Is high blood pressure dangerous for my baby? | Hypotension during pregnancy

Is high blood pressure dangerous for my baby?

The pure pregnancy hypertension is usually harmless for the unborn child. Risks for the child arise especially in cases of severe hypertension and pre-eclampsia. The exact mechanisms are unclear, but there is a disturbance in the blood flow to the placenta.

This can lead to extensive placental attacks and premature placental abruption. Other organs of the mother, such as the brain, lungs and kidneys, may also be affected. The risk of premature birth or miscarriage increases considerably and the child’s development can be impaired. – Pregnancy hypertension- Is it dangerous? – Placental insufficiency

When should the blood pressure be lowered?

Even if high blood pressure is indicated from >140 mmHg, it should not be treated with medication during pregnancy until it is not possible to keep it systolically <160 mmHg or diastolically <100 mmHg by general measures. This is because the risk for mother and child is low in the case of slight hypertension, while a significant reduction in blood pressure can lead to circulatory disorders of the plantar tissue and thus to a reduced supply of blood to the child. The risk is low if there are no abnormalities on physical examination, the ECG is normal and no protein can be detected in the urine (which indicates pre-eclampsia). If protein is detected in the urine, if growth retardation or placental detachment is diagnosed by ultrasound, or if the child is found to be undersupplied, pre-eclampsia is suspected. Depending on the severity of the condition, it is treated as an in-patient by lowering blood pressure, among other things.

Home remedy to lower blood pressure during pregnancy

Sensible, non-medical measures against high blood pressure during pregnancy are protection and stress reduction. There are hardly any other effective, natural remedies available, as they often have only a minor effect on blood pressure and, above all, there is a lack of sufficient research during pregnancy to assess the benefits or risks. The reduction of salt, which is recommended outside of pregnancy, is not useful during pregnancy.

Nor has the positive effect of magnesium on lowering blood pressure been clearly proven, and a reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia has not been confirmed. The frequently used household remedies hawthorn and garlic tablets should also be avoided during pregnancy, as their effects have not been sufficiently investigated.