and the fetus dies. Labor activity in arterial hypertension is also perverted: childbirth either lasts slowly or very quickly, which threatens the child with injury or hypoxia. It is important for pregnant women with hypertension to be hospitalized for less than 12 weeks. The clinic specifies the severity of the disease, its complications, the possibility of bearing a child. At the first stage of hypertension, the prognosis for expectant mothers is favorable: with all the recommendations and supervision of a doctor, pregnancy is possible and the child will be born healthy. In the second stage, the possibility of maintaining pregnancy is decided on an individual basis and depends on the severity of complications from other organs. The third stage is a contraindication for pregnancy. The second time, the expectant mother is hospitalized at 28-32 weeks to prevent excessive stress on the heart and blood vessels. The third hospitalization - two to three weeks before childbirth to prepare for childbirth, determine the tactics of childbirth and the necessary methods of anesthesia. Often women give birth to a child themselves, a caesarean section is needed only for certain indications. The basis for the course of pregnancy in a woman with arterial hypertension is the correct daily routine, lack of stress, proper nutrition, regular medication and observation by specialists.

Arterial hypertension is dangerous for its complications during pregnancy, as it can cause:

placental insufficiency;
massive bleeding;
premature birth,
intrauterine fetal death;
premature detachment of the placenta, etc.

During pregnancy, the internal organs and vital systems of the child are laid. A lot depends on the woman's health. What if the expectant mother has hypertension?

Of course, the situation should not be dramatized, although it would be unwise to completely ignore the risk.

Arterial hypertension in our time is very common in people of all ages. Therefore, it is difficult to surprise anyone with increased pressure. Most people know from their own experience what it is, so they do not believe that a pregnant woman with hypertension needs special care. This is an erroneous opinion. After all, it is relatives and friends who, first of all, should be interested in her well-being and the successful course of pregnancy.

The vast majority of women with hypertension tolerate pregnancy well and give birth to healthy babies. But problems, of course, can arise and often do. The modern level of development of medicine allows us to cope with them. However, there is severe stage III hypertension. At this stage of the disease, pregnancy is deadly to a woman's life. Fortunately, stage III is extremely rare, and stages I and II of arterial hypertension are not a contraindication to pregnancy.

Usually a woman suffering from hypertension knows about it before pregnancy. Most likely, she already has a certain understanding of the disease, regularly or periodically takes some medications and is observed by a cardiologist.

At the very beginning of pregnancy, a woman diagnosed with hypertension should definitely consult a cardiologist, and later, throughout the entire pregnancy, regularly undergo examinations, including blood pressure measurement, urine tests (to determine protein), and an electrocardiogram (ECG). It is very important that the specialist regularly monitors the development of the fetus. Not all medicines can be taken during pregnancy. That is why the independent choice of medications is unacceptable. Only a doctor prescribes drugs that do not have a teratogenic effect, that is, they will not harm the unborn child. When choosing drugs, the individual characteristics of the woman's body, as well as the presence of concomitant diseases, are very important.

In addition to the appointment of drug treatment, the doctor must give the necessary recommendations that relate to the lifestyle of a woman suffering from hypertension. During pregnancy, such patients will have to reconsider their lifestyle, pay special attention to their diet, and refuse some foods. Moderate physical activity is very important.

It often happens that in the early stages of pregnancy, the pressure decreases even in those women who had high blood pressure before pregnancy. In some cases, on the contrary, there is a sharp increase in blood pressure. Sometimes it is during pregnancy that a woman learns about a new diagnosis for herself - arterial hypertension.

The consequence of hypertension in pregnant women can be late toxicosis, which occurs in severe form.

At the same time, a woman has severe headaches, sometimes even vision is impaired.

Very dangerous complications of hypertension during pregnancy can be cerebral hemorrhage and retinal detachment. That is why, throughout the entire period of pregnancy, a woman should regularly undergo medical examinations, follow all the doctor's instructions, be sure to measure blood pressure, do an ECG, and take a urine test to determine the protein content. Consultations of the oculist are not less necessary.

During pregnancy, patients with arterial hypertension should visit the antenatal clinic once every 14 days and do a urinalysis. After 30 weeks of pregnancy, a urine test should be taken every week.

If the level of diastolic pressure rises above 90 mm Hg. Art. in a sitting position, a pregnant woman needs antihypertensive therapy.

