Hypertension

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Most pregnant individuals will have normal blood pressure during pregnancy but some will develop high blood pressure in the second half of their pregnancy, known as gestational hypertension. It's typical for your care provider to check your blood pressure at each visit and for them to recommend more monitoring if there are any concerns.

Most pregnant individuals who have gestational hypertension will not experience any major problems, nor will their babies, and it usually goes away soon after birth. However, gestational hypertension in combination with protein in the urine, headache, swelling of the face and hands, abdominal pain and/or visual disturbances can be a sign of a more serious condition, called preeclampsia. If you are more than 20 weeks gestation and experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your pregnancy care provider.

• The MotHERS Program - Preeclampsia: signs, treatment, risk factors and FAQs
• Association of Ontario Midwives - What are hypertensive disorders of pregnancy? (Also available in Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, and Simplified Chinese) 
• Hypertension Canada
• Pregnancy Info - Gestational hypertension
• Preeclampsia Foundation Canada - Preeclampsia website
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
• CBS News - Aspirin may prevent preeclampsia in pregnant women