What to Do When Your Blood Pressure Reading Is High: A Decision Guide
First, Take a Breath
You just checked your blood pressure. The number is higher than you expected. Your heart is racing. You're wondering: "Is this an emergency?"
Take a breath. You're okay.
A single high reading is not an emergency. Many things can temporarily raise your blood pressure—including the anxiety you feel when you see an unexpected number.
What you do next matters more than the number you just saw. You have time to respond thoughtfully. Let's figure this out together, step by step.
Confirm Your Reading
Before you do anything else, take a few minutes to confirm what you're seeing.
Here's what to do:
Rest quietly for 5 minutes. Sit somewhere comfortable. Don't look at your phone. Don't keep checking the monitor. Just breathe slowly and let your body settle.
Check your position. Make sure you're sitting correctly:
Feet flat on the floor (not crossed)
Back supported against the chair
Arm resting on a table at heart level
Palm facing up, hand relaxed
Take 1-2 more readings. Wait 1-2 minutes between each reading. Write down all the numbers.
Look at all your readings together. If they vary, use the average. Sometimes the anxiety from seeing that first high number raises your blood pressure even more. The breathing break helps you get a more accurate picture.
If your second and third readings are normal, the first reading was likely a fluke. Continue your regular monitoring schedule and note what happened.
If your readings stay elevated, move to the next section.
What Your Numbers Mean: A Decision Guide
Your next step depends on your numbers and any symptoms you're experiencing.
Below 140/90: Normal Range
What it means: Your reading is in the normal range for pregnancy.
What to do:
Continue your regular monitoring schedule
Note the reading in your tracking app or log
Even with normal readings, pay attention to symptoms—if you have severe headache, vision changes, or abdominal pain, contact your provider
140-159 / 90-109: Yellow Zone (Elevated)
What it means: This range indicates hypertension in pregnancy. ACOG defines hypertension as blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg (ACOG PB 202). This is elevated, but it's not an emergency.
What to do:
Contact your provider within 24 hours (or follow the specific instructions they gave you for elevated readings)
Continue taking readings at your usual schedule and write down the pattern
Watch for warning symptoms (listed below)
Don't panic—this level can often be managed with monitoring and treatment if needed
Many women have readings in this range at some point during pregnancy. Your care team needs to know so they can evaluate whether treatment is needed, but this is not a "drop everything and go to the hospital" situation unless you have additional symptoms (see below).
160/110 or Higher: Red Zone (Severe)
What it means: Blood pressure at or above 160/110 mmHg is considered severe hypertension in pregnancy (ACOG PB 202).
What to do:
Contact your provider now or go to labor & delivery
ACOG recommends treatment of severe hypertension within 30-60 minutes to reduce risk of complications (ACOG Committee Opinion 767)
If you're having symptoms (see below), don't drive yourself—call someone or call 911
This doesn't mean disaster—it means you need care promptly so your team can bring your blood pressure down safely
Severe hypertension can be treated effectively when caught. Your home monitoring helped you catch this. Now you need your care team to take over.
Warning Symptoms: Call Immediately Regardless of Number
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your provider immediately or go to the emergency room—even if your blood pressure reading is normal:
Severe headache that won't go away or gets worse
Vision changes (blurry vision, seeing spots, sensitivity to light)
Pain in your upper right abdomen (under your ribs)
Shortness of breath
Sudden swelling in your face or hands
These symptoms can indicate serious complications like preeclampsia. Blood pressure is only one piece of the picture. Symptoms matter just as much—sometimes more.
What to Tell Your Provider
When you call or visit your provider, they'll need specific information. Having it ready helps the conversation go smoothly.
Say this:
"I'm [X] weeks pregnant.
My home blood pressure reading was [systolic/diastolic number].
I've taken [number] readings today, and they've been [describe pattern—all high, getting higher, one high then normal, etc.].
I am / am not experiencing symptoms like headache, vision changes, or abdominal pain."
Example:
"I'm 28 weeks pregnant. My blood pressure reading was 155/98. I've taken three readings in the past 30 minutes, and they've all been between 150/95 and 158/100. I'm not having any headache or other symptoms right now."
This gives your care team the information they need to decide on next steps. You don't need to diagnose yourself or interpret what the numbers mean. You just need to report what you're seeing and feeling.
After You've Responded
Once you've contacted your provider or gone in for evaluation, your immediate job is done. You responded appropriately.
Here's what happens next:
Your provider will evaluate the full picture. They'll consider your readings, your symptoms, your medical history, and possibly lab tests or other monitoring. They'll decide whether you need treatment, more frequent monitoring, or other interventions.
Continue monitoring as directed. Your provider may ask you to check more frequently or at specific times. Follow their instructions.
One elevated reading doesn't define your pregnancy. Blood pressure can fluctuate. Sometimes readings are elevated once and return to normal. Sometimes they signal the start of a hypertensive disorder that needs treatment. Your care team will watch the pattern and respond accordingly.
You did the right thing. You checked your blood pressure. You confirmed the reading. You contacted your provider when appropriate. This is exactly how home monitoring is supposed to work—you catch changes, and your care team responds.
You're taking care of yourself and your baby.
Remember This
Most elevated blood pressure readings during pregnancy don't mean immediate danger. They mean you need to check in with your care team so they can evaluate and respond.
Knowing what to do helps you respond calmly instead of panicking. You have clear steps: Confirm the reading. Check the number against the zones. Contact your provider based on what you find. Watch for symptoms.
When in doubt, always call your provider. That's what they're there for. They would rather hear from you when nothing is wrong than miss something that needs attention.
You're not overreacting. You're being responsible. And that matters.
Quick Reference: Decision Guide
Below 140/90: → Continue regular monitoring
140-159 / 90-109: → Contact provider within 24 hours → Watch for symptoms → Continue monitoring
160/110 or higher: → Contact provider now or go to L&D
Any warning symptoms (regardless of number): → Contact provider immediately or go to ER
Warning symptoms:
Severe headache
Vision changes
Upper right abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Sudden facial/hand swelling