If, despite following all the recommendations, a hypertensive crisis occurs during pregnancy, signs of late toxicosis appear, or a woman feels a noticeable deterioration in her condition, it is better for her not to refuse hospitalization.

At least 2 weeks before the expected birth, even with a favorable course of pregnancy, experts still recommend that the woman go to the hospital. This is associated with the risk of unexpected complications in the expectant mother or child. When complications occur, a woman is prescribed a special therapy aimed at lowering blood pressure. At the same time, doctors carefully monitor the condition of the fetus. Sometimes a woman is given a caesarean section. In some cases, they cause premature birth.

High blood pressure during pregnancy can cause fetal death and prematurity, placental abruption, and several other problems. Therefore, timely assistance of a specialist is necessary.

Diagnostics and treatment of arterial hypertension in pregnant women

During each examination, the doctor necessarily measures the blood pressure of a pregnant woman and writes down its indicators in the card. This is necessary to track the dynamics of blood pressure at different stages of pregnancy.

Often you can meet with a situation where blood pressure rises as a reaction to the "white coat".

For example, in a healthy woman, during an appointment with a doctor, pressure can noticeably “jump”, while this does not happen at home and the expectant mother feels good. If you know this feature behind you, if you are afraid of doctors and react to them in this way, warn your doctor in advance about the possibility of receiving incorrect blood pressure numbers at the appointment.

Most often, in this case, the doctor prescribes home monitoring of blood pressure. It is good if you begin to measure and record blood pressure data three times a day for a long time, so that the doctor is convinced of your "sensitivity to the medical staff." In this case, you will have to independently control blood pressure at home throughout the pregnancy.

Treatment of the expectant mother is aimed at stabilizing pressure and eliminating complications for the baby (if any have begun). Quite often, a pregnant woman is required to be hospitalized for examination and normalization of her condition.

With hypertension, the expectant mother is shown:

consultation with a psychologist in order to eliminate psycho-emotional negative manifestations (stress, fears, anxiety, etc.);
dieting;
daily quiet walks in the fresh air, preferably in nature (park or forest area);
day rest;
limiting weight gain (avoid being overweight);
daily measurement of blood pressure at home;
physiotherapy.

Antihypertensive drugs prescribed and controlled by a doctor should be taken constantly, since missed medications can cause sudden pressure surges, which is dangerous for blood vessels.

In the second semester of pregnancy, but sometimes even in the first, blood pressure often decreases. In the third semester, blood pressure becomes the same as usual. In some cases, it exceeds the normal rate. If, when examining a pregnant woman, the doctor notes high blood pressure, he will definitely recommend a thorough examination in order to clarify the nature of hypertension, find out the presence of concomitant diseases, and also determine the need for antihypertensive treatment.
Treatment is carried out depending on the degree of risk. If the patient has normal ECG and echocardiography, no protein in the urine, and blood pressure levels are 140-149/90-199 mmHg. Art., then it belongs to the low-risk group. If the patient has severe arterial hypertension, a poor obstetric history, concomitant diseases (collagenosis, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease are especially dangerous) and changes in internal organs, then she is at high risk.

Regardless of the degree of risk for each individual patient, there are general recommendations. They relate to the correct mode, the absence of overload, the obligatory 8-9-hour sleep. During pregnancy, a woman in the diet should limit the amount of fats and carbohydrates. The diet should contain as little salt as possible, no more than 5 g. This rule is common for people suffering from arterial hypertension, but during pregnancy it is especially important.

If the patient is in a low-risk group, she is often not prescribed special drugs. It is enough to use non-drug therapy, which consists in eliminating excessive stress, dieting, exercise, taking care of your emotional state. Every day she must necessarily walk as long as possible. It is advisable to take walks not along gassed city streets, but in a forest or park. Good results are given by autogenic training, relaxation. In this difficult, but very important for the health of the baby, period, the expectant mother must learn not to take all anxieties and troubles to heart. It is very important that relatives provide a woman with psychological support and do not cause trouble.

However, despite various non-drug remedies, blood pressure may increase. If blood pressure rises to 160/100 mm Hg. Art. and above, the patient must be prescribed antihypertensive drugs. Medicines make it possible to control the level of blood pressure. But, I must say, even taking medications is not always a reliable protection against the onset of preeclampsia. That is why, even if a pregnant woman belongs to a low-risk group, she should undergo an examination in a timely manner.

