Abstract

About 25% of women have a raised blood pressure at some time during pregnancy.^{1 2} Such hypertension is known to be associated with an increased maternal and perinatal mortality. The patient should be admitted to hospital if the diastolic pressure consistently exceeds 110 mm Hg, or she has proteinuria, or symptoms of pre-eclampsia such as headache, visual disturbance and vomiting. But for pregnant women with milder hypertension the value of hospitalisation or rest in bed is unproven.