How to Treat Hypertension While Breastfeeding

Hypertension is defined as an elevated level of blood pressure in a person. A woman's blood pressure is slightly elevated for three to five days after the delivery of a child but typically goes back to normal levels shortly thereafter. Women who are breastfeeding and have hypertension may have more difficulty producing enough milk for their baby. However, if you are nursing, there are several prescription drugs that are safe for you to take to treat your hypertension. In addition, you can take some stress-reducing steps to help lower your blood pressure.

Instructions

1

Start an exercise routine. A postpartum mother can do simple things like taking a walk with the baby in the stroller or taking 5 to 10 minutes a day to do stretching and yoga exercises. Eventually adding increased cardio and weight training can also help reduce stress and can help a mother lose some "baby weight" and reduce her elevated blood pressure.

2

Continue taking prenatal vitamins. In addition to the benefits your baby will receive from them as you nurse, the additional vitamin C and E will help reduce high blood pressure as well.

3

Stick to a healthy diet. Avoid very fatty and salty foods and eat a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins. However, stay clear of some vegetables that may cause your baby to be gassy (cauliflower, cabbage, dishes heavy in onions or garlic) because they pass through the breast milk.

4

Consult with your doctor about safe hypertension medications to take while breastfeeding. Adalat, Procardia, Lopressor, Inderal or Aldomet is often prescribed by physicians to treat high blood pressure after childbirth. The drug will be prescribed in a regular dosage (typically one to two times a day in a pill form), and continued until the blood pressure can be more readily controlled without the use of medication.

5

Take time each day to sit and relax alone. Even if it's only five minutes, take time to take a break to sit down, take a bath or read a book or magazine. Giving your body and mind enough rest regularly will help reduce your stress levels and ultimately help reduce your blood pressure.