There are three types of high blood pressure, or hypertension, that can affect a woman explains the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These include chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. With the exception of preeclampsia, hypertension doesn't usually cause symptoms in a woman, which is why blood pressure is closely monitored during prenatal care appointments. A woman who develops the symptoms of preeclampsia should immediately contact her health care provider for evaluation.
Headache
It is difficult to differentiate a headache caused by high blood pressure from the various other causes of pregnancy head pain. MayoClinic.com suggests that a woman with preeclampsia will have more persistent headaches.
Visual Problems
Any changes in vision can indicate high blood pressure. Some women may notice blurring, flashes of light, sensitivity to light and vision loss, according to MayoClinic.com. Hypertension can cause pressure to build up in various parts of the body, including the blood vessels of the eyes, which can cause vision disturbances.
Rapid Weight Gain
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists points out that rapid weight gain is often a sign of preeclampsia. This can be attributed to swelling, or water retention, that most often occurs in the hands and face. During prenatal appointments, a health care provider will likely observe the woman's face, hands, feet and ankles to identify water retention as soon as it occurs. Swelling is not a reliable indicator of preeclampsia because it occurs in many pregnancies, but it is important to note in case other signs also exist. MayoClinc.com suggests that a woman will gain more than five pounds in a week with preeclampsia.
Abdominal Discomfort
High blood pressure can cause intense pain or tenderness in the upper abdomen. Some women may experience nausea and vomiting as well. The Baby Center website explains that this is due to reduced blood flow to organs in the body and the placenta.
Medical Signs
Many of the signs of high blood pressure are not recognizable to the pregnant woman. A health care provider will take her blood pressure and collect a urine sample at every prenatal appointment. If high blood pressure is present, the woman will likely have a higher reading at this appointment than previous appointments. Her urine can also have high levels of protein because of the pressure placed on the kidneys during urine processing.
Most health care providers measure a woman's fundal height, or the height from her pubic bone to the top of her uterus, to determine the growth of the baby. In a woman with chronic hypertension or pregnancy-induced hypertension, the fundal height measurements may not correlate correctly with the expected due date because high blood pressure can slow a baby's growth, explains FamilyDoctor.org. The baby may be low in weight at birth or be born early due to the condition.
