Baseline characteristics
Baseline characteristics of the 148 study participants are summarized in Table 1. Participants were on average 30.8± 5.1 years of age, 28% self-identified as Black or Other race with a mean pre-pregnancy BMI in the obese range, 33.4±6.7 kg/m2 and 37% were insured through public health insurance. Participants delivered at 37.2 ± 3.1 weeks gestation (range 26.6-41.3 weeks) and mean infant birthweight was 2969 ± 786 grams. Mean gestational weight gain was 31.9 ± 18.7 pounds. The majority of participants had a diagnosis of preeclampsia (n=93; 63%) with 61% (n=57) of these having severe features and 24% (n=36) delivered preterm (<37 weeks gestation). Additionally, 17 (12%) individuals had pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes.
Participants were enrolled at a mean of 10.5±6.1 weeks postpartum, with 101/148 (68%) participants enrolled in the first three months postpartum. Mean MAP at enrollment was 96±11mmHg (Table 2). Mean blood pressure was 124±14 mmHg systolic and 82±10mmHg diastolic. Thirty-seven (25%) participants were on anti-hypertensive medications at the time of enrollment, with a total of 99 (67%) meeting criteria for stage 1 hypertension or greater at enrollment. Mean BMI at enrollment was 33.9±6.3 kg/m2. At enrollment, 83 (56%) participants reported that they were feeding their baby breastmilk (expressed or direct breastfeeding any amount).