Tips for Taking Care of You

Don’t despair if you or a loved one had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, or diabetes during pregnancy, or a preterm birth. You can take steps to protect your heart and overall health post-pregnancy.

Start with knowing your likelihood for developing cardiovascular issues and reminding your doctors about your health history.

Stay positive and live a heart-healthy lifestyle:

1. Adopt a healthy eating plan, such as a plant-based one
2. Get regular exercise
3. After your pregnancy, reach and maintain a healthy body weight
4. Avoid smoking
5. Limit how much alcohol you drink
6. Get enough sleep
7. Manage stress
8. Know and keep up with your risk for heart disease and stroke. Remember to talk with your health care team if you had problems during pregnancy – even if they were years ago or have gone away. You can work together to come up with a plan to track and manage your risk over time.