If you’re experiencing hypertension (high blood pressure) after having a baby, you’re not alone.
Up to 10% of new mothers are diagnosed with hypertension in the year after childbirth. About 2% experience more severe cases, such as postpartum preeclampsia, a serious medical condition that can cause seizures, stroke, or even death.
A hypertension diagnosis can feel overwhelming at first. But lifestyle changes can help keep your blood pressure at a normal level and keep you stronger and healthier. Here’s what you need to know about managing postpartum hypertension.
What is Postpartum Hypertension?
Hypertension is a condition that happens when your blood is pushing against your heart’s artery walls with too much force. This force causes your heart to overwork, which can lead to serious complications, such as a heart attack or stroke.
Hypertension typically doesn’t cause symptoms, meaning it can cause life-threatening health problems or death without warning.
About 1 in 10 people have high blood pressure during pregnancy. Others receive a high blood pressure diagnosis after childbirth, most within the first week after birth. The condition usually resolves itself within six weeks.
But for some, high blood pressure continues during the first year of their baby’s life. It can have serious health risks if not managed properly.
Luckily, there are ways to manage postpartum hypertension through treatment and lifestyle changes.
Blood Pressure Medications for Postpartum Hypertension
Your doctor may prescribe you a blood pressure medication to manage postpartum hypertension. These medications require time, patience, and care, and you should take them only as directed.
People respond differently to medications. It may take longer than anticipated to find the correct prescription and dosage for you. If you’re feeling unwell from your medication, talk with your medical provider before quitting.
Blood pressure medication works by slowing the heart rate, narrowing arteries, or relaxing blood vessels. This allows blood vessels to widen and blood to flow better.
There are many different blood pressure medicines available. The most common for postpartum hypertension include:
- Enalapril (Vasotec®).
- Labetalol (Trandate®).
- Nifedipine LA (Adalat CC®, Procardia XL®).
Many of these medication options are lifelong prescriptions to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. Talk with your health care provider right away if you think you may be pregnant again, or if you plan to become pregnant again soon. Some of these medications can cause complications to both the mother and fetus if taken when pregnant.
Monitoring Blood Pressure from Home
If you have postpartum hypertension, your provider may ask you to track your blood pressure at home. UPMC offers a remote home blood pressure monitoring service through our UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program.
Tracking your blood pressure can allow you to catch issues early, significantly increasing the likelihood of getting fast, adequate care. To get accurate blood pressure readings from home, remember to:
- Choose the same two times each day to measure your blood pressure.
- Go to the bathroom beforehand and sit quietly for three to five minutes before taking a reading.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor and uncross your legs.
- Place the cuff on your upper arm, above the elbow, and prop your arm so it is level with your heart.
- Sit upright in a chair with your back supported, avoiding a reclined position.
- Write down your numbers in a journal or log them on your phone.
Know when to get help:
- Call your health care provider if your numbers are between 140 to 159/90 to 109 milligrams of mercury (mmHg).
- Seek immediate emergency care if your numbers are 160/110 mmHg or higher, or if you’re having hypertension symptoms.
Don’t Skip Postpartum Appointments
Life can become chaotic after the birth of a new baby. Your health can fall to the bottom of the priority list after giving birth.
But it’s important to attend your follow-up appointments with your gynecologist or primary care provider. They’ll take your blood pressure reading during consultations. They can also discuss any symptoms, questions, or concerns you might have.
It can be easy to forget to attend or prioritize these appointments with so many other tasks needing your attention. But you shouldn’t forget about your own health. Talk with a family member or friend who might be able to watch your child or come with you to appointments if you need extra support.
Intentional Eating for Postpartum Hypertension
Your diet can have a direct effect on your blood pressure. It’s important to choose foods with your heart health in mind during every meal, especially after birth.
Experts and researchers created the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet as a heart-healthy nutrition guide. The eating plan doesn’t require specific recipes or ban certain foods. By design, anyone can adopt it and see their blood pressure drop within weeks.
A heart-healthy diet also reduces your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health complications.
According to DASH diet, you should include these foods in your diet to lower blood pressure and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol:
- Beans.
- Fat-free or low-fat dairy options.
- Fish.
- Nuts and seeds.
- Poultry.
- Vegetable oils.
- Whole grains.
The foods and drinks to limit the most in the DASH eating plan include:
- Alcohol.
- Caffeine.
- Fatty meats.
- Full-fat dairy.
- Processed foods.
- Sodium intake.
- Sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Sugar intake.
