Hypertension is a leading cause of maternal morbidity, mortality and obstetrical readmissions. Peak blood pressure usually occurs 3-6 days postpartum, and is typically unaccompanied by warning symptoms. Although there is a clear need for effective and reliable blood pressure surveillance after delivery, there are significant obstacles to in-person visits in the immediate postpartum period, including sleep deprivation, newborn care, and transportation needs. These barriers have proven real as we observed only 30-50% attendance to office blood pressure visits following delivery. This proposal will investigate whether text-based communication between patients and providers is an effective alternative method for monitoring postpartum hypertension in at risk women.
Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with access to a cell phone with unlimited text message capabilities will be randomized to either office visit blood pressure checks after discharge or receive a blood pressure cuff and text in blood pressures for two weeks postpartum using a standardized, HIPAA compliant, physician derived automated platform.
