Throughout your pregnancy, your doctor or caregiver will take careful note of your blood pressure during every visit. That’s because every woman’s blood pressure will fluctuate during pregnancy, and they want to ensure that yours is within normal parameters.
One of the most significant changes occurs between 18 and 20 weeks, when your body releases a lot of the hormone progesterone. This hormone causes your blood vessels to relax and results in a sharp drop in your blood pressure. Watch out for fainting spells during this period of your pregnancy!
This will return to normal just before your baby is born.
What your caregiver is looking out for is a sign of complications with your pregnancy. For instance, if your blood pressure rises sharply after week 20, you may be suffering from gestational hypertension. Very high blood pressure is also an indicator that you may be suffering from preeclampsia.
Any changes to your blood pressure that occur during pregnancy are likely to return to normal in the first few weeks after your baby arrives.