For those of you with high BP

JameRoo430

Today is my due date and no labor yet.  I'm really hoping I go soon so they don't have to induce, but as long as baby is healthy I will go along with an induction or even a c-section if I need to.  I am prepared for that.   I plan to ask the doctor about this but this just occurred to me today.  I've been on bedrest and my bp is still pretty high, what happens when labor starts?  I would think labor would increase bp.  I am sure my bp will be monitored the entire time, but is there anyone else with high bp right now that knows?  And did they want you to go to the hospital sooner because of it?  I really don't want to go to the hospital until I need to, but LO and my health of course come before the comfort of home.  Thank you!

jenny1980

Actually, a lot of times BP drops during labor, especially if you get an epi. If your BP got dangerously high, they'd likely do an emergency section. They'll take good care of you and watch it closely. :-)

 

JameRoo430

Thank you!  That's really relieving to know! 

JennyJen456

I was overdue and went in for a NST and they discovered I had extremely high BP. I had to go straight over to the hospital to be monitored and induced. My BP stayed high through the whole labor and delivery and for aobut a month afterwards. I had to take BP meds.

Good luck to you!!!

pandaluvr

I had a c-section with my first daughter at 37 weeks. My blood pressure was scary high. It was frustrating because I too was on bedrest and didn't have any symptoms. I had to go to the hospital everytime it went up and I was monitored there until my docor finally sent me for an induction.

They kept a VERY careful eye on my BP and since mine didn't go down and labor never progressed I got the c-section.

I had to lay on my left side the whole induction because if I moved to the right or sat up the BP sky rocketed.  It was weird and a  PITA.

 At the time my doctor told me he wasn't as concerned about the high number as long as it stayed high--however if it began to wildy fluctuate then we had a problem. So a blood pressure cuff was hooked up to me and automatically checked every 15 minutes or so. 

They keep a very close eye on you and will tell you if you need emergency intervention or if you can keep going.

Just be sure to communicate--I had a slight headache and I told them and they were very concerned because it could have been a preeclempsia symptom. I didn't think it was that bad a headache but they were able to give me magnesium to help (gross btw). 

promisegrl

They may want to give you an epi to help lower your BP.  I'm getting induced on Sunday because of my high BP. 

Just make sure to communicate with your medical staff and ask questions if you don't understand or what to know why they're wanting to do something.

JameRoo430

Thank you so much everyone!  That is really helpful and makes me feel better to know the protocol.  I was so nervous about the next step and my actual bp when I was in the office I didn't think to ask these questions.  Out of curiosity (if any of you check back) how high was your bp when you were induced?  Mine got up to 160/110 but the average has been in the 140's over high 90's, but that's on bedrest!  That makes me nervous as to how high it would be if I were to do anything or during showers/etc.  I don't want to be induced because I am afraid that it will greatly increase my chance of needing a c-section if it doesn't work, but I really wish they would just induce already so I didn't have to worry about it unexpectedly going up and hurting the baby or me.

jenny1980

140s/90s is high for bedrest. I'm surprised they haven't talked induction. Every doctor is different, though and it may depend on what your normal BP is (if it tends to be high/on the high side of normal they may be less concerned than if it is normally low).

 

promisegrl

140s/90s have been my normal average for 3rd tri and that's on bedrest also.  Since mine has been slightly high this whole pregnancy, they've been watching me for pre-e symptoms.  This now consists of NSTs twice a week, my blood drawn twice a week, visit to the Dr.'s once a week, and I'm on my 4th 24 hr urine catch.  So far nothing except high BP and LO is doing excellent on the NSTs.

Just remember not to stress.  Make sure to read up on pre-e and high BP during pregnancy so you know what to watch for.  I found the more educated I was about the subject, the less I stressed.  I also read some birth stories from women that ended up getting pre-e.  Almost all of them said they wished they knew more about it prior to going into delivery, and if they did, they might have done things differently.

GL