Why Pregnancy Specific BP Monitoring Matters
Understanding hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, the evidence for home monitoring, and why postpartum is the highest-risk period.
"Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity."
The most common conditions:
Gestational Hypertension
High BP that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. No protein in urine. Often resolves after delivery, but requires monitoring.
Preeclampsia
High BP with signs of organ damage (often protein in urine, but not always). Can progress rapidly and become life-threatening if untreated. Risk continues postpartum.
Chronic Hypertension
High BP that existed before pregnancy or develops before 20 weeks. Increases risk of preeclampsia and other complications.
HELLP Syndrome
Severe form involving liver and blood clotting problems. Medical emergency requiring immediate care.
Every year in the U.S., 400,000-600,000 pregnant women develop hypertensive disorders — conditions where blood pressure rises during pregnancy and threatens both mother and baby.
Source: CDC Maternal Health Data
Most Hypertensive Disorders Develop After Week 20
What to Watch For
Between your prenatal appointments, contact your provider immediately if you experience:
Severe headache that won't go away
Vision changes (blurred vision, seeing spots, light sensitivity)
Upper abdominal pain (under your ribs on the right side)
Sudden swelling of your face or hands
Shortness of breath
These symptoms, combined with high blood pressure, may signal preeclampsia. When in doubt, always reach out to your care team—they would rather answer your questions than have you wait.
After Delivery
Your BP risk doesn't end at birth. Preeclampsia can develop up to 6 weeks postpartum. Follow your provider's instructions for monitoring after delivery, especially in the first two weeks.
This information is educational. Always follow your care team's specific blood pressure guidance for your pregnancy.
Your blood pressure naturally shifts throughout pregnancy as your body adapts to support your baby. In early pregnancy, BP typically drops as your blood vessels relax. By mid-pregnancy, it reaches its lowest point.
The Critical Window
After 20 weeks of pregnancy, your risk for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia begins. This is when your blood pressure may start rising—and when regular monitoring becomes essential.
Preeclampsia can develop suddenly, even if you've had normal readings throughout your pregnancy. That's why your provider starts checking your BP more frequently in the third trimester.
The Postpartum Risk
Most people assume pregnancy complications happen before birth. The data tells a different story.
According to the CDC “40% of hypertension-related maternal deaths occur postpartum—most within the first two weeks after delivery."
The Care Gap
After delivery, you're home. Your next appointment may not be for six weeks. During this window, blood pressure problems can develop quickly—even if your BP was normal throughout pregnancy.
Without regular monitoring, symptoms can be dismissed as exhaustion or normal postpartum recovery. By the time many women seek care, the condition has become severe.
The Highest-Risk Period Comes After Delivery
What You Need to Know
Postpartum preeclampsia can develop in the days and weeks after delivery, whether or not you had high blood pressure during pregnancy. Your care team will tell you how often to check your BP at home and what numbers warrant communication.
If you experience any of the symptoms listed in the previous section, contact your care team or go to the emergency room immediately. Don't wait for your next scheduled appointment.
Home BP monitoring isn't experimental—it's established clinical practice backed by research and medical guidelines.
Research Finding: Remote blood pressure monitoring programs reduce postpartum complications and hospital readmissions
Clinical Guideline : The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends home BP monitoring for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, continuing through the postpartum period
Evidence for Home Monitoring
Why Monitoring Between Appointments Matters
Prenatal appointments happen every few weeks. Blood pressure can rise suddenly between visits. Home monitoring catches elevations early—when intervention is most effective and complications are preventable.
Your provider will give you specific BP thresholds and tell you when to call. Sharing your home readings helps your care team make informed decisions about your treatment.
What This Means for You
If your provider recommends home BP monitoring, it's because evidence shows it improves outcomes for women with hypertensive disorders. The readings you take at home aren't extra work—they're essential data that protects your health and helps your care team provide better care.
Monitor Your BP the Way Guidelines Recommend
Connura helps you follow ACOG guidelines for home blood pressure monitoring - with tools built specifically for pregnancy and postpartum.