Learning How to Manage Gestational Hypertension — Naturally

See Michelle’s Top 3 Takeaways

Before giving birth in May 2015, I developed gestational hypertension. Despite concerns that it could lead to additional health complications — such as placental abruption, premature birth, or organ damage — I delivered a healthy baby girl.

Over the next year, my blood pressure remained high, and I wasn’t able to lose weight. At a checkup, my doctor noted that Black women tend to be overweight, and he recommended increasing the dose of the hypertension medication I’d started after my daughter was born. He did not suggest lifestyle modifications, like changing my diet or exercising more.

I’m a healthcare researcher, so I knew that his statement concerning Black women was statistically correct. Based on the data, the number of higher-weight Black women is disproportionate compared with other demographic groups for reasons that aren’t entirely understood. A partial explanation is well-established, however: Body mass index overestimates obesity in Black people because it doesn’t account for differences in body composition.

Nevertheless, this didn’t necessarily apply to me — I hadn’t been hypertensive or overweight before I tried to get pregnant. I wanted to find the root cause of my hypertension and weight retention, and I wanted to focus on lifestyle changes before I treated the problem with more medication. I hoped to find another physician to partner with on this wellness journey.

Rising Pressure

I got pregnant in 2014, about a year after marrying my college sweetheart. I was a little underweight after my first trimester, so I started drinking protein shakes with breakfast.

Living in Chicago helped too — the city is full of great food. My husband and I ­enjoyed eating at nearby burger joints, taco bars, and pizza places. I made friends with the baker at a local doughnut shop, who always waved me in and gave me one of my favorite glazed long johns.

By the middle of my third trimester, I had gained almost 55 pounds. My blood pressure had also increased — so much so that my physician advised me to come in every other week for checkups. At the time, I didn’t think much about the condition. I felt OK and I’d been reassured that my numbers would normalize after giving birth.

People with hypertension may not experience symptoms, so the condition is not always taken seriously. But it is a genuine threat to health, known as a “silent killer.” Gestational hypertension increases blood-vessel resistance, reducing blood flow to the mother’s essential organs and the placenta. This has the potential to deprive the developing baby of necessary nutrients and oxygen.

We were lucky. Although my blood pressure remained high during the weeks leading to my due date, my baby, Sarai, was born in good health.

The Fourth Trimester

Four months after I gave birth, my healthcare provider advised that I start taking a low-dose medication to manage my blood pressure.

I was having a difficult time ­recovering physically and emotionally from childbirth. The experience had been hard on my body, and adjusting to life with a newborn was a challenge — even with the help of my mother and mother-in-law. Sarai wasn’t feeding well, and she was sleeping all day and awake all night.

At a six-week follow-up visit, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. I started seeing a therapist on a regular basis, and she helped me learn how to prioritize my own needs while figuring out how to take care of Sarai. I began by simply making sure I was eating, showering, and getting some sleep.

By November 2015, I was starting to adjust to my new life. But my blood pressure remained high. For months I had been living in survival mode. I ate as I had during pregnancy, not thinking about sodium or macronutrients, and I felt more stressed. I lacked the capacity to focus on better nutrition or exercise.

But now that I was finding balance in other areas of my life, I felt ready to address the root causes of my high blood pressure.

I found a new doctor who was willing to focus on nutrition and exercise before increasing my medication. It was the ­motivation I needed to make a change.

Taking Back My Power

I began working with a nutritionist who recommended I reduce sodium and take a month off from eating out. To follow this advice, my husband and I became more intentional about grocery shopping. I focused on produce and meat and was mindful of food labels. On Sundays, I prepped food for the week ahead.

I also made exercise a priority. I’d been athletic as a child and young adult: I played basketball and volleyball in high school and continued with basketball through college. But fitness took a back seat after I graduated. With my health on the line, it was time to tune in to my once-active spirit. I started by attending fitness classes two or three times a week.

Although ­results came slowly and gradually, I never felt like I was sacrificing. I maintained a regular workout routine; chose whole foods over processed ones; modified portion sizes to match my nutritional needs; opted for a salad over a burger when I ate out; and ­requested one pump of syrup instead of two in my ­coffee drink.

It all took about 18 months, but I was committed. Consistency was more important than a quick fix.

By fall 2018, my blood pressure had normalized and I had lost 75 pounds.

My doctor said I could go off the meds — cold turkey. My blood pressure was stable when I saw him again a month later, and it’s remained stable ever since. Today, it’s in the range of 110–120/80, and I only see my doctor once a year for a wellness exam.

I now know what my body needs to be healthy.

Reaching and Keeping the Goal

My goals have changed since my blood pressure stabilized. In 2018, I joined Life Time, motivated by the amenities offered for children. Sarai was an active toddler by then, and I wanted her to learn how to have fun with fitness at a young age.

I started working with a personal trainer who created a routine that I can adjust as needed. I add more yoga classes during stressful times. I’ve also trained for and competed in a variety of races, including obstacle-course events and a half-marathon. I like the opportunity to modify my training and connect with other people in the fitness community.

I love being active with Sarai, who is now 10. We like to throw the football or shoot hoops together, and I’ll run alongside while she bikes.

Nutrition is an important part of our lives, and my husband and I have ­incorporated the phrase “nutrient-dense foods” into the family vocabulary. I hope my journey ­teaches Sarai she has the power to take control of her physical, mental, and spiritual health.

I’m also preparing to return to medical school. I hope to join an emerging field of physician nutrition specialists who work with patients with chronic disease. My dream is to run my own team and conduct research that incorporates nutrition. I want to help more patients learn how to improve their health outcomes through manageable lifestyle adjustments — like I was able to do for myself.

Michelle’s Top 3 Takeaways

1. Take control of your health. “I was waiting on doctors to cure me, until I realized I had to partner with my doctor and help myself,” says Michelle.

2. Take hypertension seriously. “What starts with obesity and hypertension becomes cardiac disease, then kidney disease, [and this can] lead to death. Try to prevent that early on.”

3. Make small changes over time. We often expect a quick snapback after birth, she notes. Huge change is not realistic. Reach the goal, then keep the goal.

This article originally appeared as “Easing the Pressure” in the the July/August 2025 issue of Experience Life.