四虎影视

Can hypertensive disorders affect an unborn baby, or threaten the life of a mother?

A team at 四虎影视鈥檚 (COPH) is shedding new light on the subject through an ongoing effort launched at the Florida Maternal Hypertension Summit in Orlando in 2024. 四虎影视鈥檚 (FPQC) partnered with the Florida Hospital Association and two dozen other organizations to address ways to counter the increasing rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

鈥淗igh blood pressure can develop during pregnancy or in the postpartum period,鈥欌�� said Dr. Estefania Rubio, associate director of health care data and informatics at FPQC. 鈥淚t affects two in every 10 pregnancies in Florida and rates are rising. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to life-threatening events for both mother and baby.鈥欌��

Hypertension during pregnancy can impair blood flow through the placenta, reducing the oxygen and nutrients available to the fetus. This can result in fetal growth restriction, low levels of amniotic fluid and preterm birth with low birth weight.

鈥淚n some cases, early delivery may be required to protect the mother鈥檚 health, which can also place the infant at risk,鈥欌�� Rubio said. 鈥淚n rare but severe circumstances, uncontrolled hypertension may lead to fetal death.鈥欌��

When high blood pressure during or after pregnancy reaches severe levels, it becomes a medical emergency requiring treatment within an hour to prevent serious harm. Yet in Florida, the team said, only about half of  people with severe hypertension receive treatment within that critical window. That delay can mean the difference between safe recovery and life-threatening complications.

Experts say it鈥檚 possible to prevent severe complications and mortality from HDP, but a successful approach requires widespread implementation of processes to identify and  monitor those who may be affected. Perinatal quality improvement can help hospitals ensure timely treatment and increase awareness of urgent maternal warning signs for women before hospital discharge.

鈥淭he challenge is that care isn鈥檛 always consistent,鈥欌�� Rubio added. 鈥淪ome people receive treatment quickly and effectively, while others experience delays in either identification of the problem or treatment and that variation places lives at risk. Our mission is to close those gaps.鈥欌��

Many factors contribute to the rise in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. According to They include:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Chronic hypertension prior to pregnancy
• Pre-existing medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases
• Advanced age (35 or older)
• Being pregnant for the first time
• Multiple gestation (twins or more)
• High cholesterol levels
• A personal or family history of high blood pressure during pregnancy

But not everyone has access to regular, high-quality care and other social and financial stresses can make healthy pregnancies a challenge.

One initiative to address and even reverse the problem of HDP is FPQC鈥檚 (PROMPT), which includes nearly 90 maternity hospitals around the state.

鈥淲e think the impact will be huge because about 90 percent of the births in Florida occur in those hospitals,鈥欌�� said Lori Reeves, executive director of FPQC, which monitors the health of mothers and babies. 鈥淲e have some incredibly talented hospital teams that are already improving rates of treatment and we鈥檙e only halfway through the initiative.鈥欌��

The goals of PROMPT are to begin treatment for severe hypertension within 60 minutes of the first high blood pressure measurement; to make sure that  those who experience severe hypertension receive the right education before going home; and to ensure scheduling a follow-up visit within a week of discharge from the hospital.

Mandi Gross joined PROMPT as its family lead in part because she suffered from a spike in blood pressure known as postpartum preeclampsia 鈥� one of the conditions the organization works to address. Her pain, fear and delayed diagnosis galvanized her to find answers 鈭� not only for herself, but others suffering from the same disorder.

鈥淢y hospitalization and story are the motivation behind my passion for supporting patients ,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 want to let patients know how to  help themselves while teaching patients and providers about both the existence of postpartum preeclampsia as well as the warning signs.鈥欌�� 

She added that many women with HDP don鈥檛 know they have it, which puts their lives at risk: 鈥淪ymptoms like headaches and blood pressure are too often explained away as 鈥榮he鈥檚 just stressed,鈥� so I want to tell  individuals and the people caring for them the importance of speaking up when something doesn鈥檛 feel right. If we give them the knowledge they need about HDP, then these symptoms are not as easy to dismiss.鈥欌��

Despite well-known risks, HDP remains poorly controlled and often underreported, contributing to worsening maternal outcomes across Florida. But many of these outcomes can be improved with the protocols set by PROMPT, Reeves said.

鈥淚 expect that we will see a pretty significant improvement in rapid treatment,鈥欌�� she added. 鈥淚鈥檓 optimistic that more  people are going home with a better understanding of their health condition and that they鈥檒l know what they should do if they experience symptoms at home. We hope that lives will be saved.鈥欌��