Understanding Blood Pressure Changes After Birth

This research aims to investigate how women's blood pressure responds after birth and assess the time it takes to return to normal ranges. This will be calculated by participants undertaking three consecutive days of home blood pressure monitoring, every fortnight from two until twelve weeks postpartum. At twelve weeks postpartum, women will have a twenty-four ambulatory blood pressure assessment. This will highlight the prevalence of persistent high blood pressure and how often GPs will need to monitor women's blood pressure in the immediate few weeks after birth. Women will be asked to complete a questionnaire after their six to eight week GP appointment, assessing if women recall having their blood pressure checked and/or the risks of heart disease explained to them and if they received any lifestyle advice to reduce these risks. Women will be asked to complete a second questionnaire at twelve weeks postpartum assessing their acceptance and preference of home and twenty four hour blood pressure monitoring. This research aims to identify any gaps in the current care of women in the postnatal period and use this information to provide better quality of care to women so they can lead healthier lives and reduce their risk of heart disease.