High Blood Pressure

Hi Ladies

I'm 27 weeks and found out about 1.5 weeks ago that my blood pressure is higher than it should be. It's been normal so far through my pregnancy and in the last few weeks has fluctuated between 140/80 to 156/94. As soon as the midwife (who was standing in for my normal midwife while she was on holiday) found out my BP was high she sent me straight to hospital. I had bloods, urine test and a scan done and they ruled our preeclampsia so far - although they said it could still eventuate. Since then i've been to see a midwife twice to have my BP checked - both times it was still high. I've been referred to a clinic at the hospital, which i'm going to next week, plus i'm going for another scan at the hospital next week.

The whole time my normal midwife has been on holiday and I can't seem to get any answers about what is going on - in particular if there's something I can do to help my blood pressure. All i've been told is that I 'may' have to consider leaving work early and delivering my baby early, that I can't travel for work, that I should go to hospital if I get blurry vision or bad headaches (so basically preeclampsia signs) and it's likely my blood pressure will get worse not better before the end of my pregnancy. I don't have any firm understanding of the situation. I tried asking the hospital today when they called me for my appt next week and they just said 'you need the first available appt for your blood pressure' and that was it.

I'm a bit confused about what's going on and am waiting for my midwife to get back as I know she will be able to give me a better picture about what is going on - but until then i'm feeling a bit in the dark! So I was wondering if anyone else has had high blood pressure and what happened - did you have treatment of any kind and did it affect when you left work and gave birth to your baby. Did it also affect how you gave birth? I'm keen for a water birth but that seems unlikely now.

Thanks!

I had high bp with my first pregnancy and currently with this one (I'm 26 weeks).
From my experience they will most likely put you on medication and keep a close eye on you. With my first pregnancy I was having fortnightly appt at the hospital from around 26 weeks and this pregnancy from 20 weeks. I dropped down t o part time work at around 30 weeks and at 36 weeks gave birth to my daughter. They think the reason I had her early was because of my high bp but her birth was perfect.
My advice to you is don't stress! Easy said then done yes but it is really the only thing you can do!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

I had high blood pressure as well during my first pregnancy, suddenly started around the same as you. I were also send for urgent scan and blood tests and had an appointment with a specialist who ruled out pre-eclamsia and couldn't really see a reason for the rise in blood pressure. Basically just had to have my blood pressure checked weekly and nothing else really. The only thing my midwife suggested was to reduce the intake of salt as salt can make your blood pressure rise further. It didn't effect me giving birth at all... i wanted a water birth as well but baby decided to come at 37 weeks and was too fast that there weren't time to fill the birthing pool. But baby was perfect and healthy.

Hi

I had very high blood pressure with my first baby (180/110) and I was put into hospital @ 34 weeks pregnant and that is where I stayed until I was induced 2 days before my due date. My GP put me on medication as soon as we found out I was pregnant with my second baby so I wouldn't have to be hospitalised again. I was constantly asked if I had a headache, blury vision etc etc. I was induced with my second baby 2 weeks before he was due as they thought he had stopped growing, he turned out to be a healthy size. Labour and birth for both my kids were very quick and I was told this was due to high BP. The best thing you can do for your BP is to rest,

You could try searching the net, I was inundated with information because I was in hospital for my first baby for 4 weeks and surrounded by midwifes 24 hours a day

Good luck and try not to stress this will only make it worse.

I basically had the same as the above people, and just had weekly checkups with the OB. He decided my blood pressure was too high at my 37 week check and had an emergency c-section that night!!! NOT what I was expecting but was happy both my DS and I were healthy!

I had slightly high BP when I was pregnant with my daughter but it stayed steady and did not rise and she was born at 37 weeks. I had an even higher BP with my son and I wasn't working ( I am a stay at home mum now) and I was put on medication to keep it down. I never had any signs of pre eclampsia but he was born at 35 weeks and was told in labour I had pre eclampsia and that is why I went into early labour with him. Both of my children were born naturally not c section but were very quick ( an hour and a half after my waters broke ) but I didn't have any complications otherwise.
Don't stress too much they will probably put you on medication and keep an eye on you. They are the experts and deal with this stuff all the time.
Keep us up to date.

