It’s never a good time to have high blood pressure, or hypertension, but when you're pregnant, hypertension is even more concerning.
One in seven people will have high blood pressure during pregnancy, also called hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP). This includes chronic hypertension and postpartum hypertension — high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy and even months after delivery.
HDP can put you and your baby at risk of serious, sometimes fatal, complications, including preeclampsia after birth. The leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the U.S., HDP accounts for 44% of maternal deaths in the first six days after delivery.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also lead to future heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Pregnant people with HDP have more than double the risk of future heart disease compared to pregnant people who don’t have HDP. But it’s common to miss the warning signs of pregnancy-induced hypertension.
UPMC’s cardiology and maternal fetal medicine experts can help you stay heart healthy for life. Our experts help pregnant people and their doctors manage hypertension throughout pregnancy, during delivery, and after giving birth.
If you see one of our ob-gyns, you’re in good hands for heart health. Our ob-gyns screen people for high blood pressure, including during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, your heart has to work extra hard to create and pump more blood for you and your baby. After birth, your body continues to adjust to changes that affect your blood flow and heart. Doctors aren’t sure exactly why, but these changes can cause HDP.
Left untreated, pregnancy-related hypertension doubles your risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in women. HDP also increases your risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia.
High blood pressure typically doesn’t have any symptoms, but routine blood pressure readings throughout pregnancy can catch it early. Blood pressure greater than 140mmHg over 90mmHg can lead to heart disease and pregnancy problems.
If your blood pressure is headed in the wrong direction, your ob-gyn can refer you to more specialized care through the UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.
The UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program is western Pa.'s only comprehensive, multidisciplinary service dedicated to treating pregnancy-related hypertension.
Our team includes cardiologists from the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and maternal fetal medicine specialists from UPMC Magee.
Working together, we help new mothers and pregnant people:
Our program is designed to help:
Our offices are conveniently located in the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.
When you meet with one of our doctors, your care is backed by years of training and expertise. Our doctors are also involved in research activities to advance medicine’s understanding of postpartum hypertension.
If you're pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant, you need to get high blood pressure under control. Our experts are trained in both women’s heart health and maternal fetal medicine. They can identify, monitor, and treat high blood pressure before, during and after pregnancy.
Postpartum hypertension disorders we treat include:
Our experts help you understand your long-term risks for cardiovascular disease. We provide these services to support a healthy pregnancy and to help you control your current and future risk of heart disease.
These services include:
If you need diagnostic tests to evaluate your heart health, we provide:
Most insurance plans cover our services.
The UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program offers women the collaborative services of both the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.
Our cardiology and maternal fetal medicine experts understand the unique needs of new mothers and pregnant people. We know what signs to look for to keep you and your baby healthy. If you have postpartum hypertension, we know what blood pressure medicines are safe for you during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the world’s premier centers for complete cardiovascular care.
Our expertise in women's heart health includes:
Through long-standing relationships with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, you'll have access to the latest knowledge and pioneering research in every area of women’s health.
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.
