Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. According to BabyCenter.com, gestational hypertension, often referred to as pregnancy-induced hypertension, occurs in women after 20 weeks of pregnancy. You might find that your high blood pressure persists even after giving birth. If it remains elevated for many weeks after childbirth, you likely have chronic hypertension. Additionally, the postpartum use of hormonal contraception might also cause high blood pressure.
Gestational Hypertension and Postpartum Preeclampsia
Baby Center notes that most women who get gestational hypertension have a mild form that develops at 37 weeks into pregnancy or later. However, one in four women with gestational hypertension develop preeclampsia during pregnancy, labor or soon after giving birth. Postpartum preeclampsia is hypertension with the presence of protein in the urine, with or without seizures, and up to four weeks after giving birth. According to a study reported in the "Journal of Emergency Medicine," in cases of postpartum preeclampsia, the complication often was not documented during pregnancy. The most reported symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia are headache and seizure.
Chronic Hypertension
In some cases of diagnosed gestational hypertension, a woman's blood pressure does not return to normal after delivery. According to Baby Center, if your blood pressure has not normalized three months after delivery, your doctor will likely diagnose you with chronic hypertension. If this is the case, it is possible that you had undiagnosed chronic hypertension before your pregnancy. Baby Center notes that pregnancy typically lowers blood pressure at the end of the first trimester and throughout the second, thus disguising chronic hypertension. This is why some cases of hypertension go undiagnosed until later in a pregnancy.
Hormonal Contraceptives
MedScape News reports that the postpartum use of contraceptives might induce hypertension in women who developed high blood pressure during pregnancy. Another hypertension risk factor when using birth control is a family history of high blood pressure. According to MayoClinic.com, the hormones in all forms of hormonal birth control might elevate your blood pressure by constricting your smaller blood vessels. Not all women who use hormonal contraceptives develop hypertension; those who have high blood pressure should use contraception that contain low doses of estrogen.
Controlling Hypertension
If you are diagnosed with chronic hypertension, your physician will prescribe medication and lifestyle changes. Possible lifestyle changes might include a low-sodium diet, weight loss, smoking cessation and exercise. Follow medical advice; MayoClinic.com notes that uncontrolled hypertension can damage the heart, brain, kidneys, eyes and bones as well as lead to sexual dysfunction and loss of sleep. Potential complications include memory loss, stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.
References
- Medscape: Drug Induced Hypertension -- Estrogens and Progestins; 2008
- MayoClinic.com: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- MayoClinic.com: High Blood Pressure Treatments and Drugs
- "Journal of Emergency Medicine"; Postpartum Preeclampsia: Emergency Department Presentation and Management; Yancey et al; 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Medications and Supplements That Can Raise Your Blood Pressure
- Baby Center: Gestational Hypertension (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension)
