Due to the current outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus), it is more important than ever that you only need to come into the hospital when you need to. In order to monitor you remotely from home, you will be asked to enter your blood pressure results from home, which can be seen by a clinician at the hospital. This will help reduce the number of appointments you are required to visit at the hospital.

For up to date information on COVID-19, please go to the NHS website  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ , The Royal College of Obstetricians website  https://www.rcog.org.uk/coronavirus or ask advice from you midwife.

1. Chronic Hypertension: high blood pressure that started before pregnancy or was detected early in the pregnancy. Some women will develop pre-eclampsia (below) on top of chronic hypertension.
   
2. Gestational Hypertension: high blood pressure that develops later in pregnancy, usually in the third trimester. In some cases, it can progress to pre-eclampsia (below).
   
3. Pre-eclampsia: a condition of pregnancy where high blood pressure is associated with the presence of protein in your urine. This condition can affect your liver and kidneys and in severe circumstances can lead to seizures or stroke as well as problems for your baby.

Due to the risks associated with pre-eclampsia, it is important to monitor blood pressure closely. This may be to see if you need to start medication, check the medication you are on is working or decide if you need any extra tests. To reduce the number of hospital visits for blood pressure checks, we offer the option of home blood pressure monitoring using an app.

How do I measure my blood pressure at home?

You will be provided with an automatic blood pressure machine to use at home. A midwife or doctor will teach you how to use it and you can watch a video demonstration on the app by selecting ‘FAQs’ on the app homepage. You will be advised how frequently to measure your blood pressure.

Remember:

• Measure your blood pressure at roughly the same time each day and use the same arm each time.
  
• Make sure you are comfortable and have been sat quietly for about 5 mins before starting.
  
• Wait at least 30 mins after exercise, smoking, caffeine or a large meal before measuring your blood pressure.
  
• Your arm should be bare and your sleeve should not be tight when your roll it up.
  
• Sit on a chair with the monitor on a table at chest height beside you.
  
• Place the cuff around your arm with the tube facing downwards and the ‘Artery’ arrow on the inside front of your arm, about 3 finger-breadths above your elbow fold. 
  
• The Velcro should be secure but not too tight.
  
• Press the ‘POWER’ button once and it will automatically start recording.
  
• Your blood pressure will be displayed as follows:
  

The video below explains how to use your blood pressure monitor safely to ensure you get accurate readings