If a woman is pregnant and has a blood pressure of 140 systolic/90 diastolic or higher, she should see a specialist, as untreated high blood pressure can risk her health as well as the unborn baby’s.

Published: April 25, 2023 | Updated: April 5, 2024

If you’re pregnant and have a blood pressure of 140 systolic/90 diastolic or higher, you should see a specialist, as untreated high blood pressure can risk your health as well as the unborn baby’s.

A healthy blood pressure for women and men is below 120/80.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends women who are pregnant have their blood pressure checked at their prenatal visits, even if you don’t have a history of high blood pressure

“It’s very important to have a specialist treating you so you receive a medication that improves your blood pressure without interfering with the baby’s development,” said Li Zhou, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Women’s Heart Program.

Checking for high blood pressure during every prenatal visit allows health care providers to intervene early to help prevent a bad outcome, according to Dr. Zhou.

Very high blood pressure can cause heart failure, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. It also can put the baby’s life in danger.

High blood pressure also can cause preeclampsia, which stresses the heart and other organs and can lead to serious complications, such as impaired liver and kidney function and seizure. Preeclampsia also can affect the blood supply to the placenta or cause fluid to build up in your lungs.

If there are signs of organ damage in the mother, she may need to deliver the baby early, which can result in a preterm birth and a low birth weight, according to Dr. Zhou. Dr. Zhou and her colleagues at the Women’s Heart Program work closely with the complex pregnancy specialists, including those at Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine, part of Norton Women’s Care, through your pregnancy, labor and delivery.

READ MORE: When to worry about breathing issues during pregnancy — what to watch for and what it might mean

Blood pressure typically drops for the first two trimesters of pregnancy and then increases in the third trimester. For women who have high blood pressure before they become pregnant, they should discuss having their medications adjusted during pregnancy.

Women who have had a heart attack, were born with a heart defect or have another heart condition should see a doctor at the Women’s Heart Program before they become pregnant.

Disorders related to high blood pressure are rising in the United States. Moderate risks include being pregnant more than 10 years apart, being 35 or older, having a body mass index (BMI) over 30, family history of preeclampsia, and in vitro fertilization prior to pregnancy.

High risks are having preeclampsia in a prior pregnancy, being pregnant with more than one baby, or having diabetes, kidney disease, chronic high blood pressure or autoimmune diseases such as lupus. In addition, people who are Black, American Indian or Alaska Native are much more likely to have a disorder related to high blood pressure in pregnancy and to die from it.