Measuring blood pressure during pregnancy
Stressed or 'doing too much' hypertension
High blood pressure before pregnancy
Pre-eclampsia
When 'pre-eclampsia' becomes 'eclampsia'
How is pre-eclampsia treated?
Taking your blood pressure is something that is done at every pregnancy visit as well as intermittently during labour and sometimes after the birth, depending on your health. When a caregiver takes a person's blood pressure, they are measuring the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels in the
arteries.
A blood pressure reading is determined by many things including:
The pumping action of the heart,(or how hard the heart pumps the blood). This is the shown as highest reading (for example, 120 mmHg if your blood pressure is 120/80) and is known as the 'systolic' measurement. The systolic pressure often fluctuates with stress, emotion, anxiety and exercise (these can all increase this reading).
The lower reading is the pressure on the blood vessels 'between the heart pumps' or when the heart is at rest (for example, 80mmHg if your blood pressure is 120/80) and is known as the 'diastolic' measurement. The diastolic pressure is the constant, lower pressure on the blood vessels and is usually the measurement your caregiver will focus on during your pregnancy.
The resistance to the flow of blood in the smaller arteries (called arterioles). The smaller arteries in the body can control blood pressure through tightening and relaxing. If they tighten, they increase their resistance and do not allow the blood to flow as freely. This increases the blood pressure and decreases the blood flow to the smaller vessels in the body (as well as possibly the placenta and baby during pregnancy) and is one physical side effects of very high blood pressure during pregnancy called
'pre-eclampsia'. A tightening of the arterioles is also something that is caused by smoking. You can read more in
smoking and lifestyle changes