What does your doc consider to be a high BP?

Mizz&Shizz · June 2010

So I've been worried about my blood pressure since the beginning of pg, because I have labile hypertension (spikes randomly for a month or 2 and then goes back to normal, never been on meds for it), and my parents have really bad hypertension, and my cousin had pre-eclampsia and HELLP with her son.

My BPs have been ranging from 118/60-130/170. Yesterday I was wicked swollen (figured it was the heat and walking that I did yesterday), so I elevated and put the AC on last night. Well my legs are not much better today, so I just checked my BP, it was 140/80 in both arms, so I sat down and waited another 30 minutes and its 130/70.

What does your doc consider as high? I'm contemplating putting a call into the OB.

ETA: I meant 130/70, not 130/170

Leah&Cole · June 2010

I'm on pre-e watch and my doc wants me to call if either number is above 140/90 consistently --- like take it, relax for a bit and take it again and it's still high. If you aren't having any other signs (spotting/blurry vision, headache that won't go away, pain in your upper abdomen) and you aren't getting several high readings, I would guess that you are ok to wait to mention it until your next appointment. But, obviously, it does NOT hurt to call --- each doctor likely has a different threshold.

smileychic10986 · June 2010

::lurking from pal::

I would put in a call to my ob if I were you. Are they monitoring your bp very closely at your office? I delivered early d/t a placental abruption, possibly caused by early signs of pre-e. I wasn't officially diagnosed with pre-e, but if my protein had been much higher I would have been, so I was borderline. My bp had always been normal my whole pregnancy, and the week before I had DD it had gone up to about 135/89. Anything above 140/90 they will watch very closely. I only say carefully watch it b/c pre-e can develop VERY fast, and turn into hellp very quickly. Some of the other preemie moms on the preemie board had this happen to them. Not trying to make you any more nervous or anything, but it is something to be very cautious about. I didn't know much about any of that until I delivered early.

Good luck! I hope it is nothing

Mizz&Shizz · June 2010

I just spoke with the doc on call, she said its fine. They don't really get amped up over ANYTHING, so I guess I'm not surprised. Realistically, I don't know what they would have told me to do anyway. I have an appt on Tuesday anyway, so we'll see what its like then.

I'm sure it spiked because I had to go upstairs and get a box out of the closet with the BP cuff, but still, I don't think thats good that it spiked that high just from me doing so little.

Leah&Cole · June 2010

Mizz&Shizz:
I just spoke with the doc on call, she said its fine. They don't really get amped up over ANYTHING, so I guess I'm not surprised. Realistically, I don't know what they would have told me to do anyway. I have an appt on Tuesday anyway, so we'll see what its like then.

I'm sure it spiked because I had to go upstairs and get a box out of the closet with the BP cuff, but still, I don't think thats good that it spiked that high just from me doing so little.

Glad you were able to talk with them. If you're still sweating it, you could always go to L&D. They would put you on monitors for the baby and monitor your BP. They would also likely start you on a 24 hour urine and do PIH labs.

ShellShockedMama · June 2010

My MW would want a call at 130/70 but I don't think she'd really be "concerned" until I hit 140/80. For my first appointment I registered a little high (high 120's over 80) and she made a comment that we want to monitor that but I think I was just nervous b/c it was always lower when I went back.

Mizz&Shizz · June 2010

Leah&Cole:
Mizz&Shizz:

I just spoke with the doc on call, she said its fine. They don't really get amped up over ANYTHING, so I guess I'm not surprised. Realistically, I don't know what they would have told me to do anyway. I have an appt on Tuesday anyway, so we'll see what its like then.

I'm sure it spiked because I had to go upstairs and get a box out of the closet with the BP cuff, but still, I don't think thats good that it spiked that high just from me doing so little.

Glad you were able to talk with them. If you're still sweating it, you could always go to L&D. They would put you on monitors for the baby and monitor your BP. They would also likely start you on a 24 hour urine and do PIH labs.

That same doc would be at L&D and would take care of me when I got there, so I think if I showed up she would be like "Ok, nutcase, I just talked to you, go home". I am going to check my BP when I am at work tomorrow, because if it spikes like that when I am under any little bit of stress, that worries me.

She did say that at this point in pg, you most likely swell and stay swollen, as opposed to going down to normal at the end of the day. I don't really care about the swelling, but the BP is freaking me out. I'll just keep an eye on it and discuss it at the appt on Tuesday.

Leah&Cole · June 2010

Mizz&Shizz:
That same doc would be at L&D and would take care of me when I got there, so I think if I showed up she would be like "Ok, nutcase, I just talked to you, go home".

lol

Good luck with your appointment on Tuesday. I know those BP things can be nerve racking, which certainly does not help matters.

someflower6 · June 2010

140/90 is what my dr considered the borderline for concern. my bp has danced around there but hasn't gotten higher, so so far so good.

but did i read that right-- your bottom number has gotten up to 170? higher than the top number? or did you mean 170/130?

vlewis515 · June 2010

My doc wants to be notified if it get at or around 140/90 and then I think she'll have me check it regularly for a week and see if it continues before putting me on meds. Of course I could be wrong and if it even gets that high she may just put me on meds regardless.

So far I've been hovering around 120/80 consistently and had one episode a month or so ago (after a very stressful day) that I went in and it was 130/90. Then went right back to 120/80.

I would go ahead and call your doc just to see what they think. They may just say check it every so often and see what happens. But that's what they get paid the big bucks for!

Mizz&Shizz · June 2010

someflower6:

140/90 is what my dr considered the borderline for concern. my bp has danced around there but hasn't gotten higher, so so far so good.

but did i read that right-- your bottom number has gotten up to 170? higher than the top number? or did you mean 170/130?

Oh sh!t! I didn't notice that! I meant 130/70! Thanks!

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