In some cases, in patients with I degree of arterial hypertension, the pressure decreases to a normal level. Then there is no need to take medication. But you still need to control your blood pressure. If a pregnant woman is at high risk, she is usually advised to start antihypertensive therapy immediately. Timely treatment will make it possible to avoid a number of complications. If the blood pressure level is 140/90 mm Hg. Art., then the uteroplacental circulation is disturbed, which entails various pathologies of fetal development. The child does not have enough oxygen, since it is the blood that carries it. Due to high pressure, premature detachment of the placenta can begin. There is also a risk of slowing down the development of the fetus.

Treatment of arterial hypertension in pregnant women is complicated by the fact that not all drugs are harmless to the child. But modern medicine is at a very high level.

Despite the clear need for treatment, some pregnant women themselves try not to take medication, as they are worried about the harmful effects on the fetus. With severe arterial hypertension, this is unacceptable. Lack of treatment will do much more harm.

There are some general rules for pregnant women regarding taking medications.

Most experts believe that angiotensin receptor antagonists (for example, valsartan, ibesartan, etc.) should not be used during pregnancy, because they have a teratogenic effect.
In the first trimester of pregnancy, it is better not to take angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors that have a teratogenic effect (for example, quinapril, enalopril).
After the eighth week of pregnancy, some drugs can have an embryotoxic effect (in particular, a number of antibiotics, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory drugs). Therefore, it is undesirable to use a drug that worsens the hemodynamics of the mother, because it also worsens the blood supply to the fetus. A drug that reduces blood clotting in the mother, therefore, reduces blood clotting in the fetus.

A number of drugs do not have a harmful effect on either the expectant mother or the unborn child. The first-line drug for the treatment of arterial hypertension during pregnancy is methyldopa (dopegyt, aldomet). Many years of research and observation of children born have allowed scientists to assert that methyldopa is absolutely safe. Usually it is prescribed in 3-4 doses of 0.75-4 g per day. Taking the drug can lead to the fact that some people experience fluid retention in the body. Therefore, if long-term use of the drug is required, it is combined in small doses with diuretics. If the patient has impaired renal or hepatic function, the drug should be taken with caution, the patient should be constantly under the supervision of the attending physician.

Calcium channel blockers are also used to treat hypertension during pregnancy. Nifedipine, a dihydropyridine group drug, is often used. Doses are set by the doctor. The drug is able to quickly stop the impending hypertensive crisis.

The undoubted advantages of beta-blockers include a gradual effect on blood pressure. Also, drugs stabilize the function of platelets. It is very important that beta-blockers do not adversely affect plasma volume. Examples of beta-blockers include pindolol, atenolol, metoprolol, oxprenolol, and some others.

It is important to remember that the choice of the necessary medicines remains with the doctor, because it is the specialist who must take into account the individual health status of the patient and other factors that affect the course of pregnancy.

The most severe complications of pregnancy with arterial hypertension are preeclampsia and eclampsia. Such complications are very dangerous for the life of a woman and a child.

Preeclampsia during pregnancy

Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs late in pregnancy. In this condition, a woman has high blood pressure. Protein is found in the urine. The woman's legs and arms are swollen. The woman feels a headache, vomiting, visual disturbances are observed. There are also signs of nephropathy.

There is a risk of preeclampsia progressing to the last and most severe phase. In this case, there is a threat of coma or death of both the mother and the child during or after childbirth, if the necessary treatment is not carried out. Severe forms of preeclampsia and eclampsia lead to dysfunction of vital organs, that is, the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart. The consequences of preeclampsia and eclampsia can affect the rest of your life if you do not carry out appropriate treatment in time. This applies to both mother and child. According to the World Health Organization, preeclampsia is responsible for 15-40% of maternal and 38% of perinatal deaths worldwide.

Preeclampsia is most common during the first pregnancy. At risk are the youngest girls and women who are over 35 years old.

Risk factors are:

arterial hypertension, which was diagnosed before pregnancy;
obesity;
multiple pregnancy;
diabetes;
rheumatoid arthritis;
systemic lupus erythematosus;
cases of preeclampsia that have already been observed in the past in the patient herself;
cases of preeclampsia in the sister or mother of the patient.

Preeclampsia leads to the fact that the blood flow through the placenta is disturbed, that is, the child may be born underdeveloped. In some cases, preeclampsia also causes preterm labor. A newborn may have pathologies such as impaired vision and hearing, cerebral palsy, epilepsy.

Some doctors tend to underestimate the dangers of preeclampsia. A simplified view of it is based on the fact that the main problem is high blood pressure, edema and proteinuria (protein excretion in the urine). But such symptoms are only superficial manifestations of the syndrome of multiple organ and polysystemic failure. These signs make it possible to make the diagnosis of preeclampsia itself, but are not the cause of the disease.

If we talk about swelling of the hands, feet and face, then such symptoms often accompany normal pregnancy. Also, a clear correlation has not been established between the fact that one or another degree of arterial hypertension is observed and edema is present at the same time.

Often, edema can occur in those women whose blood pressure is normal. The presence of protein in the urine is a later sign of preeclampsia. Approximately 5-10% of pregnant women with preeclampsia first have seizures, and then proteinuria, that is, protein in the urine, appears. Based on this, it was concluded that if the patient developed preeclampsia, then there are morphological damage to the kidneys, such as pyelonephritis, glumerulonephritis, nephrosclerosis. Before protein appears in the urine, other symptoms occur: the concentration of urea and creatinine in the blood plasma increases.

Preeclampsia also manifests itself in early pregnancy, up to 20 weeks. In this case, the cause may be a disease of the fetal egg in a pregnant woman, which is characterized by the growth of the surface layer of the villous membrane (chorion) and swelling of the substance of the villi (vesical skid).

There are several types of preeclampsia.

Type I - there is low pressure in the pulmonary artery system, low cardiac output. The total peripheral vascular resistance is high.
Type II - there is high pressure in the pulmonary artery system, high cardiac output. The overall vascular resistance is high.
Type III - there is normal pressure in the pulmonary artery system, high cardiac output. The total peripheral resistance is low.
Type IV - high pressure appears in the pulmonary artery system, a high cardiac output occurs. Plasma volume is normal or increased.

Specialists often use the term "mild preeclampsia". In this case, the outcome is favorable, because the pregnant woman has only a single increase in blood pressure. There are no other symptoms associated with preeclampsia. With a mild degree of preeclampsia, special measures are usually not taken. A woman should only limit activity, take care of her health.

If there is a risk of preterm birth, then with preeclampsia, special treatment is carried out, which must be prescribed by the attending physician. Sometimes it is better for a woman to be in a hospital in order to be constantly monitored. At a long gestational age, childbirth can be forced.

If a pregnant woman manifests gestosis (late toxicosis of pregnant women, nephropathy is a complication accompanied by impaired function of the placenta and the condition of the fetus), this means that there are signs of a critical condition, expressed to varying degrees.

These signs include:

hypovolemia - a decrease in the volume of blood circulating in the body (it may be associated with restriction of fluid intake or its loss);
hypoxemia - reduction of gas exchange in goblin, hemoglobin content in the blood;
circulatory disorders in the kidneys, brain, liver.

Similar signs are associated with the fact that the properties of the blood are deteriorating, microthrombosis is present. Probable insufficiency of the function of the kidneys, lungs, myocardium. The severity of the patient's condition exacerbates vascular spasm, violation of all types of metabolism, and especially water-salt.

Severe forms of preeclampsia are very dangerous for a woman during pregnancy. Lack of special treatment can lead to her death. In some cases, other methods of treatment are prescribed, for example, magnesium sulfate (magnesia) is used. It helps prevent seizures and lower blood pressure. It is also possible to use various drugs that lower blood pressure. Fluid control is important. An extreme measure is the immediate induction of childbirth, regardless of the gestational age.

If a pregnant woman with manifestations of preeclampsia is observed in a hospital, eclampsia develops very rarely in her. This is due to the fact that the patient is under the constant supervision of specialists; a variety of intensive therapy methods are used to improve her condition. Due to this, the development of the convulsive stage is prevented.

Eclampsia in pregnancy

The term "eclampsia" comes from the Greek. the words "eklampsis", which means "flash". The main symptom of eclampsia is muscle spasms of the whole body and loss of consciousness.

