Hypertension during pregnancy affects 8% to 10% of all pregnant women and can be associated with substantial complications for the woman and the baby. Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy may result in maternal morbidity. Women with hypertension in pregnancy are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. NICE guideline 133 on the management of hypertension in pregnancy aims to reduce the risks of preterm birth for the baby, and describes treatments to prevent or delay early labour and birth.

This Guidelines summary covers:

• reducing the risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy
• assessment of proteinuria in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
• monitoring of chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy
• fetal monitoring in chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia
• antihypertensive treatment in the postnatal period, including during breastfeeding.