Raised blood pressure is common in pregnancy (affecting approximately 1 in 10 women). Blood pressure remains elevated after birth, but usually returns to normal over 2-12 weeks. 

This study is testing whether patients with high blood pressure can achieve better blood pressure control in the weeks and months following end of pregnancy by using an app to enter their self-administered blood pressure readings (which are reviewed by a medical team) to adjust their medication accordingly.

We are also carrying out an optional sub-study to investigate the role of self-management of raised blood pressure after birth.

There is an optional linked patient experience study where we will ask about your experience on the SNAP2 study.

If you decline to take part in the SNAP2 study, you will be asked if you would like to take part in an optional interview to discuss why you declined and what you think about the self-management approach.

We will work with midwives to interview people from diverse groups.

Please be aware that not everyone who expresses an interest to take part will be invited for an interview.

Those participants taking part in the qualitative part of the study will receive a £20 voucher for their time.

After reading about the study and speaking with a healthcare professional, you will be asked to sign a consent form to confirm that you agree to take part. We will ask you some questions about your medical history, your pregnancy, and day-to-day life. This will take around 30 minutes. You will then be randomly assigned by a computer to either the self-management group or usual care group.

All participants will continue to receive routine NHS care.

Self-management group

We will give you a blood pressure monitor to keep and show you how to use it. We will tell you how you can access the “My Blood Pressure Care” app and show you how to use it. You will receive an instruction leaflet with more details.

You will be asked to take your own blood pressure readings. This will involve taking 2 readings, 1 minute apart every day in the first few weeks. If the readings are raised, you may be asked for more readings.

An obstetrician or your GP will look over your blood pressure readings from the app and make any necessary changes to any blood pressure medication. You will receive a text message confirming any changes.

Usual care group

You will carry on receiving your usual care as you did before the study from your midwife/ consultant/healthcare professional. You will receive a blood pressure monitor to keep and will have your blood pressure monitored by your community midwife and GP once you have been discharged from hospital.

Participation in the usual care group is very important to the research. We will follow you up at the end of the study in the same way as the people who are in the self-management group.

Follow-up

Both groups will be asked to meet with the research team 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after birth. We will record your blood pressure and go through a short questionnaire. These can happen over the phone or in person