REmote Physical ACtivity Intervention for High Blood Pressure Postpartum

Launched by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · Aug 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to help women who had high blood pressure during early pregnancy become more active after having their baby. The goal is to see if using FitBits to track daily steps, combined with weekly messages that give feedback and set activity goals, can help improve both physical activity and blood pressure in the weeks after birth. The study will also check if this approach is easy to follow and enjoyable for new mothers.

Women who gave birth to a live baby at Northwestern Medicine within the last 6 to 12 weeks may be eligible if they had mildly elevated blood pressure early in pregnancy, are not very active, can use the internet regularly, and are willing to wear a FitBit. Participants will receive personalized support through messages based on their activity data. The study is currently not recruiting yet and is open to English or Spanish speakers. Women with more serious pregnancy-related high blood pressure or those already in exercise or weight loss programs are not eligible.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Delivery of a live birth at Northwestern Medicine 6-12 weeks prior
• • Systolic blood pressure 120-139 or diastolic blood pressure 80-89 during the first 20 weeks of gestation
• • Low self-reported physical activity levels
• • Able to access the internet at least weekly
• • Have patient portal account or willing to set one up
• • Willing to wear a FitBit
• • Spoken and written English or Spanish language fluency
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Medical contraindications to participating in a structured physical activity program
• • Currently participating in a structured physical activity or weight loss program
• • Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, eclampsia)