C4TC blog

Why Postpartum Blood Pressure Monitoring Matters: Insights from the SANDY Study

Postpartum recovery is a complex physiological process that extends well beyond delivery. Yet many care models rely on a single postpartum visit weeks after birth, leaving little opportunity to identify emerging complications.

The SANDY Study, developed by the Center for 4th Trimester Care (C4TC), focuses specifically on postpartum blood pressure and vital sign monitoring — an area of maternal health where research and clinical guidance remain limited.

What Research Tells Us About Postpartum Blood Pressure

Scientific studies have shown that:

  • Blood pressure can rise days or weeks after childbirth

  • Postpartum hypertension can occur without prior risk factors

  • Abnormal vital signs often precede serious complications

Despite these findings, postpartum blood pressure monitoring is not consistently implemented across health systems.

Peer-reviewed research has also demonstrated that home-based postpartum monitoring is feasible and acceptable for mothers, making it a promising strategy for earlier detection of health concerns.

How the SANDY Study Supports Better Postpartum Care

The SANDY Study builds on existing research by collecting structured, longitudinal postpartum data outside of clinical settings.

What Participants Track
  • Blood pressure

  • Heart rate

  • Oxygen saturation (if applicable)

Study Timeline
  • Twice-weekly measurements

  • Six weeks following hospital discharge

  • Data submission at the end of the study using a secure form

This approach allows researchers to observe recovery trends and identify patterns that could inform future postpartum care standards.

Why This Research Is Important

Improved postpartum monitoring can:

  • Support earlier identification of complications

  • Strengthen postpartum screening protocols

  • Provide evidence for expanded fourth trimester care

By establishing clearer expectations for postpartum recovery, studies like SANDY help shift maternal healthcare from reactive to proactive.

Eligibility Criteria

The SANDY Study is open to mothers who:

  • Have a singleton pregnancy

Advancing Fourth Trimester Care

The SANDY Study represents a step toward more data-driven postpartum care. By focusing on physiologic changes after birth, C4TC continues its mission to ensure that the fourth trimester receives the attention and resources it deserves.

The SANDY Study: Improving Postpartum Care During the Fourth Trimester

The weeks following childbirth — known as the fourth trimester — are a critical but often overlooked phase of maternal health. Many postpartum complications occur after hospital discharge, yet follow-up care remains limited.

The SANDY Study, led by the Center for 4th Trimester Care (C4TC), is helping close this gap by collecting essential data on postpartum recovery. Through structured monitoring of vital signs in the first six weeks after birth, the study aims to improve postpartum care for future mothers.

Why Postpartum Monitoring Matters

Research shows that the postpartum period involves major physiological changes. Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels fluctuate as the body transitions out of pregnancy. However, standardized postpartum reference ranges are limited, and many mothers are not routinely monitored once they leave the hospital.

Studies indicate that delayed-onset blood pressure complications can occur even in mothers with no prior history of hypertension. Without consistent monitoring, early warning signs may go unnoticed.

The SANDY Study addresses this gap by focusing on real-world postpartum recovery, where most maternal health challenges emerge.

What Is the SANDY Study?

The SANDY Study is a postpartum research initiative designed to better understand normal recovery patterns during the fourth trimester.

Participant Responsibilities

Participants in the SANDY Study will:

  • Complete a Pre-Birth Survey and Post-Birth Survey
  • Take biweekly blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation readings (if applicable)
  • Track readings for six weeks after hospital discharge
  • Submit all collected data using a secure online form at the end of the study period
Measurement Schedule
  • Every Tuesday and Saturday for six weeks

If participants have health concerns at any point, they are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider immediately.

Who Is Eligible?

You are eligible to participate if you:

  • Are with a singleton pregnancy

Why Participation Matters

While individual participants may not experience direct medical benefits, their participation helps:

  • Improve postpartum care guidelines
  • Inform future maternal health research
  • Strengthen advocacy for extended fourth trimester support

Every data point contributes to safer, more informed postpartum care.