What is chronic hypertension? If you had high blood pressure before you got pregnant, or if you're diagnosed with it before you reach 20 weeks, you have chronic hypertension. Up to 5 percent of women start their pregnancies with this condition. High blood pressure is defined as a reading of 140/90 or higher, even if just one of the numbers is higher. Severe chronic hypertension is 180/110 or higher. How is chronic hypertension managed during pregnancy? Ideally, before getting pregnant, you discussed your plans to conceive with the healthcare provider who manages your hypertension and let your pregnancy provider. | CHRONIC HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANCY What is chronic hypertension If you had high blood pressure before you got pregnant or if you re diagnosed with it before you reach 20 weeks you have chronic hypertension. Up to 5 percent of women start their pregnancies with this condition. High blood pressure is defined as a reading of 140 90 or higher even if just one of the numbers is higher. Severe chronic hypertension is 180 110 or higher. How is chronic hypertension managed during pregnancy Ideally before getting pregnant you discussed your plans to conceive with the healthcare provider who manages your hypertension and let your pregnancy provider know about your hypertension at a preconception visit. Among other things they might have changed your high blood pressure medication because some antihypertensive drugs such as ACE inhibitors may raise the risk of birth defects when taken during pregnancy. If that didn t happen before you got pregnant call your provider right away and be sure to discuss any medications you re on. If you don t have a pregnancy provider yet call the provider who s been managing your hypertension. Depending on your condition you may be referred to a perinatologist a high-risk specialist . At your first visit with your pregnancy caregiver be prepared to tell her everything you know about your hypertension for instance when it started what tests or work-up procedures have been performed and what medications you ve taken in the past and are currently taking if any . It s a good idea to arrange for a copy of your medical records to be sent ahead of time or bring them with you so your caregiver can review your blood pressure readings over time as well as the results of lab tests and other evaluations. If blood and urine tests relating to your hypertension haven t been done recently she ll probably order a complete set now. And depending on your condition and what s been done in the past she may order an EKG an ultrasound of your kidneys an eye exam and .
