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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a draft update to the hypertension in pregnancy guideline, to bring recommendations in line with current practice.
It includes updated advice on the management and treatment of hypertension during pregnancy, such as aiming for a target blood pressure of 135/85 mmHg or less. Previous targets were below 150/80-100 mmHg. It also has a section on follow-up at discharge. It says that GPs or specialists should have a discussion with the woman on how to reduce their risk of future hypertensive disorders such as cardiovascular disease. Advice may include maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight. Hypertension in pregnancy affects around one in 10 pregnancies.
The guideline covers diagnosing and managing hypertension (high blood pressure), including pre-eclampsia, during pregnancy, labour, birth and immediately after birth. It also includes advice for women with hypertension who wish to conceive and women who have had a pregnancy complicated by hypertension. It aims to improve care during pregnancy, labour and birth for women and their babies.
NICE has reviewed the evidence on some aspects of the management of hypertension in pregnancy, postnatal treatment of hypertension, and advice and follow-up at discharge. Stakeholders are invited to comment on the new and updated recommendations which are marked as [2019].