High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

    Written by: Waheeda Sabir

According to the information provided by the authority of Rabia Balkhi Maternity Hospital, Kabul city about 40-50 women refer to that hospital every day for giving birth. The blood pressure of some pregnant women increases during pregnancy or labor and they might face some problems.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some mother and a physician about this issue.

A mother from Kabul city says: “I have given birth to six children. My blood pressure increased during my pregnancy on my fifth baby, and I was suffering from headache and neckache.”

Another mother from Farza district, Kabul province says: “due to the increasing of my blood pressure during my labor, I have given birth to my four children through surgical incisions.”

A facebook friend, Murwareed has left the following message: “my mother was pregnant and her blood pressure was very high than the normal range. We took her to the hospital but her pressure was out of control and she died after half an hour.”

Doctor Muhsina, the head of Rabia Balkhi Hospital says: “the normal blood pressure for young women is 110/70 or 120/80. When a woman always has normal blood pressure and if it rises more than 140/90, she might be faced with high blood pressure problem and the patient might suffer from headache and seeing flashing lights in her sight. If the blood pressure of a pregnant woman goes higher than 170/100, it is called preeclampsia.

preeclampsia causes sudden swelling of the hands, feet, and face; abdominal pain, headache, the decrease of urine, excessive dizziness, vomiting, and low weight of the baby, and it might cause the mother to give birth to a premature baby or she might die before child’s birth.”

What do people think about the causes of this issue?

A mother from Kabul says that she does not know why her blood pressure increased during her pregnancy.

A mother from Chaharasiab district, Kabul province says: “I have delivered my four babies normally but when I went to the hospital during my labor on my fifth baby and they told me that my baby would be delivered by a surgical procedure, suddenly I faced hypertension.”

Doctor Muhsina says: “usually, from the 6th month of pregnancy, the pregnant woman's blood volume increases by about 1.25 liters. The heart needs to pump extra blood, and the body's warmth increases than the normal range, but these changes could be resolved during the last weeks of pregnancy. The factors that cause hypertension are diabetes, history of high blood

pressure, chronic kidney disease, twin or multiple pregnancies, obesity, high fatty foods, more salt, and depression.”

How do people prevent hypertension during pregnancy?

Marzia, a resident of Kabul city says: “I eat vegetables, drink more water and do exercise and am not face hypertension yet.”

Gulalai, a resident of Guldara district, Kabul province says: “I gave birth to a baby a few days ago and my blood pressure was normal. I always go to the doctor, check my blood pressure and regularly take medicines for anemia.”

Doctor Muhsina says: “the women must check their blood pressure before pregnancy. If they were suffering from high blood pressure, they should take their medicine according to the doctor’s advice; reduce their weight; do exercise; avoid cigarettes, drugs, fatty foods and they should eat fresh fruits and vegetables.”