Because of the potentially harmful effects of medications on the developing fetus, the emphasis in the management of high blood pressure during pregnancy is on non-drug treatment. The general principles are as follows:

Restriction of Activity. Bed rest is one way of lowering blood pressure that has traditionally been used for treating hypertension of pregnancy, and blood flow to the uterus is higher when you are lying down than when standing. In mild cases, this simply means getting off your feet for a few hours each day, but in severe cases it may require admission to hospital. In the majority of cases, this will result in a lower blood pressure and in an improvement of the ankle swelling.

Diet. Salt restriction is usually not recommended during pregnancy, because hypertension in pregnancy is caused by excessive constriction of the arteries, and restriction of salt would further impair the flow of blood to the uterus. However, if you're already on a low salt diet before you become pregnant, this doesn't mean that you should eat more salt. It may be a good idea to increase your calcium intake, since pre-eclampsia seems to be commoner in women who eat little calcium.

Smoking and Drinking. Both of these are strongly discouraged, because they can damage the baby irreversibly (for example, the fetal alcohol syndrome). Alcohol can also raise blood pressure in the mother.