How to reduce or increase blood pressure in pregnant women?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

During pregnancy, the female body undergoes many changes. As a result of this, various failures often occur, for example, pressure begins to "jump". Therefore, it is very important to know how to deal with this problem and not harm the unborn baby.

Most often, high blood pressure in pregnant women occurs after 20 weeks. At this time, the volume of blood increases significantly, which complicates the work of the heart. Particular attention should be paid to the he alth of women with various complications, overweight, diseases of the kidneys or other organs.

Daily measurement of pressure will help to avoid serious consequences and get the right treatment in time. It is measured with an electronic tonometer in a calm atmosphere. Before that, you can not move a lot, drink coffee or any medication.

What is hypotension

Hypotension is called low blood pressure in pregnant women, which can be in the first and second trimester. At the beginning of the "interesting position", the blood begins to circulate faster to supply the embryo. As a result, the pressure temporarily decreases,but then the mother's body begins to cope, and its performance levels out. Another reason for this ailment is related to the pressure of the uterus on the aorta and vena cava. That is why doctors often forbid expectant mothers to lie on their backs for a long time.

The norm of indicators in pregnant women is in the range of 90/60 - 120/80. The first number is systolic pressure, which helps blood move through the arteries. The second indicator is the blood pressure on the arteries at rest. Thus, the reduced parameter has a value less than 90/60.

Causes of low blood pressure

Reducing blood pressure in expectant mothers is usually associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Doctors recommend giving up excessive physical activity, but this does not mean that you need to lie down and not move. A great way to maintain a good condition without harming the child is yoga.

Also, low blood pressure in pregnant women is due to:

• genetic predisposition; in such a case, prevention is necessary;
• poor blood clotting, bleeding;
• violations of the tone of blood vessels associated with failures in the system of neurohumoral regulation;
• poor nutrition, lack of sleep, starvation, combined these factors significantly increase the symptoms of toxicosis;
• dehydration: it is difficult for blood to move through the vessels, stagnation appears, which can lead to blood clots;
• serious problems with the heart, intestines, genitals;
• hormonal changes.

It's worth notingthat thin women with narrow pelvises are more likely to experience low blood pressure.

Hypotension symptoms

At low pressure, manifestations of early toxicosis intensify. This constantly provokes vomiting, as a result of which the body is dehydrated and the pressure drops even more. In addition, low blood pressure in pregnant women may show:

• weakness, fatigue and drowsiness;
• tinnitus;
• feeling tired;
• decrease in performance;
• palpitations;
• headaches and dizziness;
• shortness of breath that occurs after walking and exercise.

It is very dangerous to perform a caesarean section on pregnant women with low blood pressure. First you have to prescribe medication.

What is the danger of low pressure

For non-pregnant women, low blood pressure is practically safe. But during pregnancy, its indicator should be within the normal range, so some treatment will be needed. Low blood pressure in pregnant women can lead to placental insufficiency, which disrupts blood flow to the placenta. The fetus is supplied with fewer nutrients, and its oxygen starvation (hypoxia) occurs. It is also possible that the baby is lagging behind in growth and development (hypotrophy). In the early stages, you should be afraid of a miscarriage, a missed pregnancy.

In the later stages, due to low blood pressure, premature birth may occur. It also affects the general well-being of a woman: sheit is difficult to move, there is a feeling of constant fatigue, the mood worsens.

Increase the pressure

Before you figure out how to increase the pressure, a pregnant woman needs to see a doctor. Only a specialist will find out how dangerous her condition is and what medications should be prescribed. You should be very careful with various herbal decoctions or infusions, otherwise you can harm the he alth of the mother or child.

First you need to pay attention to nutrition, physical activity and rest. Pregnant women need good sleep, good nutrition, normal activity (easy walks in the fresh air).

