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Gestational Hypertension & Pregnancy
For my STEAM project, I am researching how gestational hypertension develops during pregnancy and how it affects the pregnancy. The course objective I will be covering is “Explain common disorders during pregnancy and their cause” from the reproductive system unit 9. Two paintings are used as a medium for my project. The first painting shows an x-ray-like image of the experience of a healthy pregnancy. The second painting indicates the bodily changes and experiences in pregnancy when the individual is affected by gestational hypertension.
Gestational hypertension can be defined as high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy and it gives complications to about 7% of pregnancies. Gestational hypertension is a high risk condition and typically causes significant issues nearing the end of pregnancy, posing a risk for both the mother and baby. This condition, unmanaged, puts a mother at risk for preeclampsia, C-sections, and stillbirths. If complications arise due to high blood pressure, induction may be necessary (Magee et al., 2024). Pregnancies that have a larger risk of developing high blood pressure (and other pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders in general) may include: older women, women giving birth for the first time, being pregnant with twins, pre existing diseases/conditions (diabetes, PCOS, irregular menstrual cycles, etc.), and being obese prior to becoming pregnant. Specifically regarding gestational hypertension, another key cause is the reduction of nitric oxide production by the body. Nitric oxide functions as a vasodilator, meaning it dilates the blood vessels. Nitric oxide could be reduced within the body due to a magnesium deficiency. Overall, there are bodily factors that contribute to the development of gestational hypertension that are out of the control of the mother. On the other hand, more controllable factors like a diet poor in fiber and unmanaged stress can also contribute to the development of high blood pressure. (Fruscalzo et al., 2010)
To avoid issues during pregnancy caused by high blood pressure, birth timing may be pushed ahead to about 37 weeks. Giving birth earlier while being diagnosed with gestational hypertension will reduce the risk for the instances listed previously, however, it may put the baby at a higher risk for illness during the neonatal period (Magee et al., 2024). During the time leading up to birth, blood pressure, fetal development, and any preeclampsia symptoms are closely monitored. Since gestational hypertension occurs during pregnancy after about 20 weeks, it is likely to resolve after giving birth. For this reason, regular blood pressure monitoring is also done during the postpartum period to make sure that there are no unexpected complications. There are pregnancy-safe drugs to lower hypertension which can gradually stop being used after giving birth (Beech & Mangos, 2021).
Knowing how a healthy pregnancy looks is a helpful way to identify the presence of a pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorder. According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), a healthy pregnancy includes the wellbeing of both the mother and the baby. Eating a balanced diet, reducing stress, taking vaccines to prevent disease, and exercise promote a healthy pregnancy. Following these measures and many other precautions can reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy and avoid a preterm birth (giving birth before reaching 37 weeks) (UMC).
Reference
Beech, A., & Mangos, G. (2021). Management of hypertension in pregnancy.
Australian Prescriber, 44(5), 148–152. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2021.039
Dos and don’ts of pregnancy: Your guide to a healthy pregnancy. (n.d.). UPMC | Life Changing Medicine. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from https://www.upmc.com/services/womens-health/services/obgyn/obstetrics/pregnancy/journey
Fruscalzo, A., Bertozzi, S., Londero, A. P., Biasioli, A., Driul, L., Kiesel, L., & Marchesoni, D. (2010). Menstrual abnormalities and predisposition to pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders: A retrospective study. Gynecological Endocrinology, 26(6), 445–450. https://doi.org/10.3109/09513591003632092
Magee, L. A., Kirkham, K., Tohill, S., Gkini, E., Moakes, C. A., Dorling, J., Green, M., Hutcheon, J. A., Javed, M., Kigozi, J., Mol, B. W. M., Singer, J., Hardy, P., Stubbs, C., Thornton, J. G., Dadelszen, P. von, & Group, the W. T. S. (2024). Determining optimal timing of birth for women with chronic or gestational hypertension at term: The WILL (When to Induce Labour to Limit risk in pregnancy hypertension) randomised trial. PLOS Medicine, 21(11), e1004481. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004481
Gestational hypertension is the condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy, and has a rate of being present in 7% of pregnancies. It’s likely to resolve after giving birth. While it’s not highly common, it can present serious complications towards the end of the pregnancy (it usually occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy) for both mother and baby. It is something which should be managed, and complications should be taken seriously with a possible induction, because without managing the condition there is risk of preeclampsia, stillbirths and C-sections. To help avoid complications caused by hypertension, the birth time may be pushed earlier to 37 weeks, and the condition of mother and baby are closely monitored. People are at higher risk of developing hypertension if they are older, giving birth for the first time, have twins, are obese, and/or have pre-existing conditions. Another thing that can be a cause of hypertension is a decrease in nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator. A reduction of nitric oxide could be due to a magnesium deficiency. Finally, it is important to know how a healthy pregnancy looks to identify any potential disorders. Following precautionary measures, like a healthy diet and regular exercise, can help mitigate complications during pregnancy. (Kaija Vick)