How to lower your blood pressure while pregnant

Body Mass Index (BMI): A number calculated from height and weight. BMI is used to determine whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

Table of Contents Show

What is high blood pressure
If you are already taking medicine for high blood pressure
Your pregnancy appointments
Things you can try yourself to reduce high blood pressure
Pre-eclampsia
Labour and birth
Check-ups after the birth
Breastfeeding
How can I lower my blood pressure immediately during pregnancy?
What foods lower blood pressure while pregnant?
Can drinking water lower blood pressure during pregnancy?
What is considered high blood pressure in pregnancy?

Cesarean Birth: Birth of a fetus from the uterus through an incision (cut) made in the woman’s abdomen.

Chronic Hypertension: Blood pressure that is higher than normal for a person’s age, sex, and physical condition.

Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen as a result of another disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurs as a result of the flu. A complication also can occur as a result of a condition, such as pregnancy. An example of a pregnancy complication is preterm labor.

Corticosteroids: Drugs given for arthritis or other medical conditions. These drugs also are given to help fetal lungs mature before birth.

Diabetes Mellitus: A condition in which the levels of sugar in the blood are too high.

Diastolic Blood Pressure: The force of the blood in the arteries when the heart is relaxed. It is the lower reading when blood pressure is taken.

Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization.

Gestational Hypertension: High blood pressure that is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

HELLP Syndrome: A severe type of preeclampsia. HELLP stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count.

High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure above the normal level. Also called hypertension.

Hypertension: High blood pressure.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A procedure in which an egg is removed from a woman’s ovary, fertilized in a laboratory with the man’s sperm, and then transferred to the woman’s uterus to achieve a pregnancy.

Kick Count: A record kept during late pregnancy of the number of times a fetus moves over a certain period.

Kidneys: Organs that filter the blood to remove waste that becomes urine.

Lupus: An autoimmune disorder that affects the connective tissues in the body. The disorder can cause arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, blood disorders, and complications during pregnancy. Also called systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE.

Nutrients: Nourishing substances found in food, such as vitamins and minerals.

Obstetrician–Gynecologist (Ob-Gyn): A doctor with special training and education in women’s health.

Oxygen: An element that we breathe in to sustain life.

Placenta: An organ that provides nutrients to and takes waste away from the fetus.

Placental Abruption: A condition in which the placenta has begun to separate from the uterus before the fetus is born.

Preeclampsia: A disorder that can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth in which there is high blood pressure and other signs of organ injury. These signs include an abnormal amount of protein in the urine, a low number of platelets, abnormal kidney or liver function, pain in the upper abdomen, fluid in the lungs, or a severe headache or changes in vision.

Prenatal Care: A program of care for a pregnant woman before the birth of her baby.

Preterm: Less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Stroke: A sudden interruption of blood flow to all or part of the brain, caused by blockage or bursting of a blood vessel in the brain. A stroke often results in loss of consciousness and temporary or permanent paralysis.

Systolic Blood Pressure: The force of the blood in the arteries when the heart is contracting. It is the higher reading when blood pressure is taken.

Trimester: A 3-month time in pregnancy. It can be first, second, or third.

Ultrasound Exams: Tests in which sound waves are used to examine inner parts of the body. During pregnancy, ultrasound can be used to check the fetus.

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, does not usually make you feel unwell, but it can sometimes be serious in pregnancy.

Your midwife will check your blood pressure at all your antenatal (pregnancy) appointments.

If you are pregnant and have a history of high blood pressure, you should be referred to a specialist in hypertension and pregnancy to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment.

If you develop high blood pressure for the first time in pregnancy, you will be assessed in a hospital by a healthcare professional, usually a midwife, who is trained in caring for raised blood pressure in pregnancy.

What is high blood pressure

There are 3 levels of hypertension:

mild – blood pressure between 140/90 and 149/99mmHg (millimetres of mercury); may be checked regularly but does not usually need treatment
moderate – blood pressure between 150/100 and 159/109mmHg
severe – blood pressure of 160/110mmHg or higher

If you are already taking medicine for high blood pressure

If you're already taking medicine to lower your blood pressure and want to try for a baby, talk to your GP or specialist first. They may want to switch you to a different medicine before you get pregnant.

If you find out you're already pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. They may need to change your medicine as soon as possible.