To stabilize the pressure, you can also try:

• to minimize the time spent near the computer;
• drink some coffee, green tea, juice from fresh vegetables or fruits;
• do yoga, water aerobics, do gymnastics or swim in the pool (if there are no contraindications);
• sleep longer (10-11 a.m. at night and 1-2 a.m. during the day);
• eat up to 6 times a day food rich in vitamins, protein, trace elements;
• remove high-calorie foods from the diet;
• do not jump up immediately after waking up, but lie down for a few minutes;
• eat something s alty (do not be zealous, otherwise swelling will appear);
• take a contrast shower, and the cold jet should be the last one;
• lie down so that the legs are higher than the head - this contributes to the outflow of blood from the limbs to the brain;
• do not lie on your back for a long time so that the vena cava is not clamped;
• doacupressure;
• learn the technique of proper breathing, saturating the vessels with oxygen (inhale, exhale, hold your breath for 15 seconds; repeat several times a day);
• breathe with essential oils (like rosemary or basil);
• drink a decoction of lemongrass, rosehip, chamomile, yarrow or St. John's wort.

You can normalize the pressure in pregnant women with some products:

• pomegranates, apples, black currants;
• potatoes, tomatoes, corn, beans;
• low-fat cottage cheese, cheese;
• buckwheat, oatmeal;
• beef liver;
• red caviar, sea fish;
• eggs;
• any nuts;
• celery root (preferably fresh);
• strawberries;
• onion broth: pour the unpeeled onion with boiling water (500 ml), add sugar (50 g); withstand 15 min. and drink 100 ml throughout the day.

Some foods are good for raising blood pressure, but they should not be consumed by pregnant women. Eat less chocolate (high in caffeine) and replace black tea with green or white tea.

What is hypertension

What is considered high blood pressure in pregnant women? According to modern doctors, with hypertension, blood pressure readings begin to rise above 140/90 with two measurements with an interval of about 4 hours. There are no other boundaries at the moment.

There is a concept of "chronic hypertension" - this diagnosis can be made to women,if they had high blood pressure before pregnancy. If hypertension is accompanied by the appearance of protein in the urine (typical for a period of more than 20 weeks), then we are talking about preeclampsia. This complication is very dangerous for mother and baby - everything can end tragically.

Gestational hypertension is an increase in blood pressure that usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy. Compared to other species, it is not as dangerous and the prognosis is the most favorable.

Causes of high blood pressure

Unlike hypotension, high blood pressure in pregnancy can lead to serious consequences. When it jumps, the placenta suffers, and with it the child. This condition suggests that the female body can not cope with the load, and it needs help.

The rise in pressure can cause:

• age of the future mother (less than 18 or more than 45);
• overweight, obesity;
• problems with the heart, blood vessels (especially with VVD);
• diabetes mellitus;
• heredity;
• multiple pregnancy;
• endocrine disorders in which the thyroid gland does not cope with its function;
• kidney disease;
• constant stress.

Among the reasons, it is worth highlighting such harmless ones as:

• climbing stairs;
• running, brisk walking;
• fear of "white coats";
• drinking tea, coffee, chocolate.

This increase in pressure is easily corrected and does not cause seriouseffects on the mother and baby.

Hypertension symptoms

High blood pressure in pregnancy is manifested by several unpleasant symptoms, which may be more or less (depending on the magnitude of the excess).

Most often it is accompanied by:

• nausea, sometimes even vomiting;
• dizziness, headache;
• rapid heart rate, tachycardia;
• heavy sweating;
• ringing and tinnitus;
• black dots floating in front of the eyes.

It happens that a slight increase in pressure occurs without symptoms, so a woman needs to monitor her condition and constantly take measurements. All this is a dangerous serious complication - preeclampsia, which goes through 4 stages and, if left untreated, can lead to death. Its symptoms are: very high blood pressure, swelling, vomiting, blurred vision, sudden weight gain, protein in the urine.

