Published: December 4, 2023 | Updated: November 3, 2026
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
If you’ve been told you have high blood pressure during pregnancy, you may have questions about what you can do to lower your blood pressure and protect your health and your baby’s health.
Having high blood pressure during pregnancy could potentially increase the risk of complications for both mother and baby. But high blood pressure does not mean you cannot have a healthy pregnancy. The key is identifying it early, monitoring your blood pressure levels and working with your healthcare team to manage it.
High blood pressure becomes more common with some of the health conditions and risk factors that may accompany pregnancy later in life. That makes knowing your blood pressure before pregnancy — and continuing to monitor it during pregnancy — especially important.
“High blood pressure during pregnancy is generally defined as a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher,” said Jamil T. ElFarra, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist with Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine. “Because high blood pressure often has no symptoms, the only way to know if your blood pressure is elevated is to have it checked.”
Blood pressure is recorded using two numbers:
High blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy in someone who previously had normal blood pressure is called gestational hypertension. High blood pressure that was present before pregnancy or develops before 20 weeks is generally considered chronic hypertension.
Severe hypertension is generally defined as a systolic blood pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic blood pressure of 110 mm Hg or higher. Severe hypertension requires prompt medical attention.
High blood pressure could impact the health of both you and your baby.
For the baby, high blood pressure could affect blood flow to the placenta and may contribute to issues with fetal growth, preterm birth or placental abruption, when the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery.
For the mother, severe or poorly controlled high blood pressure can increase the risk of serious complications, including stroke and issues affecting the kidneys and other organs.
High blood pressure also can increase the risk of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure and signs that other organs may be affected. In severe cases, preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a seizure disorder associated with pregnancy-related high blood pressure.
Dr. ElFarra notes that controlling blood pressure is an important part of reducing these potential complications.
Advanced maternal age of 35 or older is one factor associated with an increased risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure and preeclampsia. Other factors, including chronic hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, autoimmune conditions, obesity, a first pregnancy and a history of preeclampsia, also can affect risk.
Age alone does not determine how your pregnancy will progress. Your overall health, medical history and blood pressure are important parts of understanding your individual risk.
For those planning children after age 35, a preconception visit can be an opportunity to identify and address conditions that could affect a pregnancy. Dr. ElFarra recommends optimizing health before pregnancy, including making sure blood pressure is well controlled and reviewing medications to make sure they are appropriate for pregnancy.
If your blood pressure is elevated during pregnancy, there are several ways your healthcare team can help you manage it. Some steps you can take include:
Because high blood pressure often has no symptoms, regular blood pressure checks are important. Your provider will check your blood pressure during prenatal visits, and you may be asked to monitor your blood pressure at home.
Keep track of your blood pressure readings and share them with your pregnancy care team. Knowing your numbers can help your provider identify changes and determine whether additional monitoring or treatment is needed.
If you have chronic hypertension or take blood pressure medication before becoming pregnant, talk with your provider as early as possible.
Some medications used to treat high blood pressure outside of pregnancy are not appropriate during pregnancy. Your provider can review your medications and determine whether you should continue, change or adjust treatment.
“The first thing that we look at is making sure that you’re on a medicine that is absolutely safe,” Dr. ElFarra said.
Do not stop taking a blood pressure medication on your own. Talk with your provider about the safest approach.
For some pregnant individuals who have an increased risk of preeclampsia, a provider may recommend low-dose aspirin. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommend low-dose aspirin for people at high risk of preeclampsia and consider it appropriate for some people with more than one moderate risk factor. It is generally started between 12 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, ideally before 16 weeks, when recommended by a healthcare professional.
Dr. ElFarra specifically emphasizes the importance of aspirin for people with chronic hypertension, with treatment commonly beginning around 12 weeks.
Do not start aspirin during pregnancy unless your healthcare provider recommends it. Your provider can consider your individual risk factors and determine whether it is appropriate for you.
Eating a variety of nutritious foods can support a healthy pregnancy. Include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish and other sources of important nutrients.
If you have high blood pressure, talk with your provider about your sodium intake and whether you need specific nutrition recommendations. Avoid excessive sodium and highly processed foods.
Physical activity can be part of a healthy pregnancy for many people. Ask your pregnancy care provider what types and amounts of exercise are appropriate for you, particularly if you have high blood pressure or other complications.
Regular prenatal care gives your provider opportunities to monitor your blood pressure levels, check your health and monitor your baby’s growth and well-being.
Depending on your medical history and blood pressure, your provider may recommend additional blood tests, ultrasounds or other monitoring. If needed, your OB/GYN may involve a maternal-fetal medicine specialist to provide additional expertise for a high-risk pregnancy.
High blood pressure can be silent, but certain symptoms can signal that your blood pressure is not well controlled or that you may be developing preeclampsia.
Contact your pregnancy care provider promptly if you experience:
These symptoms can have other causes, but they should not be ignored during pregnancy.
Dr. ElFarra emphasizes communication between patients and their healthcare providers.
“If you have a concern or something doesn’t feel right, make sure your doctor knows about it,” he said.
It is important to continue monitoring your blood pressure after delivery. Postpartum preeclampsia can develop after a baby is born, even in someone who did not have high blood pressure during pregnancy. Blood pressure also can rise during the weeks after childbirth.
Dr. ElFarra emphasizes that the weeks after delivery are an important part of blood pressure care. At Norton Healthcare, patients may receive a virtual visit soon after discharge, with an in-person visit when needed, to check on recovery and blood pressure.
If you have chronic hypertension, continue following your provider’s instructions for monitoring your blood pressure and taking medication after delivery. Your medication may need to be adjusted, particularly if you plan to breastfeed.
Having high blood pressure does not mean you have to navigate pregnancy alone. Whether you are planning pregnancy, are already pregnant or are managing chronic hypertension, your OB/GYN can help you understand your individual risks and develop a plan for monitoring and treatment.
If your pregnancy requires additional expertise, Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists work with your OB/GYN to provide specialized care for high-risk pregnancies, including pregnancies affected by high blood pressure and other medical conditions.
The goal is not simply to lower a number on a blood pressure monitor. It is to help you stay healthy, monitor your baby’s well-being and recognize and address potential complications as early as possible.