How to regulate high blood pressure during lactation to lower it

Breastfeeding hypertension can be regulated through dietary adjustments, moderate exercise, emotional management, regular sleep patterns, and medication interventions. Elevated blood pressure may be related to legacy issues during pregnancy, excessive sodium intake, hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, or familial genetics.

1. Dietary adjustment:

Reduce sodium intake by no more than 5 grams per day and avoid pickled and processed foods. Increase potassium rich bananas and spinach, and supplement calcium such as low-fat milk. Adopting a Mediterranean diet pattern, consuming more whole grains and deep-sea fish, and controlling the intake of saturated fatty acids.

2. Moderate Exercise:

Engage in 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, swimming, or postpartum yoga. During exercise, the heart rate should be controlled at 60% -70% of the maximum heart rate to avoid vigorous exercise affecting milk secretion. It is recommended to do it in stages, each lasting 20-30 minutes.

3. Emotional Management:

Relieves parenting stress through mindfulness meditation and deep breathing exercises. Establish a sleep cycle for mother and baby in the same room, ensuring 6-8 hours of segmented sleep every day. Participate in postpartum support groups, share parenting responsibilities with family members, and avoid emotional fluctuations.

4. Regular schedule:

Establish a fixed breastfeeding schedule and rest synchronously with the baby. To avoid frequent nighttime awakenings, one can adopt a lying down feeding position. During the day, use the baby's nap time to catch up on sleep and maintain a stable circadian rhythm.

5. Drug intervention:

Use lactation safe antihypertensive drugs such as labetalol and methyldopa under the guidance of a doctor. Avoid using diuretics and ACEI drugs. Regularly monitor blood pressure changes and record infant reactions after medication. If blood pressure continues to exceed 150/100mmHg, seek medical attention promptly.

The management of hypertension during lactation should take into account the health of both mother and baby. Blood pressure should be measured and recorded in the morning and evening every day. Maintain an appropriate indoor temperature to avoid blood vessel constriction caused by cold stimulation. Choose a comfortable position while breastfeeding and use a nursing pillow to reduce pressure on the waist. Hawthorn, cassia seed and other medicinal and edible ingredients can be added to the diet, and strong tea and coffee should be avoided. Regular postpartum check ups, including urine routine and kidney function tests, to rule out any remaining issues of gestational hypertension. The weight control recommendation is to lose no more than 0.5 kilograms per week to avoid rapid weight loss affecting milk quality.