High Blood Pressure Question????

suepotsy · March 2010

Hello Ladies! I posted this on 2nd tri, and was told you might have some better advice for me. Anything would be helpful!!

I just got back from my 25 week appointment (we had to get a second ultrasound due to bad positioning of little lady) and got an interesting update. I've had a horrid headache and have been dizzy for the past 4 days, but I also felt as if I was coming down with a cold or sinus infection, so I chalked it up to that. At my appointment today, they told me my blood pressure was up. They kept me for about 45 minutes and checked it 4 times. They talked to me about contractions (which I haven't had any) and swelling (hands and feet have both been swollen for about a month or so). They eventually told me to go home, put my feet up, don't eat anything salty, and to take a tylenol and a coke. They said if the headache is not gone by tomorrow, I need to return to the office so they can check me again.

At first I though no big deal, but now I am concerned! My head is still pounding. How do I know if something hasn't gotten worse or if the baby is in danger? I honestly don't even know what "safe" blood pressure numbers are. My husband is out of town, and I am horrified that something will happen to the baby, and I won't even know. Has anybody else experienced this? Should I be worried? Anything that I should watch for? I wish my doctor had an after hours # but they don't Sad

sleepyocean · March 2010

Did they tell you what your bp was? You're bp could be elevated from having such a horrible headache. If they were worried about pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia they'd have you monitoring your blood pressure at home in which case 160/100 is the go to the hospital zone bp.

suepotsy · March 2010

sleepyocean:
Did they tell you what your bp was? You're bp could be elevated from having such a horrible headache. If they were worried about pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia they'd have you monitoring your blood pressure at home in which case 160/100 is the go to the hospital zone bp.

I don't know what it was when I got there, but it was 140/80 when they sent me home.

sleepyocean · March 2010

That's elevated but not really anything to worry about. The top number can be stress or pain related and it being high is obviously because you're not feeling well, your bottom number which is actually the more important one is completely normal. Normal bp is 120/80. So just try to relax and feel better.

sleepyocean · March 2010

You might want to call your doctors office and ask to be seen in about a week or so just to have your bp checked, if you bp is still elevated after you're feeling better it could indicate other issues that they should definitely monitor you for!

rhabel · March 2010

I'm going through the same thing. Mine was high at my last appt and has been steadily rising so I'm going to a specialist to check it out. Stupid me didn't think to tell the doc I'd taken a sudafed that morning which was probably the reason behind my high bp. I've been keeping an eye on it on my own and it stays around 140/80. The doc said 120/80 and under is ideal. Sometimes tylenol and coke just isn't enough for a headache. I hope you feel better and try not to freak out too much. That makes your bp go up, too. Hang in there. Resting definitely helps.

suepotsy · March 2010

sleepyocean:
That's elevated but not really anything to worry about. The top number can be stress or pain related and it being high is obviously because you're not feeling well, your bottom number which is actually the more important one is completely normal. Normal bp is 120/80. So just try to relax and feel better.

Thank you Thank you! This helps me relax a little bit. I haven't had much experience with high blood pressure, and it made me nervous!

msalinardi@live.com · March 2010

Did they check the protein in your urine? Because you have some syptoms of pre-eclampsia.

SuwaneeGirl · March 2010

The weekend that I was admitted to the hospital--before I had to deliver at 32 weeks--I had a terrible headache. It was like a squeezy headache right across my forehead. I had never had anything like it.

I checked my BP at home and it was really high. By the time I was at the hospital it was 200/100. I had pre-eclampsia.

Please go get a BP cuff at your pharmacy or grocery store and use it to take your BP. Follow the instructions that come with it. The cuff type you put around your arm is preferable to the kind that goes around your wrist (the pharmacist can help you decide).

Keep a log of your BPs. Call your doctor and ask what the "magic number" is when they are not comfortable with your BP. If you keep a log at home, you'll have a good record to show your doctor.

Feeling puny, having a headache, swelling and elevated BP are all signs of pre-eclampsia. Please take care of yourself.

SuwaneeGirl · March 2010

Also if you have any questions whatsoever about what is safe, and you can't reach your doctor, you can always call your local hospital's labor and delivery wing or go to the ER.

chancellors mommy · March 2010

When found out i was pregnant with my son i sat up a doctors appt right away because i have a history of high blood pressure.All that happend for me was they watched my blood pressure and put me on a no salt diet.Because of it i was induced just a week early from his due date and he was delivered healthy 8lbs 1 oz.The doc will probally watch for preclampsia if it gets real high,but i never had that problem.

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