High blood pressure is always something to be concerned about, but high blood pressure during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous for both mother and baby. The Mayo Clinic says that high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to insufficient blood supply to the fetus, preterm delivery and complications where the placenta detaches from the uterus. High blood pressure during pregnancy also increases the likelihood that a woman will develop cardiovascular disease later in life.
High blood pressure during pregnancy must be controlled to prevent complications for mother and baby, but you have to be careful about the medications you take.
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE inhibitors, are commonly prescribed to manage high blood pressure. However, they're not safe to take during pregnancy, notes the Mayo Clinic. ACE inhibitors have been shown to cause damage to the fetus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that ACE inhibitors taken during pregnancy can cause serious congenital defects. Talk to your doctor about changing medications if you are thinking about getting pregnant and are already taking an ACE inhibitor.
ARBs
Angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs, are also not safe to take during pregnancy. A study by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada found that ARBs taken during pregnancy caused serious damage to fetal growth and even death in a number of cases. Women trying to get pregnant should not take ARBs and should talk to their doctor about safer ways to control high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Renin Inhibitors
Renin inhibitors work in a similar way that ACE inhibitors and ARBs do, and should also be avoided during pregnancy to prevent damage to the fetus. These medications prevent enzymes from managing blood pressure, resulting in more relaxed, wider blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
Medications You Can Take
ACE inhibitors, ARBs and renin inhibitors are those most recognized to cause potential harm to the fetus during pregnancy. Many other high blood pressure medications can safely control the condition while posing no threat to the baby's health, including hydralazine and calcium channel blockers, which a study by the World Health Organization found to be both safe (without complications for mom or fetus) and effective at managing high blood pressure during pregnancy.
You should always discuss high blood pressure and medications to treat it with your obstetrician to find out what's the most effective medication for you that's still safe for your baby.
Other Ways to Lower High Blood Pressure
While some weight gain is necessary during pregnancy, it's important to limit how many pounds you gain, says the Mayo Clinic. Limiting excess weight gain can help manage high blood pressure. Sticking to a healthy, low-salt diet can also help keep you healthy during your pregnancy. And of course, it's important to avoid alcohol, drug use and smoking throughout your pregnancy.
Talk to Your Doctor
Always tell your doctor about any medications that you are taking and if you have high blood pressure. It's best to have this conversation before you get pregnant, because the first few weeks after conception are such a crucial time for baby's growth and development. You can control high blood pressure during pregnancy without jeopardizing your baby's health--just be sure to talk to your doctor about the safest ways to protect both of you.
