Blood pressure spike

jenseattle07 · June 2011

Hi everyone...

Anyone else have a mystery high blood pressure spike? I went for my ultrasound yesterday (yay it's a boy!) and my blood pressure was 160/77, 150/77 and 156/77 over a couple of hours. I've never been over 130 as the high #. 4 hours later I visited my midwife... and it was 122/77. I got an electronic at home blood pressure kit and the highest reading since has been 122/78.

Basically, the doc at the ultrasound place freaked out, perscribed all these meds. My midwife told me to wait on the meds until my follow up with this doc (who I met for a whole 5 minutes before prescribing me all this crap) on Thursday. She wants to see the results of my blood work and urine test.

Basically, It's my goal... as long as safe to continue my care at the Birthing Center. A prescription (which I feel is premature considering I've never had problems before) would classify me 'high-risk' and I wouldn't be able to deliver with a Midwife.

Ugh. Any advice or sharing of your own experience?

Thanks in advance.

Jennifer

Seattle_JiLLn · June 2011

I think when you get pre-eclampsia they are more worried about the bottom number being over 90. Mine went up to something like 140/93 when I got pre-eclampsia with my first.

I'm not sure what would make your BP spike like that except maybe if you were nervous at the u/s place? sometimes people get "white coat syndrome" and have high BP at the doctor's but nowhere else.

Definitely keep an eye on it and look up signs of pre-eclampsia so you can watch for any other warning signs. Don't blow them off if you have any signs.

MrsKatie · June 2011

Seattle_JiLLn:

I think when you get pre-eclampsia they are more worried about the bottom number being over 90. Mine went up to something like 140/93 when I got pre-eclampsia with my first.

I'm not sure what would make your BP spike like that except maybe if you were nervous at the u/s place? sometimes people get "white coat syndrome" and have high BP at the doctor's but nowhere else.

Definitely keep an eye on it and look up signs of pre-eclampsia so you can watch for any other warning signs. Don't blow them off if you have any signs.

Wait and see what your MW says, but I'm sure you were just excited/nervous about the u/s.

Also, yay for boy!

SouthernInSeattle · June 2011

I am totally one of those who suffers from the white coat syndrome. With my son, I was with the midwives at the Puget Sound Birth Center, and they kept a close eye on my blood work/urine. They are generally more worried with your bottom number as mentioned above. I would hold off on the medication as well until speaking with your midwife, but keep a close eye on it for sure. Generally they want to see a pattern of high BP, so it's interesting to me that they would write you a script after a single incident. I LOVED being with a birth center and my midwives, so I know the feeling of not wanting to switch care, but if you continue to have high BP, it definitely isn't something to brush off. Hopefully it was just from the nervousness of the U/S.

dawnies79 · June 2011

I'm sorry I don't have any advice for you. Just wanted to say congrats on finding out it's a boy!

jenseattle07 · June 2011

Who was your team at PSBC? Mine is Val, Ally, and Sunita. I love them.

I'm open to different care if it continues, but considering it went down... I just don't want to classified high risk from this one incident. Do you think that's a possibility?

I did feel anxious for the appointment. I woke up at 5 am and my appointment wasn't until 10. I also accidently forgot decaf coffee in my order prior to my appointment. I don't know if that combo would do it or not.

Thanks for your note. ~Jen

SouthernInSeattle:
I am totally one of those who suffers from the white coat syndrome. With my son, I was with the midwives at the Puget Sound Birth Center, and they kept a close eye on my blood work/urine. They are generally more worried with your bottom number as mentioned above. I would hold off on the medication as well until speaking with your midwife, but keep a close eye on it for sure. Generally they want to see a pattern of high BP, so it's interesting to me that they would write you a script after a single incident. I LOVED being with a birth center and my midwives, so I know the feeling of not wanting to switch care, but if you continue to have high BP, it definitely isn't something to brush off. Hopefully it was just from the nervousness of the U/S.

jenseattle07 · June 2011

That's Ok... thank you for the congrats

dawnies79:
I'm sorry I don't have any advice for you. Just wanted to say congrats on finding out it's a boy!

jenseattle07 · June 2011

Yes, my midwife thinks 'white coat syndrome' is entirely possible.

