GuidelinesOther guideline
Hypertension: Postpartum Care
The guidelines recommend management of common obstetric conditions at primary and referral level, based on local experience and evidence-based practice. They are not intended as strict protocols nor as standard operating procedures, but rather as a guide to safe effective management of common obstetric problems. The guidelines should be most useful to interns, medical officers and registrars.
- Keep the woman in hospital for at least 24 hours after delivery
- Continue oral antihypertensive medications (e.g. methyldopa) & modify or reduce the dosage as necessary
- Diuretics, e.g. hydrochorothiazide 25 mg daily, may be restarted or given to women with chronic hypertension
- Treat a BP ≥160/110 with nifedipine 5-10 mg orally as a single dose, & prescribe amlodipine 5 mg daily, or increase the current dose to 10 mg daily
- Measure the BP hourly until stabilized
- Discharge the woman from hospital if the BP is <160/110 for 24 hours
- Write a referral note to the local clinic for a woman discharged on antihypertensive medication to attend there after 2 weeks for BP measurement and adjustment (or discontinuation) of therapy