When balancing your plate, consider choosing foods:
- Low in saturated and trans fats.
- Lower in sodium.
- Rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and protein.
Lowering sodium intake can significantly drop blood pressure in a short time.
Eating healthy with a limited budget and options
Fresh, high-quality foods aren’t easily accessible or affordable in many parts of the country. If you live in an area with less access to quality produce, consider these tips:
- Buy in bulk — Some grocery stores have bulk-buying options that are less expensive than buying individual cans of beans and bags of grains.
- Choose canned, dried, or frozen fruits and vegetables — These variations store easily and for longer periods but are just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts.
- When choosing canned goods, look for low-sodium or no-sodium options — Sodium intake can drastically affect your blood pressure. It’s extra important that you pay attention to labels so that you don’t accidentally eat too much sodium.
- When choosing dried or canned fruits, look for versions that are in light syrup or no syrup and don’t have added sugars — Many dried fruits have a sugar coating. This can turn a healthy snack into an overindulgent dessert.
Heart-Healthy Meals to Lower Blood Pressure
Filling your plate with heart-healthy options can be easy and still taste delicious! Try one of these simple meals for your next dinner, seasoning as you wish (with room for dessert in moderation):
- Grilled chicken, Spanish rice, green peas, and cantaloupe.
- Grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, and brown rice.
- Whole grain pasta, spinach, white beans, tomato sauce, and parmesan cheese.
For more recipe ideas and heart-healthy tips, visit the DASH Eating Plan Resource Page.
Exercise to Treat Postpartum Hypertension
It’s no secret that regular exercise is critical for healthy living. But it’s even more crucial if you suffer from postpartum hypertension.
Returning to your normal activities may take several weeks after birth. But making a fitness plan is important for your heart’s health.
The guidelines for staying healthy with physical activity are:
- At least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.
or
- At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week.
or
- A combination of the two, spread throughout the week.
First, talk with your doctor about your recovery before you return to physical activity. Start gradually before building resistance, time, or speed.
If you don’t have childcare support, it can feel difficult to get back into a fitness routine. Start by walking around your neighborhood, which you can do with your baby in a stroller.
As your baby grows and you recover and establish a routine, you can add a fitness class, run, or team sport you did before.
Remember — taking time for your physical health is very important, even as a new parent. Finding creative ways to move your body can help lower your blood pressure, reduce stress, and help control weight. Plus, if you can get outside, the fresh air and nature can improve your mood.
A great way to stay social and active is by inviting a friend, family member, or neighbor to join you on a walk. If no one is around, call a friend or listen to an audiobook or music. It can help the activity fly by without you even noticing.
As you become more active after pregnancy, talk with your doctor about your blood pressure and how to measure it during exercise. This can help you stay aware of your hypertension.
Living with Postpartum Hypertension
It is not easy to care for a new baby while also managing your own postpartum health condition. Postpartum hypertension can feel like an unmanageable situation at first. But there are many lifestyle changes you can pursue to live a healthy life with your family.
Some other important lifestyle changes worth looking into include:
- Get adequate sleep — This may sound ridiculous when you’re a sleep-deprived new parent. However, working toward a healthy sleep routine is important for overall stress and well-being, which can directly affect high blood pressure.
- Limit alcohol — Drinking can raise your blood pressure. Your doctor may ask you to completely stop using it or significantly reduce your usage. If you do drink, try not to drink more than one alcoholic beverage a day. If you don’t drink, don’t start.
- Manage stress — Stress can increase the likelihood of other high blood pressure risk factors, such as smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, and eating a poor diet. Stress-reducing activities, such as meditation, socialization with a trusted friend, yoga, and pursuing activities you enjoy, can all help manage stress.
- Quit smoking — Smoking cigarettes is a risk factor for high blood pressure. Quitting can improve your health in many ways. The earlier you quit, the better off you will be.
Making these lifestyle changes isn’t just good for your blood pressure — they’re also good for your health and the health of your family! When making these changes, focus on the positive impact they’ll have on everyone, not just you. Modeling healthy habits means your children are more likely to adopt them, too.
How Does UPMC Support People with Postpartum Hypertension?
The experts at UPMC Magee-Womens and the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute collaborate to care for people who develop hypertension during pregnancy or in the postpartum period.
Our program offers remote blood pressure monitoring for people with pregnancy-related hypertension who deliver at several hospitals. We also provide ongoing care and support.
UPMC is also a national research leader in postpartum hypertension.
For more information about our services, visit our website.