I've always been anxious at the docs. My dad died in the emergency room when I was 12 so it's always been hard since.

Thanks for the note.

~Jen

Seattle_JiLLn:
I think when you get pre-eclampsia they are more worried about the bottom number being over 90. Mine went up to something like 140/93 when I got pre-eclampsia with my first.
I'm not sure what would make your BP spike like that except maybe if you were nervous at the u/s place? sometimes people get "white coat syndrome" and have high BP at the doctor's but nowhere else.
Definitely keep an eye on it and look up signs of pre-eclampsia so you can watch for any other warning signs. Don't blow them off if you have any signs.

SouthernInSeattle · June 2011

jenseattle07:
Who was your team at PSBC? Mine is Val, Ally, and Sunita. I love them.
I'm open to different care if it continues, but considering it went down... I just don't want to classified high risk from this one incident. Do you think that's a possibility?
I did feel anxious for the appointment. I woke up at 5 am and my appointment wasn't until 10. I also accidently forgot decaf coffee in my order prior to my appointment. I don't know if that combo would do it or not.
Thanks for your note. ~Jen

I was with the Eastside midwives and Heike was my main favorite. (Sounds like you are with the Lake WA midwives?)

I highly doubt they are going to make you switch care after a single incident. As it was explained to me, you will show a pattern if high BP or preeclampsia is setting in. Often times Heike would tell me to check my BP whenever I was at the drugstore etc, and if it showed to be high (which it never did) then we would take the next step. They would take my BP at the beginning and end of my appointment - without fail it would be much lower at the end of the appointment. Caffeine definitely would alter my BP and heart rate, so I would make sure to include that when speaking with them.

(Unfortunately, I was one of the very few who ended up being transferred to UW after failure to progress with 72 hours of labor, and subsequently into c-section. I would go back to them in a heartbeat if they were allowed to do VBAC's!)

kristalovesjared · June 2011

I haven't experienced this before, but if it was me, I'd at least have it checked out the following day to see if it was still high, seeing that it is not normal for you. If it was back to normal, I would just monitor it, but not take the meds. I'm the type that doesn't like to take medication if it isn't necessary. Congrats on the boy!!!

jenseattle07 · June 2011

How was your experience at UW? Would you go back? Any reason for not transferring to Evergreen?

SouthernInSeattle:
jenseattle07:
Who was your team at PSBC? Mine is Val, Ally, and Sunita. I love them.
I'm open to different care if it continues, but considering it went down... I just don't want to classified high risk from this one incident. Do you think that's a possibility?
I did feel anxious for the appointment. I woke up at 5 am and my appointment wasn't until 10. I also accidently forgot decaf coffee in my order prior to my appointment. I don't know if that combo would do it or not.
Thanks for your note. ~Jen
I was with the Eastside midwives and Heike was my main favorite. (Sounds like you are with the Lake WA midwives?)
I highly doubt they are going to make you switch care after a single incident. As it was explained to me, you will show a pattern if high BP or preeclampsia is setting in. Often times Heike would tell me to check my BP whenever I was at the drugstore etc, and if it showed to be high (which it never did) then we would take the next step. They would take my BP at the beginning and end of my appointment - without fail it would be much lower at the end of the appointment. Caffeine definitely would alter my BP and heart rate, so I would make sure to include that when speaking with them.
(Unfortunately, I was one of the very few who ended up being transferred to UW after failure to progress with 72 hours of labor, and subsequently into c-section. I would go back to them in a heartbeat if they were allowed to do VBAC's!)

jenseattle07 · June 2011

I too don't like to take unnecessary drugs. My last readings have been:

122/85

110/68

104/70

So far so good. I hope my appointment Thursday goes this well.

Thanks for the congrats

~Jen

kristalovesjared:
I haven't experienced this before, but if it was me, I'd at least have it checked out the following day to see if it was still high, seeing that it is not normal for you. If it was back to normal, I would just monitor it, but not take the meds. I'm the type that doesn't like to take medication if it isn't necessary. Congrats on the boy!!!

angieez · June 2011

I went through this with both pregnancies. I totally have white coat syndrome. I also really stressed out about it because I was always worried about getting pre-e, so I was anxious every appointment when it was time for BP. In my case the solution was home monitoring. It was always normal when I checked at home, but at the doc's always high.

