NACDD has partnered with Million Hearts® and the Preeclampsia Foundation with a shared goal of improving hypertension management and health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum persons. While the evidence, utility, and value of self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) to improve hypertension control in the general adult population is widely recognized, there are additional barriers that need to be addressed to expand SMBP use among pregnant or postpartum persons.
In support of the goal to improve maternal health outcomes through more widespread use of SMBP, NACDD is convening a wide range of maternal and cardiovascular health experts, researchers, public health professionals, and policy makers through a series of meetings to brainstorm solutions, create an action plan, and outline next steps to support adoption of SMBP into maternal healthcare practice standards.
The first meeting in the series, a virtual Listening Session, took place on March 21st and gathered the perspectives of many maternal health practitioners on the facilitators of and barriers to fully implementing SMBP for pregnant and post-partum persons. The feedback from the Listening Session and key informant interviews with professional associations that provide guidance on maternal healthcare practice, informed the agenda for an upcoming Action Planning Summit on May 6, 2024. Summit topics will include maternal SMBP research needs, access and coverage, equity issues, transitions of care, and more.
A primary outcome of the SMBP Implementation for Pregnant and Postpartum Persons meeting series will be a white paper detailing SMBP best practices and standards of care, research gaps, communication needs, and advocacy approaches specific to the maternal population. Visit the CVH Team page to learn more about the project and to view the white paper when it is available later in 2024.