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2nd Trimester
Mrs.Keith2B
member
What is your doctor telling you to do?
High blood pressure
Mrs.Keith2B
member
Does anyone else have high-blood pressure that's pregnancy related?
I never had any BP issues prior to being pregnant, but at my last appointment my doctor said it was still higher than she'd like to see, especially for being in my 2nd trimester. Then she made a snide remark: "What, have you never been to a doctor before?" Ummm...yeah, I go every year for my yearly and I've never been told my BP was an issue.
I asked my doctor what I could do and she said to try to keep my stress level down (yeah right), stay away from salt and processed foods, try to get more exercise in (right now I'm only walking the dogs) and rest as much as possible.
She didn't seem too concerned about it, but after doing some reading I can see that high BP isn't something to take lightly during pregnancy.
What is your doctor telling you to do?
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Re: High blood pressure
mine was a little high last time, she wasn't worried.
But I also get nervous when I go to the doc/when people take my BP so it's always a little higher.
I'd try to get some more exercise in, do the salt thing and make sure you are eating lots of veggies (which naturally bring it down) and protein
She told me, but of course, I can't remember for the life of me. I do know that only the top number was high.
that's the better one to be high!
My mw stresses that she is far less concerned with the top number than the bottom number. That is in part because it's only in the past two visits (of over a year of seeing her) that the top number hasn't been high. I get white coat syndrome and it shoots up.
At the OB last week, my b/p was 158/82. My eyes got wide and the nurse just laughed and said she was totally unconcerned, as I was clearly under stress and that was a clear stress reading (elevated top number).
Consider monitoring and charting at home and follow her advice for keeping it in control. But really, the bottom number is the one they watch on me for signs of PIH.
Gabriel Ross - August 24, 2009 * Vivienne Rose - May 1, 2012
My Blog
Mine was high last pregnancy, and I ended up with preeclampsia. This time I was put on BP meds from the beginning and have been monitoring my BP at home on a regular basis. It's definitely something to worry about - but at this point there's not much that you can do besides what your Dr. has already mentioned. Just monitor it, and ask at your next appointment what numbers you should consider high for this stage in your pregnancy (as in, when you see these numbers, you need to call them). Also, just keep an eye out for swelling accompanied by an increase in BP. If your feet and face seem to swell up overnight then you should definitely call your OB.
Just because you have some high BP during pregnancy, doesn't mean that you will develop pre-e but it does mean that your chances of developing it are higher... Good Luck!
My blood pressure used to run in the higher 110/60-70's which is good for a healthy 20-something. At my 11 wk appt it was 134/80. I have no idea why it was elevated and my doc seemed concerned. She said we will keep a close eye on it and that it should drop (usually 15-20 mmHg) during the 2nd trimester. So far mine has stayed in the 120/70's. I have had some readings in the last few wks up to 139/80 and 145/85. That is definately too high for the 2nd trimester.
Make sure that you speak with your dr. about this. I have an appt in two days to talk with mine so I dont know what she will say. They may want you to take medication for it if it is not controlled with decreasing your stess, exersice and staying away from salts. But high blood pressure is serioius during pregnancy.
My blood pressure has been high throughout this pregnancy. It is staying just below the threshold of needing meds, though my OB is convinced that I'll need them at some point.
I use a wrist cuff to take my BP every night. I have also cut out salt as much as possible. Other than that, I try to relax a lot if I get a high reading.