It seems a little premature for them to start you on meds before checking your urine and blood. I would think they would do a 24 hour urine before any meds....but that's just my opinion.

Also, doesn't your BP stay elevated with Pre-e? I would think it wouldn't have come down to 122/78 if there were an underlying problem. I hope it was just your nerves and everything is fine. Try not to stress! I know, much easier said than done.

jenseattle07 · June 2011

I thought so too! I guess I will see what the labs come back as. I haven't heard anything yet. I guess maybe they will just review on Thursday?

Was your doc ok with you monitoring at home? That's what I'm doing now...

angieez:
I went through this with both pregnancies. I totally have white coat syndrome. I also really stressed out about it because I was always worried about getting pre-e, so I was anxious every appointment when it was time for BP. In my case the solution was home monitoring. It was always normal when I checked at home, but at the doc's always high.
It seems a little premature for them to start you on meds before checking your urine and blood. I would think they would do a 24 hour urine before any meds....but that's just my opinion.
Also, doesn't your BP stay elevated with Pre-e? I would think it wouldn't have come down to 122/78 if there were an underlying problem. I hope it was just your nerves and everything is fine. Try not to stress! I know, much easier said than done.

SouthernInSeattle · June 2011

jenseattle07:
How was your experience at UW? Would you go back? Any reason for not transferring to Evergreen?

I would NOT go back to UW! I feel very strongly about that. My water had been broke for over 48 hours at the point of being transferred, and Heike felt it would be best for me to go to UW because of their supposed 'more lenient' policy of transfers who had their water broken for that long of a time..

I preface this by saying I am a former LPN who has worked in a hospital setting, but I was VERY unimpressed with the bedside manner of both my nurses and my doctors. (I was borderline shocked actually, at points during my stay) The final nail in the coffin for me, was when a nurse I had already bumped heads with snapped at me and threatened to report my husband and I to CPS because we refused the Hep B vaccine. (We DO vax, but felt the Hep B at just hours old was overkill) It pi**ed my midwives off royally, but of course my husband and I were livid. The best thing I can say about them, was their lactation consultants were indeed wonderful.

This pregnancy I am with the midwives at Evergreen, and so far so good. Not nearly the level of one-on-one care as with PSBC, (I've shed a few tears because I can't go back to them!) but because of my experience with delivering at UW, I felt they were a good choice after doing lots of research and comparing options.

MrsH_08 · June 2011

My BP was higher than usual during most of my pregnancy. I had never been diagnosed as having high BP before this. It would be close to normal at one appt and then higher at the next, regardless of whether it was taken at the start or end of the appt (believe me, I tried that!). Once I was around 31 weeks and had some mystery spotting, they started worrying more about the BP, too. I spent time in L&D triage for monitoring, several times, and then my OB ordered weekly (and then twice weekly) NST's until delivery. The baby was always great, but my BP got as high as 154/110, but was never consistently high. It might be normal 2 days later.

I was never prescribed meds as my OB said it's not a pre-e concern unless it goes up and stays up as a trend. But he did want me watched closely. As a pp also mentioned, they will be looking for protein in your urine and do a few sets of PIH labs, before making the diagnosis. I had several sets of labs and they were always normal. It wasn't until the 24-hr urine catch, done 2 days before my c/s, that they found the protein was elevated. I was diagnosed with pre-e on the morning of my scheduled c-section, actually. (I had a c/s for low-lying placenta. Not related to BP.) The only thing it changed, for delivery/care, was needing magnesium and close monitoring for 24 hours after the birth. HOWEVER, I am now still fighting signs of pre-e/pregnancy induced hypertension. I am now on meds b/c my BP didn't just come back down as expected. My new primary thinks it's because I had a lot of swelling. He's gotten most of my swelling off of me now and my BP is definitely improving. He expects I may be able to come off the meds within a few weeks.

Sorry for the long reply; I just thought I'd explain what I'd gone through. I do also find it odd to get an Rx after only one incident. Mine went up and down for weeks before they felt the need to do more than BP readings and labwork. And only now that I'm PP, am I even on any meds for it. (Pre-e seizures can still happen PP.) Pre-e is very serious, so I'm glad you are checking yourself and keeping it in mind. But it seems like jumping the gun to have you on meds after one appointment with high numbers.

jenseattle07 · June 2011

Thank you for the information Re: UW. I know they recommend transferring there so I was curious.

