The effects of chronic maternal hypotension during pregnancy.

The relationship between chronic maternal hypotension and obstetric outcome was examined retrospectively in a group of 134 pregnant women and compared with a normotensive control group. The hypotensive women had significantly increased risks of delivery before the 38th week of gestation, lower birth-weight of babies for gestational age, and postpartum complications. In addition, the rates of preterm delivery before 37 weeks' gestation, birth-weight less than 2,500 g and significant meconium-staining of the amniotic fluid were higher in the hypotensive group, although these results did not reach statistical significance. These data support the need for a prospective study of the effects of chronic hypotension during pregnancy.