What is Pregnancy - induced hypertension?

Tolu sat in the small, stuffy waiting area of the local clinic, shifting uncomfortably on the plastic chair. She was seven months pregnant with her second child and had been feeling strange for the past few weeks - persistent headaches, dizziness, and swelling in her feet that wouldn’t go away. But like most women in her neighborhood, she had learned to push through discomfort.

"Pregnancy is never easy," her mother-in-law had told her. "Just rest and drink more water."

But today, something felt different. Her vision was blurred for a moment, and she had woken up with a pounding headache that painkillers couldn’t relieve. It was her neighbor, Mama Sade, who insisted she go to the clinic for proper check and healthcare.

When the nurse finally called her in, she smiled weakly and settled onto the examination table. The nurse wrapped a blood pressure cuff around her arm, pumped it up, and frowned as she read the numbers.

"Madam, your blood pressure is very high, 180 over 110. Have you been feeling unwell?"

Tolu hesitated. "Just headaches and swollen feet. It’s normal, right?

The nurse exchanged a look with the doctor, who had just stepped in.

"Tolu, you have pregnancy-induced hypertension. This is dangerous for you and your baby. If we don’t control it, it could lead to eclampsia ,i.e seizures, or even worse-death."

Tolu's heart pounded. She had heard of women who lost their babies due to complications, but she never imagined she could be at risk.

"What do I do?" she asked, voice shaking.

The doctor explained that she needed immediate admission, medications, and some investigations, and she needed to come in regularly for checkups.

If the blood pressure didn’t improve, she might need an early delivery to save both her life and the baby’s.

"I didn’t know high blood pressure could affect pregnancy", she whispered.

"Many women don’t," the doctor said gently. "But catching it early can save lives."

That night, Tolu told her husband everything. He had never been involved in her antenatal visits, but now he held her hand tightly and promised to support her every step of the way.

With medication, and proper medical care, Tolu’s blood pressure was managed. At 37 weeks, she delivered a healthy baby. As she held her daughter in her arms, she realized how close she had come to losing everything—and how antenatal care had saved their lives.

Key Takeaways:

✔️ Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is dangerous but manageable with early detection.

✔️ Symptoms include persistent headaches, blurry vision, swelling, and high blood pressure.

✔️ Regular antenatal checkups are essential—ignoring symptoms can lead to serious complications like preeclampsia or eclampsia, abruptio placenta, fetal demise

✔️ Support from family and proper medical guidance can make all the difference.

✅ Stop self-diagnosing at 2 AM—nothing good comes from it.

We’ve all been there. You wake up with a slight headache, and before you even take a sip of water, you’re on Google typing “Why does my head hurt?”. Two clicks later, you’re convinced it’s either dehydration… or something that requires urgent medical attention .

The internet is an amazing tool, but it’s also a compendium of misinformation .

Please note that:

1️⃣Symptoms Are Not Diagnoses.

2️⃣ Your Body is Unique, so is your healthcare—which is why personalized medical advice counts.

3️⃣ Faith and Wisdom Go Hand-in-Hand

Hosea 4:6 says "My people perish for lack of knowledge". While faith is key, wisdom tells us to consult professionals.