Hoppe’s team has been conducting research on hypertension in pregnancy since 2016. Starting in 2019, STAC has become Meritel’s standard of care, with UC Health physicians providing labor and delivery care. Meritor delivers approximately 5,000 babies each year. Since 2019, they have cared for more than 7,000 postpartum patients in the STAC program who gave birth at Meritel.
Hoppe said the program has helped many patients and families because high blood pressure can pose serious risks.
“High blood pressure can lead to premature birth and pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition of high blood pressure for both mother and baby,” she says. “Severe high blood pressure after childbirth can also lead to stroke. Now we can identify the problem sooner and treat patients to keep them healthy.”
Rates of high blood pressure have been increasing nationally and locally over the years, and the latest numbers suggest at least 30 percent of women giving birth in Wisconsin have high blood pressure during pregnancy, Hoppe said. Ta.
