blood pressure and natural birth

KatetheGreat79 · May 2013

Yesterday at the doc I had a BP reading that was higher than normal, so the nurse took it again. It was even higher that time, so they had me lay on my left side for a bit and took it once more. This time it had gone way back down.

Because it went back down and because there were no proteins in my urine, the doc did not feel concerned. Despite his lack of concern, I am feeling concern over how this could affect my natural childbirth plans. I had a friend develop high blood pressure readings around this time in her pregnancy, and she went on to have pretty severe preeclampsia.

So my question is this: have any of you dealt with high blood pressure readings and gone on to deliver naturally? Does anyone have any tips for keeping blood pressure as low as possible during pregnancy or even lowering it? I know I should drink lots of water, get light exercise and avoid salt... but is there anything else?

pdilly2b · May 2013

I've actually seen recommendations of the opposite regarding salt intake. I followed the Brewer pregnancy diet when I was pregnant and have noticed that some others on this board do/did as well - https://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id11.html

FWIW, I have always had normal blood pressure it was normal or even low throughout my pregnancy.

May be something to look into anyway.

nicant11 · May 2013

This exact same thing happened to me at my last appt last week. I've never had my bp fluctuate at all. It's always normal. And at my last appt they had two high readings and then they laid me on my side and it came back down. But I was concerned too. My next appt is next week and I am interested to see what it is.

loneybaloney · May 2013

Hi there! I have chronic HBP, and so was on meds prior to and during my first pregnancy. At the very end (38+ weeks), it started rising, and I started having protein in my urine. I was ultimately induced via Pitocin at 39w4d. At that point, I was about 2 cm dialated and 80% effaced, and although I labored for a looooong 17 hours ( Indifferent ) I had no other medical interventions and was able to have the natural birth I'd hoped for. And actually, it was an amazingly wonderful experience.

Keep faith...you can likely still go natural even if you have BP issues. Good luck.

mb314 · May 2013

I had pre-existing high blood pressure, and took medication throughout the pregnancy. But around week 38, my midwife started getting nervous and really wanted to induce me at 40 weeks because the blood pressure was creeping up, although not yet high. Before I agreed to the induction, I asked for a non-stress test and then a follow up sonogram to measure the baby and fluid levels at about week 39.5. I also asked to do the 24 hour urine collection again. Since my blood pressure wasn't yet high, just rising, I didn't want to be induced without evidence that it was necessary.

Long story short, the sonogram did come back showing that the fluid levels looked low, and I felt like there was enough concern to schedule the induction. That was on a Tuesday, and I scheduled the induction for my due date that Friday. As luck would have it, I went into labor naturally within 3 hours of scheduling the induction, and I gave birth without any drugs or interventions.

I guess my advice is to monitor your blood pressure, and if you're not sure an induction that your care provider is pushing is warranted yet, ask for further tests.

annksaw · May 2013

pdilly2b:
I've actually seen recommendations of the opposite regarding salt intake. I followed the Brewer pregnancy diet when I was pregnant and have noticed that some others on this board do/did as well - https://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id11.html

FWIW, I have always had normal blood pressure it was normal or even low throughout my pregnancy.

May be something to look into anyway.

:lurker from TTGP:

Thank you SO much for sharing that link!

NatJane03 · May 2013

Lots of rest and water, and put your feet up. I ended up developing preeclampsia at the end of my pregnancy. In order to avoid putting me on a magnesium drip during delivery, my mw induced me at 39 weeks. They started with a foley bulb and, when I hadn't progressed the next morning, a very low dose of Pitocin. After a full day of Pitocin, with very intermittent increases, (which did nothing) they turned it off and let me rest overnight. I was in labor on my own the next morning.

So, it took a couple of days, but I was able to labor and deliver med-free after being induced. If it becomes necessary, just give your body time to do its thing.

SarahinMD · May 2013

I recommend looking into the Brewer diet as well. Also consider adding some light, regular exercise if you don't already. With my last pregnancy I got lazy in third trimester and my BP started creeping up (for me it's a weight thing). I never had abnormal protein readings though they checked a couple times. Labs were always normal, even when in labor. In the end, I had a wonderful natural birth, though after DD was born they put me on mag sulfate just in case. It was unpleasant, and knock on wood, I'm trying to be more careful about my health this time, but all things considered I'd rather have had meds after she was born, so it was fine.

cheesecakerunner · May 2013

I had normal bp all through pregnancy until my 39w appointment. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and had to transfer from my midwife to an ob who wanted to induce me that same night.

I got a few hours at home first and tried a bunch of induction technique acupuncture, chiropractic, pineapple, raspberries, parsley, bouncing on the birth ball. When I had to report back to thee hospital for the chemical induction, I was progressed enough 3cm, 80 effaced, 2 station and broken water that I did not ned cervadil and was able to deliver totally drug free! It can be done!

One thing mt acupuncturist said would help is raspberry zinger tea. I drank a ton, but it didn't help my bp. I had to ber on the monitors every twenty minutes during delivery, but still got to move around and get in the tub.

one good thing about pre e is that your body wants to go in to labor to relieve the pressure.

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