How the recommendations might affect practice There is currently wide variation in practice over use of antihypertensive treatment in the postnatal period, and these recommendations may reduce variation in practice. The recommendations could lead to an increase in the use of atenolol instead of labetalol in the postnatal period. Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review E: postnatal management of hypertension. Return to recommendations Risk of recurrence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and long-term cardiovascular disease Why the committee made the recommendations Long-term follow-up studies of women who have experienced hypertensive disorders during pregnancy showed an increased risk of long-term cardiovascular disease and a higher prevalence of hypertensive disorders in subsequent pregnancies compared with women unaffected by hypertensive disorders. There was no evidence on which interventions could reduce the risk of recurrence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or future cardiovascular disease, so the committee made a research recommendation. How the recommendations might affect practice Providing guidance and advice to women on future risks and signposting appropriate care and lifestyle advice may be an additional activity for some healthcare professionals, compared with current practice. Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review F: advice at discharge. Return to recommendations Context Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy affect around 8% to 10% of all pregnant women and can be associated with substantial complications for the woman and the baby. Women can have hypertension before pregnancy or it can be diagnosed in the first 20 weeks (known as chronic hypertension), new onset of hypertension occurring in the second half of pregnancy (gestational hypertension) or new hypertension with features of multi-organ involvement (pre-eclampsia). 