High Blood Pressure and Preeclampsia During Pregnancy

What is high blood pressure?  

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition where the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. It means your heart must work harder to pump blood throughout your body. 

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a serious disorder that develops during pregnancy or up to 6 weeks after delivery. It can affect many organs (brain, kidneys, and/or liver) in your body. Preeclampsia usually happens in the last half of pregnancy.  

Preeclampsia can cause: 

What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?

Some women may have many symptoms of preeclampsia while others may only have one or two. 

When does preeclampsia occur?

Preeclampsia can occur anytime during pregnancy, but most often after 20 weeks. It also can occur in the six weeks after your pregnancy.

What are the risk factors for preeclampsia?

•   First pregnancy
•  A history of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
• Family history of preeclampsia
• History of high blood pressure
• History of kidney disease
• Age 35 years or older
• Carrying more than one baby
• Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, bleeding disorders, or certain auto-immune conditions
• BMI over 35
• Fertility treatment

What are the risks for your baby if preeclampsia occurs?

•  Premature delivery
• Stillbirth Stillbirth Awareness | Washington State Department of Health

What are the long-term risks for me if preeclampsia occurs?

• Preeclampsia can cause serious health problems for you and could have lifelong impacts.
•  Women who have had preeclampsia have increased risk of:

If you have had preeclampsia once, it increases your risk of preeclampsia with future pregnancies. 

What should you do if you have been diagnosed with preeclampsia or postpartum preeclampsia?

•  Keep your follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider, even if you are feeling well. 
•  Expect your first follow-up appointment after delivery to be within 2-5 days of discharge from the hospital.
•  Continue your prescribed medications as directed.

Your provider will be following your health closely during your pregnancy and for 6 weeks after your baby is born. 

If you notice any of the symptoms of preeclampsia listed above, seek medical attention. Get a ride to your closest emergency room or call 911 and report the symptoms you have been experiencing.

*It is important to let healthcare providers know you are pregnant or have recently been pregnant. 

What is the Blue Bands Initiative?

The Blue Band Initiative is an effort to alert health care providers about a patient's risk for preeclampsia. Patients who are at risk of developing preeclampsia or having elevated blood pressure after giving birth, will wear a blue wrist band during pregnancy and after delivery of their babies.
  

Why wear a Blue Band?

If you are at risk of developing or have preeclampsia, your Nurse Family Partnership nurse and/or health care provider will ask you to wear a blue wristband. 

•  Leave the blue wristband on until your health care provider takes it off or tells you to take it off.
•  Keep your follow-up appointments with your health care provider, even if you are feeling well.
• Expect your first follow-up appointment after delivery to be within 2-5 days of discharge from the hospital.
• Continue your prescribed medications as directed.
•  Tell your family and friends about the importance of wearing the band and getting care.