- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
High-Risk Pregnancy
Should I REQUEST bedrest?
Ok... so this is going to sound wierd, but here goes.
I have PIH and its being "controlled" by meds. I use the word "controlled" lightly because even on meds it still gets up to 170/105 if I do too much. If I lay around and relax like I did all weekend - just light chores, cooking, and getting up for showers and bathroom - then it stays under 140/90.
My doctor doesn't seem to be bothered by BPs at 150/90 and keeps saying we will just watch it, but it seems like you ladies on bedrest tend to keep much lower BPs.
If I keep tracking my BPs and they keep getting to wacky levels when i do things, should I request bedrest to keep this baby healthy and in my belly for longer?!
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Should I REQUEST bedrest?
My OB put me on bedrest way before 150/90, and if my numbers were 170/105 I would be in the hospital. And my OB is pretty hands off- I had several high readings before being put on bedrest, never sent to L&D for monitoring, etc...
I would ask your OB for their reasoning for not putting you on bedrest.
I haven't been any higher than 160/90 at appointments but I started self-monitoring this weekend and caught a 174/104 on Saturday. The OB doesn't know yet. Typically, if I was relaxing it was below 150.
How low is yours while you are on bedrest?
Wow 174/104, I would have at minimum called the on call number with that reading, if not gone to the emergency room. No doubt my dr would probably put me in the hospital with that number. Is it staying that high or do you get it down fairly easily? I am pretty worried about you.
I would definitely tell your doc what your high readings are and that when you totally rest it gets better. Tell him that you think you are ready for bed rest. But if he would not suggest that after hearing those readings, I would be worried about him...
Mine was 145/95 pretty steady before bed rest. It was 138/110 when they put me in the hospital for monitoring the first time, 134/92 when they put me in the second time. It would go down when I rested. Today marks 4 weeks of bed rest and my readings are typically 125ish/75ish. It is making a huge difference for me. I had high readings that they were "keeping an eye on and if this stays this way - you will go on bedrest" with my first pregnancy and I ended up in the hospital at 26 weeks, delivering at 27.... Let us know how your appointment goes!
When I saw the 174/104 reading I flipped and went straight home, layed on my left side, drank a bunch of water and within an hour is dropped to 138/88. I did nothing for the rest of the night. I fell asleep and napped for two hours and took it again when I woke up and it dropped to 123/89. On Sunday I did nothing and I my highest reading was 133/91 and the lowest was 128/85. So even resting, they are still not stellar, but they are better.
I am kinda flipping out, but I don't want my doc to think I am cuckoo! I'd like to get a few more days of data before I call flipping out because I feel like he is just going to tell me that BP cuffs are inaccurate or something.. ugh.
Most at home BP readings can be WAY off, so the reading you get while in at the doctor's are a far better indicator of issues.
It also makes a difference if you have previous issues with your BP - what was your baseline BP before becoming pregnant, and what was it like earlier in your pregnancy? Do you have protein in your urine, etc.
It doesn't really work to compare your BP reading to those of other women on the internet - there are so many other factors. I woulnd't request bedrest, but I would ask your doctor about your findings, what their reasoning is, etc.
Take your blood pressure cuff with you to your next appointment so you can see where your machine falls in line with theirs. Yes, at home readings can be inaccurate but even if yours is a off some, they are too high.
I am speaking from my situation only but it is all I have right now, but I would not wait or hesitate to call your doctor. I would tell them your at home readings have been high and you would like to come in and get your BP taken there and measure your machine against theirs. Pre-e can get bad really quick - I would not risk it. Hang in there!
My OB doesn't want me doing at home monitoring. I have 2x week NSTs, and generally when I first get there (so after walking back to the room, peeing, getting weighed, etc) it's 140s/80s-90s. However, when they take it after the NST when I've been relaxing for 20 minutes, it's more like 120s-130s/80s. Still not great, but not so bad either.
I would call them and see what they think. If they say home BP monitors aren't accurate, then ask to come in 2x/week for BP monitoring. Ask how high is too high, and at what point they would consider bedrest. Just knowing will probably put you more at ease. good luck!
I was put on bed rest primarily because of IC, but they considered my BPs to be high at 140ish/95ish. ?This would go down when I lay on my side when they took second readings. ?Terbutaline also made my pressure rise, so the bed rest is essential.
My two cents is don't be afraid of being thought of as high maintenance - if it means a healthy pregnancy.?You don't want to regret not bringing these issues up to their attention if it could prevent you and your baby harm. ?170/105 should be a concern, especially if it is consistent.
I agree with the pp's who are telling you to be your own advocate and really speak to your dr. about your concern. I was placed on bedrest and I have never had bp's greater than 140/90 except one time my bp was 148/70's. At 31 weeks I was admitted to the hospital and received steroid shots for the baby bc my dr. wasn't convinced I would make it to term. Bedrest has done wonders for me and the LO and I definitely believe it is the reason I am still pregnant. If I recall correctly you have had other symptoms also right? I think I remember reading you were having headaches and maybe even some swelling. Pre-e can come on fast and it can be very bad..I would not take it lightly.
Think of it this way..If you are on bedrest and don't need to be, yes it sucks..but baby won't be hurt by it. If you continue to go about like everything is fine and you actually need to be on bedrest there could definitely be repercussions. I don't mean to scare you I just think your dr. should be a little more concerned about your bp's. What was your normal bp pre-pregnancy? Have yuo done the 24 hour urine analysis?
I don't quite know what my normal BP was pre-pregnancy, but it was in the regular range. When I got pregnant, my BP crept up weekly.
I have not had a 24 hour urine. I have passed all my office visit urine tests and they didn't take it any further.
Again, I have no idea why some doctors do the 24 hour and some don't.
I have also always passed all my urine tests in the office..never have I had any protein show up on them. My 24 hour collection however came back at 403. Anything over 300 is classified as a sign of pre-e. Just how bad the pre-e is depends on the amount you have. I asked my dr. why this happened and she expained that it could be many reasons: 1. it took my body 24 hours to build up the level, or 2. the urine tests in office are not 100 reliable but they are the best resource they have to detect protein. She said that there are many pregnant women with pre-e who do not have protein in the urine dipstick test but that do in the 24 hour collection. Hence why they order the 24 hour test even if you are negative in the office but you are showing other signs of pih or pre-e.
In order for me to go on bedrest, my doctor would have to file paperwork for disability. I am a global manager and I pay the bills for our family so I can't just drop out of work or quit.
Hmm... I guess I will ask at the next appt. The only reason I can think of is that maybe I am too early along in the pregnancy. Not sure.
I am 100% watching for all the signs and will call immediately if things go wacky. I really appreciate your help and support and am on this board hourly to see what new stuff is here! The more I know, they better! Since monitoring, I have only had on really high reading and my max while working is 143/103 (still high, yes, but not through the roof).