This is for anyone who experienced chronic (long-term) high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Blood pressure medicines and your baby  

If you have been prescribed medicines to lower your blood pressure, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. They will discuss what is safe for you and your baby. The Breastfeeding Network offers guidance on taking medicines and breastfeeding.

Speak to your GP or maternity team if you need further information.

Risks of long-term high blood pressure

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as your brain, kidneys and eyes.

Compared to someone who does not have long-term high blood pressure, you are:

  • 1.7 times more likely to develop a serious heart problem such as stroke, heart attack or even death.
  • As you age, you are 1.8 times more likely to have a stroke in later life.

Controlling your high blood pressure

Lowering your blood pressure, even a small amount, can help reduce these risks.

Try to maintain a healthy body weight and avoid smoking.

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Speak to your GP for further guidance on how you can reduce your future health risks. See links under More information, below.

Future pregnancies

As well as reducing your long-term health risks, reducing your high blood pressure is important for your safety in future pregnancies.

The following risks apply to women who have long-term high blood pressure.

  • 1 in 7 (11-15%) will develop pre-eclampsia in a future pregnancy.  (Pre-eclampsia is persistent high blood pressure and organ damage that develops during pregnancy or shortly after. It can lead to complications for both mother and baby.)

Plan your pregnancies

To help you reduce the risk of problems due to high blood pressure in future pregnancies, we advise you to do the following. 

  • Use reliable contraception so you can plan your pregnancy for a time when your high blood pressure is under control. 
  • We advise women with high blood pressure to avoid oestrogen-containing contraception. Progesterone-only contraceptives, intrauterine contraceptive device or non-hormonal (barrier) methods are all safe to use.
  • Speak to your GP if you are planning a pregnancy and you currently take blood pressure tablets. Do this before you become pregnant.

Advice when pregnant

To reduce your risk of pre-eclampsia, we recommend you take aspirin while you are pregnant.

  • Talk to your midwife or GP to get a prescription.

  • Take aspirin (150 mg) every night starting at 12 weeks, and until 36 weeks of pregnancy. Do this unless there are reasons, such as bleeding or allergies, that make it unsuitable for you.

More information

NHS advice on high blood pressure

NHS advice on how to stop smoking

NHS advice on making healthy lifestyle choices

The Breastfeeding Network

Contact information

Maternity Triage

Telephone:

020 8934 2802