For specialists, a very important, but at the same time complex problem is the ability to predict eclampsia, despite the suddenness of its onset. There are certain criteria that allow one or another patient to be considered at risk.

In eclampsia, great importance is given to the study of hereditary factors. This is very important because eclampsia most often develops during the first pregnancy. If the patient's mother had eclampsia, her daughter has a 49% chance of developing it. If the patient's sister had eclampsia, then the patient's risk of developing eclampsia increases to 58%. With multiple pregnancies, the likelihood of developing eclampsia increases. The risk of this condition is also high in pregnant women under the age of 25 and in women after 35 years.

Eclampsia leads to a spasm of the respiratory muscles, while breathing is disturbed, the tongue sinks, hypoxia (oxygen starvation) and hypercapnia occur.

As a result of hypercapnia, the secretion of the glands increases, an increased separation of saliva, bronchial secretions, gastric and intestinal juice begins. There is no cough reflex during loss of consciousness. There is an accumulation of bronchial secretions and saliva, the airways narrow. Their lumen can completely close, which leads to disruption of gas exchange.
With hypercapnia, the excitability of the respiratory center decreases, and the violation of gas exchange is aggravated. The vasomotor center and sinoaortic receptors are irritated, as a result of which blood pressure rises.

Vasospasm progresses, excess blood enters the circulatory bed from spasmodic muscles. As a result, the load on the heart increases significantly. This load is exacerbated by hypoxia and hypercapnia. Therefore, with eclampsia, there is a violation of the heart rhythm. (These changes are clearly diagnosed on the ECG.)

The increased load on the heart leads to tachycardia and expansion of the cardiac cavity. Circulatory insufficiency occurs, it only exacerbates hypoxia and hypercapnia.
Violation of cardiac function in eclampsia is often accompanied by pulmonary edema. As a result, hypoxia and hypercapnia are aggravated.

There are severe bouts of eclampsia. With them, a very strong hypercapnia develops, which affects the peripheral vessels and the vasomotor center. In this case, in addition to the central circulatory insufficiency, there is also a peripheral one.

More than 70% of patients with eclampsia have liver failure, and impaired renal function is also manifested. Various changes in kidney function lead to the fact that the filtration of the body is disturbed. Due to impaired renal function, compensation occurs only as a result of increased ventilation if there is free patency of the respiratory center and there is no brain damage. Otherwise, a mixed form of acidosis may develop and hypoxia and hypercapnia may worsen. At the same time, intracranial pressure increases and seizures become more frequent.

It happens that it is not possible to stop what is happening. Then there is a risk of cerebral hemorrhage, paralysis of the respiratory center, cardiac arrest. The lungs swell, or respiratory and metabolic acidosis occurs. Death may not occur immediately, but after a few days. Thus, the main cause of death in eclampsia is (in 70%) cerebral hemorrhage, followed by respiratory failure with pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, postpartum hemorrhage, placental abruption, liver rupture, septic shock. If the patient has had eclampsia and survived, in the future she may experience a number of complications. In particular, disorders of the central nervous system, such as paralysis, autonomic disorders, headache, memory disorders, psychosis. Pathologies of other vital organs and systems of the body may also appear.
The development of eclampsia is considered a syndrome of multiple organ failure, because in this condition there is a failure of a number of systems and organs: respiratory, cardiac, renal, hepatic. There are also pronounced disturbances in the distribution of blood flow, the rheological properties of blood, and various types of metabolism.

Complications of severe eclampsia may include:

disseminated intravascular coagulation with uncontrolled bleeding;
capillary leak syndrome;
intrahepatic bleeding;
heart attacks;
acute renal failure.

Arterial hypertension associated with the presence of late taxicosis can cause premature placental abruption, miscarriage, hypoxia, developmental delays and even death.

Against the background of multiple organ failure, convulsive seizures develop. These seizures are not associated with impaired cerebral circulation. Convulsive seizures are rare. But a whole series of seizures can occur, which follow one after another. This phenomenon is called "eclamptic status". After a seizure, a woman sometimes loses consciousness, that is, an eclamptic coma develops. (Sudden loss of consciousness may occur without an attack of convulsions.)

Before convulsions appear, the head begins to hurt sharply, insomnia occurs, and pressure rises. The woman feels intense anxiety. The seizure lasts 1 to 2 minutes.

