Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Expectant mothers with a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, which occurs two or more times after 20 weeks of gestation, are usually diagnosed as having PIH. This condition can develop in women who have never had high blood pressure before, and those who have. Women with high blood pressure during pregnancy may be treated with blood pressure medication and are carefully monitored for PIH-related complications.
Mom: Preeclampsia
PIH can develop into preeclampsia, a serious condition. This illness is characterized by high blood pressure, swelling of the hands, feet or face and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of gestation. The Mayo Clinic suggests that preeclampsia can occur suddenly in women with PIH or may develop gradually. Preeclampsia can cause kidney and heart damage in the mom and may lead to seizures. Women with PIH should watch for signs of preeclampsia between physician appointments, such as swelling in the extremities, headaches, sudden weight gain or severe, right-sided abdominal pain.
Baby: Restricted Growth
High blood pressure during pregnancy can restrict blood flow to the baby via the placenta. The mom's heart works harder with high blood pressure, though the ability to pump blood out to the body is less effective. This can reduce the amount of blood available to the placenta, causing the baby to receive less oxygen and nutrition. Blood restriction can cause the baby to have limited growth and result in low birth weight, which is classified as less than 5 ½ lbs., according to the March of Dimes.
Mom: Placental Abruption
Decreased blood flow to the uterus during PIH can affect the placenta by causing it to release from the uterine wall, a condition called placental abruption. The placenta contains multiple blood vessels, which begin to bleed if the placenta detaches from the uterus, causing a risk of hemorrhage for the mom and a decreased blood flow for the baby. The Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, suggests that placental abruption occurs in 1 of every 120 pregnancies.
Baby: Premature Delivery
Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature, may lack adequate lung development at birth or may be small in size. Complications from PIH, such as preeclampsia or placental abruption, may warrant the early delivery of the baby if the risk of remaining pregnant outweighs the risk of delivering prematurely.
