Gestational Hypertension

EightYearsApart

My whole pregnancy my blood pressure has been between 120/65 and 120/70. I am 37 and at 39 weeks I have no other factors that would classify me as high risk other than my age. I am in excellent shape, have kept my weight gain with in the parameters I was given. I do not smoke or drink and I have taken great care of myself during my pregnancy and prior. Recently the doctors and midwives at the practice I go to have begun pushing induction and had me start non stress tests. My little one is in great shape and his size is right on target. He has shown no signs of stress. I have begun researching induction since they began pushing so hard for it with no other reason other than my age and they were trying to deliver me prior to me reaching 39 weeks. At that appointment I tried to ask questions and felt as though the doctor was giving me the run around and speaking to me as if I were uneducated, which I found very unprofessional and infuriating. At my next appointment I went in stressed out because of everything I had read via medical journals about the possible complications that can occur with induction and I was fired up about something that occurred right before my appointment. They took my blood pressure and it was high. I told them it would be because I was very angry and stressed out about what I had found about induction. They then had me pee in a cup and ordered me to have blood work and do a 24 hour urine test. I told them to allow me to calm down and take my blood pressure again they said we will take it again before you leave. They did and it was normal. All my blood work came back normal. I  then accessed my appointment notes today and it says that I have gestational hypertension. I want to know how it is possible to ignore all of my bp readings up to this point and label me as having hypertension based upon one bad blood pressure reading? And doesn't it mean anything that my bp returned to normal 30 minutes later and my blood work was well within normal ranges? Has anyone else dealt with a situation similar to this? I have to go in tomorrow and have my bp taken again and I have to say I am fired up over this and I am afraid they will use this to pressure me into an induction that I don't want nor feel I need since the little guy is active and passed all the non stress tests with flying colors.

lesleygosooners

I was diagnosed with gestational hypertension yesterday. My blood pressure has been high for several weeks now. Each week I go in I have high blood pressure, they check again and it is still high. For example, my top number on blood pressure yesterday was 168 and then 155. My doctor didn't diagnose it for several weeks, just to be sure. I can't imagine them diagnosing you after ONE high reading. I wouldn't like that either.

annie0714

Gestational hypertension is defined as TWO blood pressures elevated that are 6 hours apart but not more than seven days so maybe that is why he is having you back tomorrow?

EightYearsApart

Update: Went in and bp was higher then it normally is for me but within normal range, After speaking frankly with the midwife she agreed that it is all the stress caused by the induction pressure, my temper, and anxiety related to seeing a different person every time I go in. Since it was within normal ranges she decided to just keep an eye on it and continue with the nst's,besides she said I am due in a few days I'll probably go on my own. She apologized for me feeling pressured and as though I were being given the run around and confirmed that the information I had found regarding induction was the way things were going towards were correct and to relax that induction would only take place if the LO were showing signs of stress.

Boobopgirl

I am in the same boat.  BP has been on the high side when I first get to Drs office a few times, but they are not supposed to talk to you while they take your BP and they always are, plus my OBs don't let you pee first and a full bladder can definitely affect your numbers (especially if you are crossing your legs) The other docs have always acknowledged that.  The one I saw last time said well, your BP was a little high, but it's probably nothing.  But then went into IF it stays high...and all the horrible things that could happen to me and the baby and the possibility of early induction and THEN took my BP again.  And while she was taking it she was like "now don't let everything I just said make you nervous" and giggled like it was funny. 

I have to go back today and I am still boiling mad remembering her giggle.  Good thing I see a different doc today or I would probably get put in jail for assault.

Chichigo

My BP was high throughout my 3rd trimester, and the OB first mentioned possible induction at 37 weeks. He ordered NST and ultrasound, and baby was doing well. I was placed on bed rest, saw OB 2x a week and had frequent NST. The practice I went to is low-intervention, so they never pushed the induction idea but let me know it was a possibility. I had a natural birth 3 days before my due date. I believe they would have pushed induction if I went past my due date.