You may think of high blood pressure as a problem you'll have to deal with when you are older, but it turns out, many pregnant women deal with it too. Hypertension affects up to 8 percent of expecting women and can lead to complications—from preeclampsia to low birth weight to higher risk of placenta abruption (placenta separating from the uterus before labor) to kidney problems. So if you were diagnosed with gestational hypertension or are at risk of developing it during pregnancy, you should find a way to keep your blood pressure under control; and since a lot of medications are big no-nos during pregnancy, the key to doing so is making a few lifestyle changes. Show
 $20 7 natural ways you can lower your blood pressure during pregnancy.1. Ditch the salt. Although your body requires sodium in small amounts, consuming too much sodium can lead to hypertension. So try to substitute salt for other spices, like cumin fresh herbs and lemon pepper. You can also rinse canned food to rid them of any extra sodium, and try your best to avoid processed foods and fast foods. If you buy processed foods, try to choose low-sodium options. 2. Eat a healthy more whole grains and potassium-rich foods. Go bananas on, well, bananas, but not just. Sweet potatoes, prunes, raisins, kidney beans, tomatoes and more are all high on potassium and can thus help you lower your blood pressure. Studies have shown that whole grains, which are rich in dietary fibers, can also help reduce hypertension. So fuel up on legumes, vegetables, protein and whole grains. For example, for breakfast you could have a mixed veggie omelet paired with whole grain toast and a side of fruit. 3. Destress. Whether you are pregnant or not, being stressed can actually cause your blood pressure to hike. So try eliminating the things that trigger anxiety, and do what you can to promote relaxation -- whether it's meditation, yoga or breathing techniques. All these can eventually help you manage labor pain, so it's good practice for the big day, too. 4. Get moving. Women who are sedentary are more likely to develop high blood pressure. So implementing a consistent physical routine that you can do throughout your pregnancy is very important. Not only will it relieve stress, increase blood circulation and lower blood pressure, but it will have a positive impact on your baby's health outcome going forward. So try to exercise 30 minutes every day. And if you don't usually work out, you can do things that are not too intensive, like walking or swimming. 5. No smoking or alcohol. This goes without saying, but avoiding smoking and alcohol during your pregnancy is essential for the safety and health of your baby. What's more, both alcohol and cigarette smoking can bring your blood pressure up. So if you are still smoking during pregnancy, talk to your doctor to implement a plan to quit. 6. Keep a close eye on your weight. You've heard the saying "eating for two" before, but you shouldn't take it literally. Being overweight is a risk factor for hypertension, so you want to make sure that your pregnancy weight gain stays within healthy limits. So focus on a healthy regimen and, of course, listen to your body. 7. Follow medication protocol. If you've been advised to take any medications, it's important to adhere to the schedule and take it as noted. Also, hypertension can be a side effect of some medication. So make sure to talk to your doctor to find out what is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, your doctor or nurse will likely check your blood pressure at every prenatal visit. Blood pressure is the force of your blood as it pushes against artery walls while your heart pumps. It can go up or down at certain times of the day, and it may change if you’re feeling excited or nervous. Your blood pressure reading reveals important information about the health of you and your baby. It can also be a way for your doctor to determine if you have another condition that needs to be checked out, like preeclampsia. Changes that happen in your body during pregnancy can affect your blood pressure. When carrying a baby, your circulatory system expands quickly, which may cause a drop in blood pressure. It’s common for your blood pressure to lower in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Other factors that can contribute to low blood pressure include:
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. There are 3 levels of hypertension: 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. 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. 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 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. 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 birthIf 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. 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). Talk to your midwife or doctor about breastfeeding if you're taking medicine. |
How to maintain blood pressure during pregnancy
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