Pregnancy is an exciting time for most families, but along with the joy, it can also bring a lot of concerns about different health conditions. One of the areas that can be the most important to monitor in pregnancy is blood pressure, as changes in blood pressure can be a sign that some serious problems may need attention. Alongside your pregnancy and delivery care team, wellness-focused professionals like a Billings chiropractor can also be instrumental in making sure both moms and babies stay healthy.
Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Blood pressure is a vital sign that measures the force of blood as it pushes against the walls of the arteries – it is measured in systolic pressure, when the heart beats and pumps blood, and diastolic pressure, when the heart rests. A normal pregnancy can cause some changes to blood pressure because of the increased volume of blood in the body. Most often, women will notice either a decrease in blood pressure during early weeks or a slight increase toward the end of pregnancy.
But when these increases aren’t mild, it can be an indicator of serious complications like gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia that can be life-threatening if not managed well.
Monitoring and Management
High blood pressure can be particularly dangerous because it doesn’t have a lot of obvious symptoms, meaning monitoring at your regular appointments is the best idea you have of how yours behaves. Even slight elevations can lead to complications, so always be on the lookout for the few symptoms there are, like swollen hands or feet, headaches, and sudden vision changes.
When your blood pressure is under control, it results in better blood flow to your placenta, which brings your baby oxygen and nutrients to help them develop. You can help manage blood pressure by eating balanced meals, staying hydrated, and doing safe physical activities to keep your circulatory system functioning well. Stress management is also hugely important.
Complementary care, like seeing Dr. Thomas Keogh for regular adjustments, is another way to reduce stress on the body and improve mobility. Along with your regular medical monitoring, visits to the chiropractor can help you maintain a level of overall wellness during pregnancy.
Building Your Team
No single approach or provider can meet all the needs of pregnancy – it’s simply too complex and too important. That’s why every expecting family should have a team of providers they trust, starting with an obstetrician or midwife to monitor your pregnancy. Alongside them, a nutritionist, a physical therapist, and a chiropractor can contribute to your health and wellness during pregnancy, including monitoring and management of blood pressure.
As you begin to plan for your pregnancy and how you’ll stay healthy, think about the support you need for both short-term and long-term health outcomes. Never hesitate to ask questions, especially if you notice symptoms that may be related to your blood pressure or other conditions.
Dr. Thomas Keogh and the team at Bare Chiropractic are here to help you throughout your pregnancy and help you feel more confident as you welcome your baby. Contact us today to get started!
Sources
“Pregnancy Week by Week.” Mayo Clinic, 2025 Jun 7. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20046098
Yates, R.G., Lamping, D.L., Abram, N.L., Wright, C. “Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial.” Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, 1988 Dec; 11 (6): 484-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3075649/