A convulsive seizure consists of several stages.

Preconvulsive period. It lasts approximately 30 s. The muscles of the face twitch, the corners of the mouth drop, the eyelids close.
Period of tonic convulsions. It also lasts about 30 seconds. The muscles of the whole body are reduced, the torso is tensed. The face turns blue, breathing stops.
period of clonic convulsions. Continues 30 s. There is twitching of the facial muscles, muscles of the whole body and limbs. Convulsions become weaker. Breathing becomes hoarse, there is foam from the mouth with blood.
Consciousness gradually returns. The woman does not remember anything that happened to her just a few minutes ago.

The excitability of the central nervous system during eclampsia increases markedly. A new attack can occur from a variety of stimuli, such as light and noise.

Magnesium sulfate is often used in the treatment of eclampsia. This drug is also used for preeclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is administered slowly intravenously or intramuscularly. At the same time, tendon reflexes and respiratory rate are necessarily controlled. But if the patient is taking calcium channel blockers, magnesium sulfate is not prescribed, because there is a danger of a sharp drop in blood pressure.

With eclampsia, chlorpromazine or diazoxide is sometimes administered intravenously. It is also possible intravenous, then drip administration of diazepam (seduxen).

Long-term rehabilitation therapy is of great importance. It is necessary for women who have suffered preeclampsia and eclampsia. Rehabilitation therapy can lower blood pressure, improve microcirculation and hemodynamics of the brain.

During the period of rehabilitation therapy, patients are advised to take mildronate 1 tablet (125 mg) three times a day in the period after childbirth. Mildronate affects the redistribution of blood flow in the brain, helps to eliminate functional disorders of the nervous system, improves blood supply to the brain.

If the patient has had eclampsia or preeclampsia, then even after discharge she should be under the supervision of a cardiologist, urologist, internist and neuropathologist. Timely treatment and further monitoring can avoid serious consequences that can lead to disability.

Arterial hypertension in pregnant women

The concept of "arterial hypertension in pregnancy" is used to refer to various painful conditions.

First of all, we mean the following diseases:

Hypertension in pregnancy. Pregnant hypertension is said to be when a pregnant woman's blood pressure is greater than 140/90 mm PC and rises for the first time after the 20th week.
Severe hypertension in pregnancy. If blood pressure readings exceed 160/110 mm PC.
Preeclampsia. The diagnosis is made when, along with high blood pressure, protein in the urine is observed in an amount of more than 300 mg per day. Clinical manifestations such as headaches, double vision and ripples in the eyes, pain in the upper part of the eye can also indicate preeclampsia.
Eclampsia. The most severe form of preeclampsia, accompanied by convulsive seizures.

Measurement of blood pressure. Important conditions are a wide cuff and rest, otherwise the indicators may be unreliable.

We live in a fast-paced and busy time, bringing us not only the benefits of civilization, but also some “side effects”, for example, a high level of stress. And stress, in turn, also presents us with surprises, for example, high blood pressure during pregnancy - after all, the body also perceives pregnancy as a kind of stress ...

Therefore, blood pressure control is a mandatory procedure for all expectant mothers. It makes sense to measure the pressure once a week, and if any failures begin, do it daily. Of course, for this you need to know the normal values.

Pressure during pregnancy: the norm and deviations from it

You have probably heard that the first number means systolic, and the second - diastolic pressure, and that in a healthy person they should be 120/80? However, it is worth focusing on your individual indicators. It is believed that the norm of pressure during pregnancy is not higher than 140/90 and not lower than 90/60.

Quite a large range of values, right? So, you should know your "working pressure", the one that you usually have. 90/60 for a 20-year-old girl weighing 50 kg who has not given birth is absolutely normal, and the notorious 120/80 would already be considered high indicators.

Why is high blood pressure dangerous during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, a steady increase in pressure during this period is an alarming symptom. If the pressure rises during pregnancy, doctors fear the possible development of a dangerous and insidious complication during pregnancy, which is a disruption in the functioning of vital organs, and primarily the cardiovascular and circulatory system.

It arises from the fact that the placenta produces substances due to which micro-holes form in the vessels. Through them, plasma protein and fluid enters the tissues from the blood, which causes swelling, primarily of the legs and hands. The worst thing is that not only the limbs swell, but also the placenta, and this already causes a lack of oxygen in the fetus.

