I Gave Birth

It’s important to track your blood pressure while pregnant to help prevent serious heart conditions. Follow these steps.

• Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure and empty your bladder.
• Sit quietly with your back supported and both feet flat on the floor for 5 minutes.
• Use a cuff that wraps around your upper arm comfortably, about 2 to 3 centimeters above the elbow.
• Rest your arm on a table at heart level.
• Write down your blood pressure.
• If your blood pressure is higher than usual, repeat in the same position in 5 minutes. 
• If it remains high, consult your healthcare provider

Your heart works extra hard when you’re pregnant or just had a baby. Risk factors for pregnancy-related heart-related disease:

• 35+ years of age
• Preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in urine) 
• Gestational diabetes (diabetes when pregnant)
• Overweight or obese
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Black or African American ancestry
• Current smoker or history of smoking
• Previous pre-term birth (born before 36 weeks)
• Multiple births

• Maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle.
• Eat a balanced diet (protein, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy).
• Attend all prenatal visits to have yourself and your baby checked: labs, urine tests, vital signs, weight checks and other screenings.
• Get plenty of rest—make sure you’re getting an appropriate amount of sleep every night and take naps when needed.
• Take your prenatal vitamins and other prescription medications as directed by your healthcare provider.
• Ask your provider if a low-dose aspirin is right for you.
• Exercise for 30 minutes per day or as directed by your provider.
• Avoid harmful substances such as tobacco, marijuana and alcohol.
• Limit caffeine intake.
• Track your weight and blood pressure. 
• If you had high blood pressure before you were pregnant, be sure to tell your healthcare provider at your first appointment or your next appointment if you haven’t done so already.

A Birthing Emergency Department—also called an Obstetric Emergency Department (OBED)—is a specialized hospital unit that provides 24/7 emergency and urgent care for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. 

Wellstar has OBEDs at Wellstar Cobb, Wellstar MCG Health and Wellstar West Georgia Medical Centers. More Wellstar OBEDs are coming soon.