A guide to investigating hypertension in pregnancy

Hypertension can affect between 3% and 10% of all pregnancies. Hypertension in pregnancy is defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure above or equal to 90 mmHg. Gestational hypertension is defined as onset of hypertension in pregnancy after 20 weeks gestation in a woman with no previous history of renal disease or hypertension. Pre-eclampsia is defined as gestational hypertension associated with renal, hepatic, neurological or coagulopathic complications, or fetal growth restriction. Women with chronic hypertension should be monitored for the development of superimposed pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia by definition, resolves by three months postpartum.