Published: April 24, 2023 | Updated: October 19, 2026
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Knowing your blood pressure during pregnancy can help you and your healthcare team identify potential issues early. Normal blood pressure is generally below 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is considered high blood pressure during pregnancy and should be evaluated by your healthcare provider.
Blood pressure typically decreases during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and then begins to rise again during the third trimester. Even if you have never had high blood pressure, regular blood pressure measurements are an important part of prenatal care.
“High blood pressure during pregnancy is often silent, so you may not know your blood pressure is elevated unless it is measured,” said Jamil T. ElFarra, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist with Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine. “That is why regular monitoring and communication with your healthcare team are so important.”
A healthy blood pressure for adults, including pregnant women, is generally below 120/80 mm Hg.
A blood pressure reading has two numbers:
Blood pressure can change throughout your pregnancy as you get closer to your due date.
A single blood pressure reading does not necessarily mean you have a blood pressure disorder. Your OB/GYN, midwife or other healthcare provider will consider your blood pressure readings over time, along with your health history, symptoms and other test results.
Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is considered high blood pressure during pregnancy.
High blood pressure can occur in a pregnant woman who had high blood pressure before pregnancy or develop for the first time during pregnancy.
High blood pressure disorders during pregnancy include:
These conditions require different types of monitoring and treatment, depending on your individual circumstances.
Blood pressure normally decreases during the first and second trimesters, so some pregnant women may have lower blood pressure readings than they had before pregnancy.
Low blood pressure is not necessarily an issue when you feel well and your healthcare provider is not concerned about your blood pressure readings. However, very low blood pressure can cause symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have repeated low blood pressure readings or symptoms that concern you.
High blood pressure can affect both the pregnant woman and the baby.
For the baby, high blood pressure can affect the placenta and reduce the blood flow needed to support growth. This can contribute to fetal growth issues or other complications. In some cases, complications related to high blood pressure require early delivery, increasing the risk of preterm birth.
For the mother, severe high blood pressure can damage organs, including the kidneys, liver and heart. Very high blood pressure also increases the risk of serious complications, such as stroke.
High blood pressure also can lead to or be associated with preeclampsia, which can cause serious complications for both mother and baby.
“It can affect the baby’s growth, and the mother’s blood pressure can become dangerously high,” Dr. ElFarra said. “The key is identifying the issue and controlling it.”
Chronic hypertension (high blood pressure) means you have high blood pressure before becoming pregnant or develop high blood pressure early in pregnancy.
If you have chronic high blood pressure, your healthcare team may want to evaluate your health before pregnancy or early in your pregnancy. This may include checking kidney function, heart health and other factors that can affect pregnancy.
If you take blood pressure medicine, tell your healthcare provider before becoming pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant. Some medications used to treat high blood pressure are not appropriate during pregnancy.
Your healthcare provider can determine whether you should continue your medication, change to a pregnancy-safe medication or make other adjustments.
“Sometimes a patient is already taking medicine before pregnancy, but that medication may not be safe during pregnancy,” Dr. ElFarra said. “One of the first things we look at is making sure the medication is safe while also keeping the mother’s blood pressure controlled.”
Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy, generally after 20 weeks, in someone who did not have chronic hypertension.
Your provider will monitor your blood pressure and may order blood tests, urine tests or other evaluations to determine whether there are signs of preeclampsia or other complications.
Gestational hypertension may remain stable, but it also can become more serious. That’s why regular prenatal visits and blood pressure readings are important.
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure and signs that organs are being affected.
Preeclampsia can affect the kidneys, liver, brain and other organs. It also can affect the placenta and the baby’s growth.
In severe cases, preeclampsia can progress to eclampsia, which causes seizures and requires emergency treatment.
Preeclampsia can develop during pregnancy or after delivery. Postpartum preeclampsia is one reason it is important to continue monitoring your blood pressure after your baby is born.
Not every case of pregnancy-related hypertension can be prevented. However, if you have risk factors for high blood pressure or preeclampsia, steps taken before and during pregnancy can help reduce your risk.
If you have chronic high blood pressure and are planning a pregnancy, talk with your OB/GYN before becoming pregnant.
Your healthcare provider may recommend:
“Patients who are planning a pregnancy should optimize their health beforehand,” Dr. ElFarra said. “That includes making sure their blood pressure is well controlled and that they are taking medications that are safe for pregnancy.”
Low-dose aspirin may be recommended for pregnant women who have certain risk factors for preeclampsia, including chronic hypertension.
For patients who are appropriate candidates, low-dose aspirin is commonly started around 12 weeks of pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will determine whether aspirin is appropriate for you and when you should begin taking it.
Do not start aspirin or any other medication during pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
Treatment depends on your blood pressure readings, when the high blood pressure developed, your health history and whether there are signs of complications.
Treatment may include:
The goal is to control blood pressure while protecting the health of both the mother and baby.
Your OB/GYN may manage your care throughout pregnancy, while a maternal-fetal medicine specialist may become involved when additional expertise or monitoring is needed.
High blood pressure itself often has no symptoms. That’s why routine blood pressure tests are so important during pregnancy.
However, certain symptoms can be warning signs of severe high blood pressure or preeclampsia. Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
“These symptoms are important to communicate to your doctor,” Dr. ElFarra said. “If you have an unusual headache, blurred vision, pain or you simply don’t feel well, make sure your healthcare team knows. Good communication between the patient and physician is extremely important.”
Yes. Blood pressure issues can continue or develop after pregnancy.
The weeks after delivery are particularly important for women who had chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. Blood pressure can remain elevated after delivery, and preeclampsia can develop for the first time after a baby is born.
That’s why postpartum blood pressure monitoring is important.
Norton Women’s Care patients with blood pressure concerns may receive a virtual follow-up soon after leaving the hospital, with an in-person visit when needed. The goal is to check blood pressure and identify potential issues soon after delivery.
“The care does not end at delivery,” Dr. ElFarra said. “The first several weeks after delivery are very important. An early follow-up gives us an opportunity to check the patient’s blood pressure and make sure she is doing well after going home.”
Talk with your OB/GYN or other healthcare provider if:
Your provider can determine whether additional blood pressure tests, blood tests, medication or monitoring are appropriate.
A normal blood pressure for pregnant women is generally below 120/80 mm Hg, although blood pressure naturally changes throughout pregnancy. Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is considered high and should be evaluated by your healthcare provider.
High blood pressure during pregnancy can affect the health of the mother and baby, but regular prenatal care allows your healthcare team to monitor blood pressure, identify complications and provide treatment when needed.
If you have chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension or other risk factors for pregnancy-related high blood pressure, your OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine team can work together to support a healthy pregnancy and monitor you after delivery.