Monitoring Your Blood Pressure

Monitoring your blood pressure is an important part of perinatal care.

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) during and after pregnancy can pose various risks for you and your baby. High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms, which is why it is important to attend all of your pre- and postnatal care visits. If it is determined that you are at risk, talk to your health care provider about the best ways to manage your blood pressure.

Video: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home

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Reducing the Risk of Complications

Taking good care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby. Here are a few tips:

  • Keep your prenatal appointments.
  • Take your blood pressure medications as prescribed.
  • Monitor your blood pressure daily, following your doctor's instructions.
  • Don't suffer in silence. If you don't feel right, let your doctor know immediately. 
  • Eat a healthy diet. Speak with one of our nutritionists to create a diet that's right for you.
  • Know what to avoid. Avoid smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Talk to your health-care provider before taking over-the-counter medications. 

Have questions and need assistance?  Please contact Maureen Dempsey at 225-924-8511.

High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy

Roughly 12-22% of women have some kind of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Gestational Hypertension

Women with gestational hypertension have high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. There is no excess protein in the urine or other signs of organ damage. Some women with gestational hypertension eventually develop preeclampsia.

Chronic Hypertension

Chronic hypertension is high blood pressure that was present before pregnancy or that occurs before 20 weeks of pregnancy. But because high blood pressure usually doesn’t have symptoms, it might be hard to determine when it began.

Chronic Hypertension with Superimposed Preeclampsia

This condition occurs in women with chronic hypertension before pregnancy who develop worsening high blood pressure and protein in the urine or other blood pressure related complications during pregnancy. 

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia occurs when hypertension develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy and is associated with signs of damage to other organ systems, including the kidneys, liver, blood or brain. Untreated preeclampsia can lead to serious – even fatal –complications for mother and baby, including development of seizures (eclampsia). Symptoms of preeclampsia include severe headaches, seeing spots and/or blurry vision, pain in the top right side of the  abdomen, and swelling in the hands or face.  Report these symptoms to your doctor immediately.

What is Preeclampsia [PDF] »

High Blood Pressure after Pregnancy

Lingering hypertension is common among women who have severe preeclampsia during their pregnancies. Some women are diagnosed with preeclampsia after giving birth. Most cases of postpartum preeclampsia develop within 48 hours of childbirth. However, postpartum preeclampsia sometimes develops up to six weeks after childbirth. Symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia should be reported to your doctor immediately. These symptoms are the same as the symptoms for preeclampsia that occurs during pregnancy and are listed above.