Gestational hypertension, a rise in blood pressure during the second half of pregnancy is called gestational hypertension. High blood pressure is common during pregnancy in that around 10% of women have raised blood pressure at some point before delivery. GARLIC FOR PREVENTING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, PRE-ECLAMPSIA AND ITS COMPLICATIONS Studies are only included in these reviews if they meet pre-defined criteria. This evidence comes from carefully researched reviews of information about clinical trials done to evaluate medical treatments. We present some of the evidence from Cochrane systematic reviews about complementary and alternative treatments related to pregnancy. Giving birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy (preterm) is often caused by high blood pressure and is the leading cause of newborn deaths, particularly in low-income countries.
The Apgar score rates the baby’s color, heart rate, response to stimulation of the sole of the foot, muscle tone, and respiration. The baby may be small for the date after conception, be born with a low birthweight and have a low Apgar score at birth or need to be admitted to a special care neonatal unit. Obesity and age (either a teenager or over the age of 35 years) are also risk factors.
Women with diabetes, renal disease, thrombophilia, autoimmune disease, previous severe or early onset pre-eclampsia, or carrying more than one infant (multiple pregnancy) increases the chances of developing pre-eclampsia. The liver, kidneys, brain and placenta are affected and the blood clots more readily so that possible complications for the mother include seizures (eclampsia), stroke, liver or kidney failure. Pre-eclampsia is a separate serious condition where blood pressure is high and protein is found in the urine. If the blood pressure rises too much, measured around 20 weeks of pregnancy, she has gestational hypertension. It then slowly rises and by the time the baby is due it is back to pre-pregnancy levels. In the early stages of pregnancy a woman’s blood pressure usually falls. Possible complications of pregnancy are that the mother develops high blood pressure (gestational hypertension) or diabetes (gestational diabetes).