Anyone who goes for a physical exam at their healthcare provider’s office is likely familiar with blood pressure readings. Along with height and weight measurements, you usually have your blood pressure taken with a cuff called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure readings are necessary for determining high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. While hypertension is a common condition affecting the body’s arteries, where the heart has to work harder to pump blood, it does increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems if left untreated.
One person who is intimately connected with hypertension is Rescripted’s own co-founder and CEO, Abby Mercado. Not only was she diagnosed with high blood pressure during her first pregnancy with twins, but she also experienced postpartum hypertension. Mercado’s experience forced her to take charge of her heart health, primarily because high blood pressure during pregnancy and the postpartum period puts people at risk for preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition that can cause severe complications for both the mother and baby, including eclampsia, a type of seizure. Both preeclampsia and eclampsia can occur during pregnancy and afterward, which is why blood pressure monitoring is vital.
Managing high blood pressure after pregnancy
Mercado remembers that “even immediately postpartum, my blood pressure was pretty high.” Since then, she says, “I have become very conscious of my heart health,” citing a newfound awareness of women diagnosed with preeclampsia now being at “higher risk of heart issues later on in life.”
This “scary” data, says Mercado, “whipped me into gear.” And “since becoming a mom, I've been just very focused on making sure I'm eating a heart-healthy diet.” Mercado now focuses on a high-protein, high-fiber diet that’s low in carbs and sugars. “Although I'm pretty bad at not eating sugar; I'm kind of addicted to sugar,” she admits. Mercado is also now more mindful of regular exercise, which includes lifting weights.
While Mercado wasn’t prescribed medication to manage her postpartum high blood pressure, she did take baby aspirin “throughout the entirety of my [second] pregnancy, just as a precaution.” (Always speak to your healthcare provider before beginning an aspirin regimen.) Fortunately, Mercado didn’t develop preeclampsia during (or after) her second pregnancy.
In even better news, about one year after giving birth to her third child, Mercado says she no longer has high blood pressure. Though “when I am really stressed out, my blood pressure spikes,” she admits. “As a general lifestyle rule, I’m working with my care team to make sure I'm doing all the things to reduce my stress.” For Mercado, meditation, exercise, and lots of sleep are great de-stressors.
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Postpartum hypertension vs. postpartum preeclampsia
Even though postpartum hypertension is slightly less common than hypertension during pregnancy, it’s important to be mindful of your blood pressure after giving birth: That’s because high blood pressure can present without symptoms.
Here are some basic guidelines for monitoring your blood pressure:
- Normal: A reading of 120/80 mmHg (systolic pressure/diastolic pressure) signifies a normal, healthy blood pressure. The systolic number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, while the diastolic number measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
- High: Blood pressure readings may hover around 140/90 mmHg during pregnancy and the first few weeks postpartum. While this is considered high, it’s critical that you and your healthcare provider closely monitor these readings so they don’t go above 140/90. A reading higher than 140/90 may be a sign of postpartum preeclampsia
- Emergency: A blood pressure reading of 160/110 mmHg is considered a medical emergency
Maintaining open lines of communication with your healthcare provider after giving birth is imperative if you are at risk of postpartum hypertension, as it could lead to postpartum preeclampsia.
Postpartum preeclampsia, while rare, is a serious condition that, if not immediately treated, could lead to strokes, seizures, and other complications. The condition, characterized by high blood pressure and high levels of protein in your urine, commonly occurs within 48 hours of delivery, but it can present itself up to six weeks postpartum, which is why blood pressure monitoring is critical during this time.
If you’ve recently given birth and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, seek medical care right away:
- High blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher).
- Severe headache
- Blurred vision or light sensitivity
- Swelling of your face, hands, feet, or limbs
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain near your ribs
- Decreased urination
- Rapid weight gain
- Shortness of breath
Why we need to talk about postpartum care
Monitoring your blood pressure at home can be challenging, so it’s vital that you discuss all potential blood pressure risks with your healthcare provider both during pregnancy and immediately postpartum. If necessary, your doctor may recommend purchasing an at-home sphygmomanometer. This kind of extra monitoring, along with the potential for postpartum hypertension, also warrants another discussion about the need for additional postpartum care.
“My biggest piece of advice for postpartum moms is that you need so much more than that six-week postpartum appointment,” says Mercado. “You really need to go to your primary care physician (PCP) and make sure everything checks out.” Mercado is passionate about the need for more postpartum care because she learned from her PCP that she had high cholesterol when she was two months postpartum. “That was totally shocking to me,” she says. “That was another thing that kind of whipped my butt into shape, and so I wish that more readers knew that it's not just your OB/GYN that you need to see postpartum. Go see all your doctors, and in particular, your PCP.”
Sarene Leeds holds an M.S. in Professional Writing from NYU, and is a seasoned journalist, having written and reported on subjects ranging from TV and pop culture to health, wellness, and parenting over the course of her career. Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, Vulture, SheKnows, and numerous other outlets. A staunch mental health advocate, Sarene also hosts the podcast “Emotional Abuse Is Real.” Subscribe to her Substack, the Critical Communicator, and follow her on Instagram, BlueSky, or Threads.