What is the primary reason for checking blood pressure at each antenatal visit?

Checking blood pressure at each antenatal visit is primarily important for monitoring and detecting hypertension or preeclampsia. These conditions can pose serious risks to both the mother and the developing fetus during pregnancy. Regular blood pressure assessments allow healthcare providers to identify any significant changes or elevations in blood pressure that could indicate the development of these complications.

Hypertension and preeclampsia can lead to adverse outcomes such as placental abruption, fetal growth restriction, and even maternal morbidity. Early detection through routine blood pressure checks enables timely intervention, proper management, and monitoring to mitigate these risks, ensuring the best possible care for both the mother and the baby throughout the pregnancy.

While other factors like the mother's weight and the baby's heart rate are important in overall prenatal care, they do not play the same critical role in identifying these specific pregnancy complications as blood pressure monitoring does. Thus, the emphasis on checking blood pressure consistently aligns with the need for vigilance in managing potential hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.