I had a severe pre-eclamsia when I was 32 week pregnant with my first. Before that everything had been normal. The baby and I were healthy as a horse. I just had my routine check up and everything was fine. The doctor didn't find anything wrong with my pregnancy. Few days later, I got pretty bad headache, heartburn like pain, swollen fingers and face etc... The night before I had a baby I got admitted into a hospital nearby and as soon as they discovered awful lots of protein in my urine, they sent me off to a hospital in the city which specialists in pregnancy, birth and preterm baby. They had given me medications to help lower down my blood pressure and a steroid short in case I had to have a baby soon. I also remember that they had been taking my blood and my pressure every 15 minutes and it was pretty hard and painful for me since I was very swollen and they had to inject me several times to get it right.

The doctor wanted to wait for another couple days. They said they wanted to give me another steroid shot. However, after the blood result came back. They couldn't wait any longer because my kidneys were about to fail and I was going to shock and have brain damage soon if they didn't do anything...

Anyway, I'll skip my story a bit....I ended up having my son that evening by cesarean. (Of course I asked for them to induce me but they said I would have a shock if I went into labour)

The recovery from cesarean was painful plus I still had high blood pressure for another 2 weeks following the birth but believe me, nothing worse than a month of watching my tiny baby boy in an incubator. Since my messed up placenta didn't deliver him food, he was 500 grams smaller than the average. (My baby was 1.47 kgs.)

All these had happened in 1 week! a week before I felt fantastic. I even went to my friend's wedding and pulled out my moves at the reception. All I'm telling you is, Don't make the same mistakes as I did!!

My first mistake was that "I believed my doctor too much" I mean, I had a very small bump considering I was 32 weeks along. She should have picked it up that something was not right...When she said everything was fine, I believed her...

My second one was that "I believed in theory too much" I searched online about pregnancy. I learned form schools that women are natural mothers. Every woman in my family had never had a complicated pregnancy or any threatening diseases. I thought I was still young and healthy. From that, I thought everything would go like a breeze...

My third one was that "I waited too long to go to the hospital" I rang maternity ward couple times because I hadn't had a sleep for days due to my pains. I went to pharmacists to get some medications that might have helped. I searched online for heartburn and back pain cures. I didn't even consider going to a hospital after I had a pink spot on my underwear. And when I got to the hospital it was almost too late...

Remember every pregnancy is different. You might be able to make it to your 40 weeks or you might not. I'm not telling you that you're going to be fine or you're going to have a baby too soon. I just want you to raise awareness. Don't wait if you feel like something is wrong. Don't even bother making an appointment with your doctor so you could see him the next day. Just go to your nearest hospital and find out. The worst thing that could happen will be just, they make you wait for too long and then tell you to go home.

Hi ladies

Thanks so much for your replies! Seems like it's pretty normal for people high BP to deliver their babies a bit earlier. I managed to speak to my normal midwife and she was able to talk through a few things with me yesterday, so feeling a bit calmer now and i'll see what the OB at the hospital says next week. Thanks again - really appreciate you sharing your experiences with me!

x

Hi ladies

Thanks so much for your replies! Seems like it's pretty normal for people high BP to deliver their babies a bit earlier. I managed to speak to my normal midwife and she was able to talk through a few things with me yesterday, so feeling a bit calmer now and i'll see what the OB at the hospital says next week. Thanks again - really appreciate you sharing your experiences with me!

x

I'm currently 28 weeks with my first baby and have had high blood pressure from about 10 weeks but haven't shown any signs of pre-e at this stage, simply the high blood pressure.

I still work 50 hours a week and have been travelling round the country with my job. I'm on labetalol at this point and the specialists up the dosage it as necessary. I still manage to do an adults jazz dancing class and a pregnancy yoga class each week.

I have to go into the hospital about once every two weeks to see the specialist and I monitor my BP daily at home. Hasn't affected how I live my life at all and I feel great so I'm sure you will be just fine smile

The only change is a specialist will probably take over from your midwife near the end of your pregnancy, especially when it comes to the birth. Hope all goes well for you, don't stress about it as I'm sure you and bubs will be just fine smile It's great that they are onto it!