2nd Trimester

High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy

Hello Ladies!

So at my last doctor's appointment I found out that my blood pressure is on the high side. The doctor ordered all kinds of tests, including having to pee in a bottle for 24 hours straight (what fun!). I'm only in my 16th week and I read that most of the tests they do for preclampsia is done after 20 weeks. She is also sending me for an EKG because of my heart beating irregularly (it would before but very infrequently, it has increased with pregnancy).

Has anyone been tested for it before 20 weeks? If you had/have high blood pressure should you lose weight during pregnancy? What is the best thing to do so I won't end up on bed rest? Any information you have for me would be great because I'm at a bit of a loss.

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Re: High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy

  • I didn't think there was a board for High Blood pressure??? Would that be under High-Risk pregnancy?
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  • My blood pressure was also high at my last appointment (I am 16w6d) and I am also having to do the 24 hour pee test. My doc told me she was doing it to check the protein in my urine now so she would have something to refer back to if my blood pressure got any higher and they had to do more tests. 

    I have been keeping track of my blood pressure from home since that appointment and it has been fine, not even close to what it was at the office! I just get really nervous at these appointments and it makes it go up, but I'm glad they're keeping at eye on it. Better safe than sorry! 

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  • imagekatll1979:
    I didn't think there was a board for High Blood pressure??? Would that be under High-Risk pregnancy?

    The High Risk board is for anyone with a high risk pregnancy.  Lots of ladies with Pre-e, GD, and other complications post there.  Someone may have experienced what you're going through.

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  • My blood pressure has been high all through my pregnancy. One time it was so high I also had to pee in a bucket!!! What fun that was esp at work! Anyway my dr didn't seem too concerned (for right now) since there's no protein in my urine. She just suggested I cut the sodium in my diet. Good luck with everything.
  • I had pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) with Micah starting at about 32 weeks.  I had to go through all the testing as well and ended up going for weekly non-stress tests.  My midwife put me on partial bedrest: I had to be completely horizontal 12 hours a day.  I hated it.   My H is a pharmacist and he owns a bp cuff so he monitored my bp at home.  I also watched my salt intake (I'm not a person who puts salt on anything, but I had to start paying attention to how much salt was in the food I was eating) and tried to walk daily.  Drink lots of water and try to put your feet up as often as possible.  My midwife told me to take a bath every day.  Good luck, hope everything turns out fine!
  • I am high risk for developing pre-e again with this pregnancy.  I had it with my first but it didn't develop until about 36 weeks.  I think the best thing you can do is follow your doctors recommendations, whatever they will be.  I already did a 24 urine sample as well very early in pregnancy for a baseline because of my history.  My doctor also told me up front they won't hesitate to put me on bed rest if my blood pressure goes up.  They are doing monthly ultrasounds week 28 on to make sure baby is growing on track b/c high blood pressure can restrict fetal growth.  In addition I was advised to take one baby aspirin daily for preventative measures.  I am not saying they will necessarily do any of this with you or it's typical but it's what my OB is doing with my history.
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  • As far as the high blood pressure goes, I would try keeping a daily log of your BP. Sometimes you BP will be higher in a Dr's office environment, so if you have a log of your BP from being at home in a relaxed environment they can get a better feel for what your BP is doing and if there is a trend of it being high or if it's an isolated event. Also, stay away from salty foods. Salty foods can definitely increase your BP.

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  • I just got my bucket from the Dr today, joy joy.  I've had high blood pressure since my early 20's though, when I was a skinny healthy little thing, crappy genetics.  Just watch what you eat, salt mostly.  Do what your Dr's tell you and you should be fine.  I ended up in a bad way with my DD because I was missing days taking my pills and then ended up in an all natural labor situation (I stalled going to the hospital thinking it wasn't really happening) and the pain and stress of labor itself sent me into a near stroke. 
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  • I have high blood pressure and have had it for a while now. I too had to collect urine for 24 hours.  I had an EKG as well at my last appointment.  Everything was okay.  They say you could lose some weight, but not too much.  I have been losing about a pound every other week.
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  • I was taken off work a bit early last time due to high blood pressure. The main concern for mine was that the bottom number had gone up so much, and had remained up for 3 appointments in a row. The weird thing was, I wasn't feeling stressed. I also had to do the 24 hour urine collection (called in sick because how I was supposed to do that at work??), and had to have a non-stress test.

    I had a racing heart/palpitations too and I had to wear a holter monitor for 24 hours - which seems better than an EKG to me. Turned out it was a type of racing heart that wasn't harmful/wasn't anything to worry about. Having it now again, much earlier this time.

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  • I had high BP with my first and had a slew of blood tests and a urine culture. I avoided the 24 hour collection though. I was put on BP meds around 14 weeks and remained on them until 6 weeks after I delivered. It never turned into anything worse. So far so good this pregnancy and I just hit 20 weeks yesterday.
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