This is because some medicines that treat high blood pressure may not be safe to take when you're pregnant. They can reduce the blood flow to the placenta and your baby, or affect your baby in other ways.

Your pregnancy appointments

It's important that your antenatal team monitors you closely throughout your pregnancy to make sure your high blood pressure is not affecting the growth of your baby and to check for a condition called pre-eclampsia. Make sure you go to all your appointments.

Your doctor or midwife will measure your blood pressure and check for protein in your urine. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, you may be offered a PlGF (placental growth factor) test to rule out pre-eclampsia.

During the first half of pregnancy, a woman's blood pressure tends to fall. This means you may be able to come off your medicine for a while. But this should only be done under your doctor's supervision.

Things you can try yourself to reduce high blood pressure

Keeping active and doing some physical activity each day, such as walking or swimming, can help keep your blood pressure in the normal range. Eating a balanced diet and keeping your salt intake low can help to reduce blood pressure.

Find out about exercise in pregnancy, healthy eating in pregnancy, salt in the diet and tips for cutting down on salt.

There isn't enough evidence to show that dietary supplements – such as magnesium, folic acid or fish oils – are effective at preventing high blood pressure.

Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, typically after 20 weeks.

It is a problem with the placenta that usually causes your blood pressure to rise. If left untreated, pre-eclampsia can be dangerous for you and your baby.

Pre-eclampsia is more common if you had high blood pressure before becoming pregnant, if you had pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy, or if you have a family history of your mother or sister developing pre-eclampsia.

You can feel well if you have high blood pressure, so it is important to attend your regular check-ups to have your blood pressure and urine tested. Read more about pre-eclampsia and how pre-eclampsia is treated.

Labour and birth

If you're taking medicine throughout pregnancy to control your blood pressure, keep taking it during labour.

If you have mild or moderate hypertension, your blood pressure should be monitored hourly during labour. As long as your blood pressure remains within target levels, you should be able to have a natural vaginal birth.

If you have severe hypertension, your blood pressure will be monitored every 15 to 30 minutes in labour. Your doctors may also recommend your baby be delivered using forceps or ventouse, or by caesarean section.

After the birth, your blood pressure will be monitored.

If you had hypertension before you got pregnant, your treatment should be checked 2 weeks after your baby is born.

Check-ups after the birth

If you developed hypertension while you were pregnant and you're still taking medicine after the birth, you should be offered an appointment with a doctor 2 weeks after you transfer from hospital care to community midwives, or 2 weeks after the birth if you had a home birth.

This is to check whether your treatment needs to be changed or stopped.

Everyone with hypertension in pregnancy should also be offered an appointment with a GP or specialist 6 to 8 weeks after their baby is born.

This appointment is to check your blood pressure, and is separate from your 6-week postnatal check.

Breastfeeding

You should be able to breastfeed if you need to take hypertension medicine. Your treatment can be changed if needed, in agreement with your doctor.

Hypertension medicines can pass into breast milk. Most lead to very low levels in breast milk, and the amount taken in by babies is very small.

Most medicines are not tested during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Disclaimers or warnings in the manufacturer's information are not because of specific safety concerns or evidence of harm.

Find out about specific medicines and pregnancy at the website for Bumps (Best use of medicines in pregnancy).

How can I lower my blood pressure immediately during pregnancy?

Tips for Lowering Blood Pressure Naturally During Pregnancy.

Avoid Sodium. Overuse of salt can cause an increase in blood pressure levels. ... .

De-Stress. ... .

Exercise. ... .

Potassium. ... .

Music. ... .

Monitoring and Managing Weight. ... .

Apple Cider Vinegar. ... .

Magnesium..

What foods lower blood pressure while pregnant?

Potassium-rich foods should be a part of your hypertension management diet. Foods you should add include sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kidney beans, orange juice, bananas, peas, potatoes, dried fruits, melon and cantaloupe. Potassium is an important mineral during pregnancy.

Can drinking water lower blood pressure during pregnancy?

This extra demand on her kidneys produces a greater need for water. Drinking water is necessary for normal cholesterol levels and blood pressure. A mother's blood pressure usually returns to normal after the baby is born and the placenta is delivered.

What is considered high blood pressure in pregnancy?

What is gestational hypertension? You have gestational hypertension when: You have a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher and/or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. The high blood pressure first happens after 20 weeks of pregnancy.