The Cuff Project

High blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy and right after delivery is one of the leading causes of mothers dying or getting very ill. Monitoring blood pressure is therefore an essential part of prenatal and postpartum care. Masked hypertension, where blood pressure levels are elevated at home despite normal blood pressure in a clinical setting, may lead to cardiovascular and obstetric complications. Sudden rises in blood pressure can threaten pregnant women between prenatal appointments or if they have limited access to healthcare.  

Access to blood pressure measurement devices, economic hardship, or limited knowledge should not be barriers to home-based monitoring. Early detection of high blood pressure in pregnancy may improve outcomes. Every woman should be able to check her own blood pressure at home.

The Cuff Project creates solutions to this problem and raises awareness of the importance of self-monitored blood pressure. Our initial response was the Cuff Kit™, a package of care for high risk mothers which includes automatic blood pressure monitors and a variety of educational tools that explain how and why to take your blood pressure, what the numbers mean, and when to seek help. Read our announcement about the Cuff Kit™ here.

We’re staying in touch with the healthcare providers giving Cuff Kits to their patients to ensure we are meeting the needs of our community. And we’re working with researchers, clinicians and payers to carefully consider deploying this solution for all pregnant and postpartum women.

Our approach includes:

1. Partnering with healthcare providers to offer the Cuff Kit™ to their patients as part of a telehealth solution
2. Offering the Cuff Kit™ to women in need directly from the Preeclampsia Foundation
3. Data collection and analysis to demonstrate efficacy of this innovative solution
4. Advocating for insurance companies to cover devices for pregnant and postpartum women
5. Evaluating self-monitored blood pressure to augment existing best practices for prenatal and postpartum care
6. Staying abreast of innovations in remote BP monitoring and, as appropriate, advocating for uptake of more efficient, accurate, and cost effective solutions.

Each Cuff Kit™ includes a validated automated blood pressure device, batteries and patient education materials to help the user learn how to take her own blood pressure, keep a log of her readings, and recognize and respond to concerning signs and symptoms.

Check out one woman's story of how the Cuff Project helped her detect her own preeclampsia featured on CNN health.

Would you like to learn more about applying for a Cuff Kit™ or offering the Cuff Kit™ to your patients? Please visit one of the pages below.

for women Healthcare Providers