High blood pressure (hypertension) can expose your pregnancy to problems like preeclampsia, harmful for you and the foetus. A study found pregnancy-induced hypertension in 7.8% of expectant mothers in India. Preeclampsia was prevalent in 5.4% of cases. But luckily with proper pregnancy care, you can prevent this risk.
Here are the ways to manage hypertension during pregnancy.
Tips to Manage High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
- Reduce salt intake
Your body needs sodium only in small quantities. So, lower your sodium intake to prevent developing hypertension.
Try the following tips:
- Avoid fast foods and processed foods as much as you can. If you still buy processed foods sometimes, pick low-sodium varieties.
- Replace salt with other spices like lemon pepper, fresh herbs and cumin.
- Wash away the extra sodium by rinsing canned foods.
- Eat the right food
Eat plenty of bananas, tomatoes, kidney beans, raisins, prunes, and sweet potatoes loaded with potassium. Whole grains also help fight hypertension as they’re packed with dietary fibres. Besides whole grains, eat protein-rich foods, veggies, and legumes.
- Try destressing
Stressing can spike up blood pressure irrespective of being pregnant. Hence, it’s best to avoid anything that triggers anxiety. Instead, try to improve your relaxation with:
- Breathing exercises
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Acupressure
- Listening to soft and soothing music
These can ultimately help handle labour pain better and help you on the big day also!
- Be physically active
Being sedentary can increase the risk to develop hypertension. So, try to follow a routine of moderate physical exercises throughout your pregnancy. This can reduce high blood pressure, boost blood circulation, and lower your stress. There will also be a positive effect on the health of the developing baby. It’s best to exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. Else try low-intensity activities like brisk walking or swimming.
- Say “no” to alcohol and smoking
Taking alcohol and smoking are always unhealthy. They can be especially more harmful right before and during pregnancy. Both can increase your blood pressure and impact the baby’s development. So, quit these practices altogether. Stay away from second-hand tobacco smoke too. If you find trouble quitting the habits, seek help from your doctor.
- Maintain healthy weight
Don’t take the saying “eat for two” seriously during pregnancy. Avoid being overweight to ward off the risks of developing hypertension. Let the best gynaecologist in Delhi guide you regarding a suitable diet plan for healthy weight gain in pregnancy. Besides, follow the weight gain recommendations below.
| Category of pre-pregnancy weight | Body Mass Index | Recommended weight gain (in pounds) |
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | 28-40 |
| Normal weight | 18.5-24.9 | 25-35 |
| Overweight | 25.0-29.9 | 15-25 |
| Obese | 30.0 or higher | 11-20 |
- Take medication as prescribed
If you’ve been prescribed any medicines to help control your blood pressure, take them regularly. Also, don’t stop the medications if not permitted by the doctor. Sometimes, hypertension happens as a side effect of certain medicines. So, before continuing with them, check with the best gynaecologist in Delhi.
Consider visiting the best women’s hospital to maximise the chances of safe childbirth.