What are the risks of having high blood pressure during pregnancy?

High blood pressure during pregnancy is a common problem. It may be due to either preeclampsia (toxemia), which is a disorder of late pregnancy characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine, or it may be due to hypertension that was present prior to pregnancy (chronic hypertension). Both conditions are associated with risks of premature delivery, low birth weight babies, and occasionally bleeding. Blood pressure should be monitored closely during pregnancy, particularly if a woman has a history of high blood pressure.