Dangerous high blood pressure

When the pressure of a pregnant woman rises, the vascular tone increases. Therefore, the main complication is a violation of the blood supply to the placenta. As a result, the fetus suffers - its development is inhibited.

The main danger of high blood pressure is preeclampsia. It manifests itself in the second half of pregnancy with three signs: a sharp increase in weight, edema and protein in the urine. If the doctor made such a diagnosis, then the situation is very serious and urgent action must be taken. With gestosis, the permeability of the walls of blood vessels is disturbed, as a result of which the liquid begins todistributed throughout the tissues, and the protein is excreted in the urine. In the most difficult cases, specialists prescribe an emergency delivery.

Lower pressure

How to reduce the pressure of a pregnant woman, the attending physician will decide, who will assess the severity of the cause of this pathology and prescribe the necessary medications. Medicines should be taken only when a specific diagnosis has been made. This is possible only after a long and constant monitoring of the tonometer.

Most often, expectant mothers are prescribed:

1. "Dopegit" (alpha blocker). It helps safely and effectively, and can be used from the first trimester.
2. "Persen", "Novopassit", valerian, motherwort (sedative herbal tablets). They are practically harmless, and in combination with alternative methods of reducing pressure in pregnant women, they can get an excellent effect. These drugs calm, so that the nervous system has less effect on the state of blood vessels and the heart.
3. "Atenolol", "Nebivolol" (beta-blockers). They are prescribed in the second half of pregnancy and are taken under the strict supervision of a doctor. The drugs have an unpleasant side effect - bradycardia in the baby.
4. "Nifedipine", "Verapamil" (calcium channel blockers). These medicines can be used long-term or as a quick fix. They are only allowed from the second trimester.
5. "Magne B6", "Magnelis" - tablets that have a vasodilating, sedative and hypotensive effect.

Slightly increased blood pressure in pregnant women, doctors propose to reduce not with medicines, but with folk remedies. They are suitable in cases where hypertension is not due to a chronic disease or hormonal failure.

In this case, they offer treatment:

• pumpkin broth (boil pumpkin without s alt and drink water);
• chicory (similar to coffee, but not as harmful);
• rosehip infusion (based on water);
• beetroot, cranberry, birch juice;
• hibiscus tea;
• a cocktail of honey, lemon juice and mineral water (per glass of water 1 spoon of honey and half a lemon).

Also in the diet of pregnant women must be present: cabbage, beets, carrots, pumpkins, lemons, honey. All this should be eaten raw. But it is better to refuse confectionery, sugar, s alt and bread. To quickly reduce minor pressure, you do not need to immediately drink pills. It is worth trying warming the legs with warm water (pour into a basin) or a heating pad. You can take a shower, only the water should be cool. This method will help well: lie down, relax, exhale and hold your breath for 5-10 seconds (repeat 3 minutes).

A good option with a short-term effect is to massage the head and neck. It is performed with light gentle rubbing and leisurely strokes. If possible, then you can affect the collar zone, chest, shoulder blades, shoulders.

Acupressure is a good way to lower blood pressure in pregnant women. What to do? Need to find an areabetween the head and the spine (joint), press there with your thumb. Hold it in this position for 5-7 seconds and release. The same area can be massaged not only with hands, but also with a stream of water. To do this, turn on warm water in the shower and direct it to the right place.

Another option for reducing pressure is baths with hot water for hands. You need to pour water at a temperature of 45 degrees into a basin and dip your hands in it for 10 minutes. You can also make contrast foot baths, in which the change of water from hot to cold occurs every 2 minutes. The whole procedure should last 20 minutes, with the last time the legs are dipped in cold water.

If all of the above procedures did not help to reduce or raise the pressure in a pregnant woman to normal, then hospitalization may be necessary. It should be remembered that only a competent specialist will find the cause of poor he alth and prescribe the correct treatment. In this case, it is better to play it safe, otherwise all this will affect the he alth of the woman and her unborn baby. After giving birth, you should go for a consultation with a cardiologist.