If I am ruled high risk... can I see midwives at Evergreen? Do you happen to know?

Jennifer

SouthernInSeattle:
jenseattle07:
How was your experience at UW? Would you go back? Any reason for not transferring to Evergreen?
I would NOT go back to UW! I feel very strongly about that. My water had been broke for over 48 hours at the point of being transferred, and Heike felt it would be best for me to go to UW because of their supposed 'more lenient' policy of transfers who had their water broken for that long of a time..
I preface this by saying I am a former LPN who has worked in a hospital setting, but I was VERY unimpressed with the bedside manner of both my nurses and my doctors. (I was borderline shocked actually, at points during my stay) The final nail in the coffin for me, was when a nurse I had already bumped heads with snapped at me and threatened to report my husband and I to CPS because we refused the Hep B vaccine. (We DO vax, but felt the Hep B at just hours old was overkill) It pi**ed my midwives off royally, but of course my husband and I were livid. The best thing I can say about them, was their lactation consultants were indeed wonderful.
This pregnancy I am with the midwives at Evergreen, and so far so good. Not nearly the level of one-on-one care as with PSBC, (I've shed a few tears because I can't go back to them!) but because of my experience with delivering at UW, I felt they were a good choice after doing lots of research and comparing options.

jenseattle07 · June 2011

First of all, the baby shrek hat is sooo cute! Did you make that?

I'm a first time mom and relatively new to the boards. I was wondering if you can help me with a few of the abbreviations... NTS?

Also what did the magnesium do for you?

Thank you for sharing your story. I really appreciate it, and hope your BP keeps improving for the better!

Jennifer

MrsH_08:
My BP was higher than usual during most of my pregnancy. I had never been diagnosed as having high BP before this. It would be close to normal at one appt and then higher at the next, regardless of whether it was taken at the start or end of the appt (believe me, I tried that!). Once I was around 31 weeks and had some mystery spotting, they started worrying more about the BP, too. I spent time in L&D triage for monitoring, several times, and then my OB ordered weekly (and then twice weekly) NST's until delivery. The baby was always great, but my BP got as high as 154/110, but was never consistently high. It might be normal 2 days later.
I was never prescribed meds as my OB said it's not a pre-e concern unless it goes up and stays up as a trend. But he did want me watched closely. As a pp also mentioned, they will be looking for protein in your urine and do a few sets of PIH labs, before making the diagnosis. I had several sets of labs and they were always normal. It wasn't until the 24-hr urine catch, done 2 days before my c/s, that they found the protein was elevated. I was diagnosed with pre-e on the morning of my scheduled c-section, actually. (I had a c/s for low-lying placenta. Not related to BP.) The only thing it changed, for delivery/care, was needing magnesium and close monitoring for 24 hours after the birth. HOWEVER, I am now still fighting signs of pre-e/pregnancy induced hypertension. I am now on meds b/c my BP didn't just come back down as expected. My new primary thinks it's because I had a lot of swelling. He's gotten most of my swelling off of me now and my BP is definitely improving. He expects I may be able to come off the meds within a few weeks.
Sorry for the long reply; I just thought I'd explain what I'd gone through. I do also find it odd to get an Rx after only one incident. Mine went up and down for weeks before they felt the need to do more than BP readings and labwork. And only now that I'm PP, am I even on any meds for it. (Pre-e seizures can still happen PP.) Pre-e is very serious, so I'm glad you are checking yourself and keeping it in mind. But it seems like jumping the gun to have you on meds after one appointment with high numbers.

Seattle_JiLLn · June 2011

NSTs are Non Stress Tests.... you go in and they put monitors on your belly and you lay there for about a half an hour and they record baby's heart rate. It's super relaxing! And all they're looking for is that the baby isn't in distress. They want to see his heart rate go up when he moves and they want to see what he does in response to any contractions you might be having.

jenseattle07 · June 2011

Ohh ok! Thanks for the definition. I was told I may have to do that at 32 weeks after my appointment today with the doctor.... I'm glad to hear that it's relaxing.

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