Doctors urge regular checks as pregnancy hypertension threatens mothers and babies

Pregnancy-induced hypertension can endanger both mothers and babies if it is not detected and managed promptly, according to Lewis Aituma, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The condition refers to high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy, usually after the first half. It can progress to more serious disorders, including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

A 2024 multi-centre Nigerian study involving 71,758 women at 54 referral-level facilities found that 6.4% had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Gestational hypertension accounted for 49.8% of the cases, while pre-eclampsia and eclampsia accounted for 9.5% and 7% respectively. Aituma identified previous pregnancy-induced hypertension, first pregnancy, advanced maternal age, diabetes, kidney disease, a long interval between pregnancies, family history, multiple pregnancy and obesity as risk factors.

The study also associated increased odds with being older than 35, previous caesarean section and miscarriage. He advised pregnant women to have their blood pressure checked routinely and to report persistent headaches, blurred vision, abnormal heartbeat, chest pain or rapidly increasing swelling of the legs. However, he noted that some women may have no obvious symptoms, making regular antenatal appointments important.

Untreated disease can cause seizures, stroke and kidney failure in mothers, and premature birth, poor fetal growth, fetal death or placental separation in babies. The study found that 11.9% of affected pregnancies ended in stillbirth and 3.7% of women with the disorders died. Treatment depends on severity and the stage of pregnancy, with severe cases requiring blood-pressure control, seizure prevention and delivery when necessary.