Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women with previously normal blood pressure. It can lead to serious issues for both mother and baby if not managed well.
This condition often ties into preeclampsia, a more severe form where high blood pressure harms organs and reduces blood flow. Poor blood flow to the placenta means the baby gets less oxygen and nutrients. Over time, this lack of supply raises the risk of problems like stunting, fetal death, or cerebral palsy.[5]
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle tone, often due to brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth. Brain injury from low oxygen, known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, is a key cause. Gestational hypertension contributes by disrupting normal placental function and blood vessel changes in the uterus.[1]
In preeclampsia linked to gestational hypertension, the placenta does not invade uterine arteries properly. This keeps vessels thick and limits blood flow, causing hypertension and poor organ perfusion, including the brain. Inflammation and endothelial damage worsen this, leading to potential brain swelling or impaired blood flow regulation in the mother, which indirectly affects the fetus.[1]
Studies show that hypertensive disorders in pregnancy impact the blood-brain barrier and cerebral blood flow. Increased inflammation and poor autoregulation can harm fetal brain development. Magnesium sulfate treatment in severe cases cuts the risk of cerebral palsy and related death in babies.[1]
Maternal health issues like pre-existing cardiovascular problems, which overlap with gestational hypertension risks, also link to higher chances of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. These include pathways of placental insufficiency and inflammation that program the fetal brain poorly.[2]
Perinatal factors from hypertension, such as low birth weight or oxygen deprivation, strongly correlate with cerebral palsy severity. Babies born to mothers with these conditions often face higher odds of brain-related complications.[3]
Early monitoring and treatment of gestational hypertension are key. Doctors watch blood pressure closely and may use medications to prevent progression to preeclampsia. Lifestyle steps like a healthy diet and rest help too.
Sources:
https://www.medlink.com/articles/seizures-associated-with-eclampsia
https://academic.oup.com/hropen/article/2025/4/hoaf074/8342467
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12748543/
https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jcv2.70080
https://www.hiro-clinic.or.jp/nipt/preeclampsia/?lang=en
https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/news/maternal-obesity-neurodevelopmental-disorders/
