Introduction

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a common problem during pregnancy. Hypertension can complicate pregnancy and cause adverse outcomes for both the mother and her infant. The most important risk associated with hypertension in pregnant women is the risk to their unborn child. Diagnosis and treatment of hypertension during pregnancy can be challenging for both clinicians and patients. Experience has shown that natural therapies are often underused but can be very effective in managing mild hypertension during pregnancy, promoting safe and healthy outcomes for both mother and baby. Ensuring adequate intake of magnesium, calcium, potassium and vitamin C may help reduce BP in early pregnancy. Magnesium deficiency may play a role in maternal hypertension and preeclampsia (PE), as a result of impaired Ca2+ transport. Fish oils containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might help reduce blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy, as well as improve fetal health outcomes. Managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy with natural therapies is an increasingly common reason to seek out naturopathic care. Naturopathic physicians are trained to manage these complex cases using an integrated approach involving dietary changes, vitamin/mineral supplementation, botanical medicines, homeopathic remedies and lifestyle counseling. Although preconception planning is ideal for managing many conditions, it is never too late in the process to prescribe appropriate interventions that minimize the risk of complications for pregnant women with hypertension or for their babies

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a common problem during pregnancy.

Elevated blood pressure is a common problem during pregnancy. Hypertension is defined as a systolic BP of 140 mmHg or greater and/or diastolic BP of 90 mmHg or greater. The incidence of hypertension in the non-pregnant population is approximately 7%, whereas it increases to 20% in pregnant women.

Pregnancy is associated with physiological changes that cause an increase in cardiac output and arterial vasodilatation, resulting in increased blood volume, which may lead to increased BP. Antepartum (before birth) and intrapartum (during labor) complications are more common in hypertensive than normotensive pregnancies

Hypertension can complicate pregnancy and cause adverse outcomes for both the mother and her infant.

• Hypertension is a risk factor for preeclampsia.
• Hypertension during pregnancy can also cause fetal growth restriction, which may lead to low birth weight.
• In addition to the adverse effects on the mother and her baby, hypertension can be associated with excessive blood flow to other organs of the body such as kidney, eyes and brain

The most important risk associated with hypertension in pregnant women is the risk to their unborn child.

The most important risk associated with hypertension in pregnant women is the risk to their unborn child. Chronic high blood pressure during pregnancy can cause complications for both the mother and her infant. It can also lead to problems during labor and delivery.

The risks of chronic high blood pressure during pregnancy are not limited to the mother or her newborn baby, however. Studies have shown that children whose mothers had chronically high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely than other children to have problems at birth as well as during their first year of life. These risks include:

• Being born prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation)
• Having low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams)
• Having a heart defect (defects in heart structure that do not allow oxygenated blood flow), such as pulmonary valve stenosis or coarctation of the aorta

Diagnosis and treatment of hypertension during pregnancy can be challenging for both clinicians and patients.

To reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy, it is important to manage hypertension early and effectively. A diagnosis of hypertension should be made based on clinical judgment, not on blood pressure measurements alone. The National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group concluded that hypertension can be diagnosed if either systolic or diastolic blood pressure exceeds 140 mm Hg or 90 mm Hg, respectively.

Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for the presence of preeclampsia in patients with chronic hypertension who are nulliparous and at low risk for preterm delivery (e.g., white women older than 40 years). In these patients, serial measurement of serum creatinine levels is recommended at least once every two weeks until delivery to monitor for renal dysfunction that may develop during pregnancy but may not be apparent until later stages.

Experience has shown that natural therapies are often underused but can be very effective in managing mild hypertension during pregnancy, promoting safe and healthy outcomes for both mother and baby.

You may be surprised to learn that natural therapies can be very effective in managing mild hypertension during pregnancy, promoting safe and healthy outcomes for both mother and baby.

In fact, the experience of many midwives and practitioners has shown that such therapies are often underused but can be very effective in managing mild hypertension during pregnancy.

Ensuring adequate intake of magnesium, calcium, potassium and vitamin C may help reduce BP in early pregnancy.

It is important to ensure adequate intake of magnesium, calcium and potassium in early pregnancy to reduce BP. Magnesium: Magnesium is an essential mineral that helps maintain normal blood pressure. Calcium: Calcium is one of the most important minerals for bone health during pregnancy as well as a healthy cardiovascular system. Potassium: Potassium helps maintain electrolyte balance and normal heart function. Vitamin C: Vitamin C plays an important role in immune function, which may be compromised during pregnancy due to hormonal changes with estrogen deficiency (decreased) and progesterone production (increased).

Magnesium deficiency may play a role in maternal hypertension and preeclampsia (PE), as a result of impaired Ca2+ transport.

Magnesium deficiency may play a role in maternal hypertension and preeclampsia (PE), as a result of impaired Ca2+ transport. Magnesium deficiency has been shown to increase vasoconstriction and reduce vasodilatation, which can lead to increases in blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency also contributes to the development of preeclampsia by reducing placental perfusion, increasing tissue damage and impairing fetal growth.

Fish oils containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might help reduce blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy, as well as improve fetal health outcomes. Managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy with natural therapies is an increasingly common reason to seek out naturopathic care. Naturopathic physicians are trained to manage these complex cases using an integrated approach involving dietary changes, vitamin/mineral supplementation, botanical medicines, homeopathic remedies and lifestyle counseling. Although preconception planning is ideal for managing many conditions, it is never too late in the process to prescribe appropriate interventions that minimize the risk of complications for pregnant women with hypertension or for their babies.

Naturopathic physicians are trained to manage these complex cases using an integrated approach involving dietary changes, vitamin/mineral supplementation, botanical medicines, homeopathic remedies and lifestyle counseling. Although preconception planning is ideal for managing many conditions, it is never too late in the process to prescribe appropriate interventions that minimize the risk of complications for pregnant women with hypertension or for their babies.

Conclusion

It is important to note that the BP of pregnant women with hypertension should be monitored carefully to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. Naturopathic physicians can play an important role in managing this condition, often reducing or eliminating the need for pharmaceuticals while ensuring a happy, healthy pregnancy outcome.