This is for anyone who has had 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 breast-feeding.
Speak to your GP if you need further information.
Risks of 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 did not have high blood pressure during pregnancy, you are:
- Up to 3 times more likely to develop a serious heart problem like stroke, heart attack or death in later life.
- Up to 4 times more likely to develop high blood pressure.
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.
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 already had high blood pressure during pregnancy.
- 1 in 5 (22%) will have some type of high blood pressure in a future pregnancy.
- 1 in 14 (7%) will experience pre-eclampsia in a future pregnancy. (Pre-eclampsia is persistent high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy or shortly after. It can lead to complications for both mother and baby).
- 1 in 7 (11-15%) will experience a repeat of high blood pressure in a future pregnancy (gestational hypertension).
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.
- 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
Contact information
Maternity Triage
Telephone: