blood pressure

For expectant mothers, every prenatal visit to a doctor, nurse, or midwife -- either in one-on-one or group prenatal care -- starts off pretty much the same way. Your vital signs are checked: body temperature, body weight (let's see how that baby is growing!), and blood pressure. This last measure is particularly important when you’re pregnant. And here’s why.

High blood pressure in pregnancy is an important diagnosis and indicator for preeclampsia, how the rest of your pregnancy is managed prior to delivery, the timing of delivery, risk of complications, and long-term maternal outcomes. However, according to the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (AIM), “Blood pressure measurement is one of the most important basic clinical assessments that we do, yet it is often one of the most inaccurately performed assessments, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.”

High blood pressure is recorded as a ratio of two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure, which is the higher (or first) of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure, which is the lower (or second) of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats or when the heart is resting.

To get an accurate reading, make sure that you or your staff follows these general guidelines for positioning your patients:

• Sitting or semi-reclining position with back supported and arm at heart level
• No talking for at least five minutes before measurement
• Bare upper arm without restrictive clothing
• Feet should be flat, not dangling or crossed
• NEVER lay a patient on their side for a lower reading

Other things that can affect the accuracy of your blood pressure reading include the presence of background noise, if the patient recently consumed any caffeine or nicotine, weight, and using the wrong cuff size (whether it’s too small or too big).

Improper positioning alone can cause quite a dramatic increase in blood pressure. For example, if the patient's back is unsupported, the diastolic blood pressure may be higher by 6 mmHg (Pickering TG et al; Circulation 2005). If your legs are crossed, systolic blood pressure may be higher by 2-8 mmHg (Pickering TG et al; Circulation 2005). If the arm is allowed to hang down unsupported, the blood pressure may be elevated by 10-12 mm Hg (O’Brien E; J Hypertension, 2003) and if the patient is talking, blood pressure may increase by 8-15 mm Hg.

In addition, we know that many health care providers are encouraging patients to monitor their blood pressure at home. We have easy-to-understand educational resources you can share with your patients here on our website at http://www.preeclampsia.org/blood-pressure to show them how to "Check - Know - Share" with you, their provider.

We know medical staff are extremlely busy, but what is the point in taking a measurement if it isn't done properly? Follow these steps and help save the lives of moms and their babies! Thank you for all you do.

Image Credit OMRON