Program
Nurse-Midwifery M.S.
Number of Pages
49
Year Approved
2026
First Advisor
Dawn Dahlgren-Roemmich
Second Reader
Paige Hardy
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia (PE), are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, rates of HDP continue to rise and are associated with preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and long-term cardiovascular disease. Current management focuses only on low-dose aspirin for prevention. Surveillance and timely delivery remain the only definitive treatment for preeclampsia. This highlights a critical gap in prevention. Emerging evidence suggests that non-pharmacological interventions–particularly nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle modification–may reduce the risk and severity of HDP. These approaches align with midwifery models of care emphasizing prevention, education, and patient-centered care. A formal search of current peer-reviewed literature was conducted (years 2020-2025), using three databases: Pubmed, CINAHL, and Scopus. Citation searching was also employed. Original research articles meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated and appraised for level of evidence. The strongest evidence indicated whole diet approaches: Dash and Mediterranean diets significantly reduced rates of preeclampsia. There was moderate evidence for other lifestyle modifications such as ingesting targeted micronutrients and combinations of diet and exercise. Lifestyle support increased effectiveness. Barriers to lifestyle diet and lifestyle modification included cost, culture, and access to healthy foods. Non-pharmacological lifestyle interventions, particularly whole-diet approaches, are associated with reduced incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and improved blood pressure control. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean dietary patterns demonstrate the strongest and most consistent evidence. While micronutrients and stress reduction show promise, they are less effective when used in isolation. Integrating structured lifestyle counseling into prenatal care represents a critical opportunity to improve maternal outcomes and reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.
Degree Name
M.S. Nurse-Midwifery
Document Type
Masterʼs thesis
Recommended Citation
Smith, S. K., & Lepp, L. E. (2026). Non-Pharmacological Interventions for the Management and Prevention of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature [Masterʼs thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/1251
Terms of Use and License Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.