Even if high blood pressure during pregnancy is not a sign of preeclampsia, you still can’t give up on it, after all, it’s not for nothing that doctors in the antenatal clinic pay so much attention to controlling pressure in women who are registered expecting a baby. The fact is that high blood pressure during pregnancy provokes changes in the vessels of the placenta and fetus.

Decreased blood circulation between mother and child is called placental insufficiency. If the child does not have enough oxygen and nutrients, a delay in his intrauterine development may begin, and this is already very serious.

If the pressure during pregnancy jumps regularly, and the indicators are high enough (140-150 and above), this can lead to premature detachment of the placenta- a very dangerous complication of the normal course of pregnancy. Maternal hypertension may well cause threatened miscarriage or premature birth. Finally, high pressure in the mother during childbirth can lead to eclampsia - a convulsive syndrome, which is also not good for either the woman or her child.

Signs of high blood pressure during pregnancy

The most accurate way to find out your pressure is to measure it with a special device (tonometer), which is desirable for every pregnant woman to purchase, and if there are problems with pressure, then its purchase is simply a must. At home, it is more convenient to use an electronic tonometer, but the usual one is quite suitable - some doctors even believe that its readings are more accurate, and it costs less.

But a woman can also learn about an increase in pressure from her own feelings: this condition may be accompanied by headaches sometimes very strong dizziness.

Also characteristic:

deterioration of well-being;
noise in ears;
nausea, vomiting;
the appearance of "flies" before the eyes;
the appearance of red spots on the skin of the face and chest, or general redness of the skin in these areas.

But it also happens that hypertension is asymptomatic, does not bother the pregnant woman and is detected only during the next measurement of blood pressure.

Causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Why does blood pressure increase during pregnancy? There are some of the most common reasons for this.

stress mentioned above. The loads on the body are so great that it does not have time to rebuild and reacts with pressure surges;
insufficiency of the compensatory forces of the body of a pregnant woman. The heart, which has to pump blood "for two", cannot cope with the increased volume of circulating blood;
heredity. If one of your close relatives had high blood pressure, chances are that you will have to deal with it too;
diabetes. It does not increase pressure during pregnancy, but diabetes can serve as an unfavorable factor;
smoking. In any case, it does not add health, but nicotine is one of the first to affect the cardiovascular system;
poor physical activity. A trained heart copes much better with stress;
overweight or obesity. Carefully monitor how much you gain during pregnancy, control this process;
kidney problems. Oddly enough, but there is a direct relationship - often people suffering from kidney diseases (for example, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis) have high blood pressure;
violation of the hormonal activity of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary gland. Often, high blood pressure during pregnancy is the result of precisely these hormonal shocks, because at this time women experience real hormonal storms.

Reducing pressure during pregnancy

Many women are interested in how to reduce pressure during pregnancy on their own? But just in this case, self-treatment is unacceptable. Do not take any pills for pressure during pregnancy, do not drink any "herbs" before consulting a doctor!

The doctor will conduct your examination and prescribe drug therapy. Strictly adhere to the scheme of using medications and their dosages, do not stop taking the drugs on your own - when it comes to high blood pressure, the result is only the careful observance of all recommendations.

You may need to be admitted to the maternity ward of a maternity hospital. There you will not only be treated, but they will also draw up an individual plan for childbirth, taking into account high blood pressure. Often in this case, epidural anesthesia is prescribed during childbirth,

At the end of pregnancy, closer to delivery, you will most likely be offered a second hospitalization in order to correct pressure before childbirth.

There are also blood pressure lowering products during pregnancy - their use, of course, will not completely remove the problem, but it can serve as a preventive measure. First of all, it is beetroot and beetroot juice, cranberry juice - in addition to lowering pressure, it is also a source of vitamins!

A good remedy is pumpkin broth with honey: boil 200 g of pumpkin in pieces in a small amount of water over low heat, cool, add honey. This salad can also help: mix raw beets, cabbage and carrots in equal proportions and season with vegetable oil.

Do not use coffee, chocolate, strong tea - during pregnancy they are already undesirable, and even more so with high blood pressure. On the other hand, hibiscus tea or very weak tea with a few lemon slices, on the contrary, will improve your condition. A sedative can also help - valerian, motherwort, or a cool shower.

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