postnatal investigation, monitoring and treatment of gestational hypertension

Last edited 08/2019

Postnatal investigation, monitoring and treatment

• in women with gestational hypertension who have given birth, measure blood pressure:
  • daily for the first 2 days after birth
  • at least once between day 3 and day 5 after birth
  • as clinically indicated if antihypertensive treatment is changed after birth
    
    
• in women with gestational hypertension who have given birth:
  • continue antihypertensive treatment if required
  • advise women that the duration of their postnatal antihypertensive treatment will usually be similar to the duration of their antenatal treatment (but may be longer)
  • reduce antihypertensive treatment if their blood pressure falls below 130/80 mmHg
• if a woman has taken methyldopa to treat gestational hypertension, stop within 2 days after the birth and change to an alternative treatment if necessary
  
  
• for women with gestational hypertension who did not take antihypertensive treatment and have given birth, start antihypertensive treatment if their blood pressure is 150/100mmHg or higher
  
  

• offer women who have had gestational hypertension and who remain on antihypertensive treatment, a medical review with their GP or specialist 2 weeks after transfer to community care

• offer all women who have had gestational hypertension a medical review with their GP or specialist 6-8 weeks after the birth

Reference:

• 1) NICE (June 2019). Hypertension in pregnancy - the management of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy