Curious if anyone else experiences this.
With my previous and current pregnancy I have elevated BP when I go to the OB. Not too bad; last reading was 130/92 but my OB labels me as chronic hypertensive. She has blood work ordered and urine collections each visit just to be on the safe side. I am so greatful for her being extra cautious but sometimes I feel like I'm the only one.
Oh and when I test at home, labor and delivery, or my regular primary care it is perfect! like 107/70 perfect.
Anyone else?
Re: High BP only at OB office?
A friend of mine has anxiety and her doctor always checks her BP at the end of her appts. She stresses herself out in the beginning and it messed up her BP.
Yes I definitely worry. About what? Couldn't say. I try to relax myself and say all is ok but it always gets me. Usually when they re-test it is in the safe zone but its still frustrating.
This is exactly me. It is elevated and my dr assistant was convinced I had pre e at 20 weeks. They made me do blood, 24 hour urine come back in two days to check it out. Everything was normal.
They then wanted me to check my blood pressure every week and my OB office is 40 minutes away from my house so they said I could monitor it at home and call it in. That solved it for us. Sometimes my office readings are a little high 132/80 but not crazy high. At home they are like 116/72.
Like you say I am glad they are being cautious but sometimes I want to scream at them. They will take it right at the beginning of the appt and then like 5 minutes later after we have been talking, checking LO heart rate etc. I want to be like if your really concerned you need leave me in the room by myself for ten minutes for it to stabilize (or even lay down on my left side). Even the directions on the home blood pressure kit say to sit still for 10 minutes before taking it.
So you are not alone. And every time I get a high reading it freaks me out for the next time and it just keeps repeating.
Do you feel less worried at the end of the appointment? Next time try asking them to take it at the end.
My midwife always takes my BP near the end of my appt. That way I've been sitting for about 45 minutes and generally am relaxed from all the chatting. Perhaps you need to try at the end of the appointment if you aren't already? I would keep records of your at home readings and show her those.
At my appointment today I was 120/48, so definitely not a problem here.
Its called "White Coat Syndrome" and it happens to alot of people. We see it a lot in the office I work in.
This! Only my systolic is high in the office, and both are completely normal at home. I had higher than usual blood pressure once (like 132/78) and since then I am super nervous about it being high, which doesn't help. At my 24 week appointment it was 140/72 (it's been about the same throughout pregnancy-- top number in the 130s or 140 bottom number completely normal). My MW has me take my blood pressure at home 4-5 times/week- different times each day to make sure it is normal at home/work (those numbers are always in the 110s/60s-70s). She said she would be concerned if my diastolic (bottom number) is 90 or over, or if my home systolic numbers get into the 130s.
OP, I would monitor it at home if your doc recommends it. Glad he/she is keeping a close eye on it and ordering extra tests to make sure!
DS 4/2009
m/c 11/12/2010 ~ 7 wks
m/c 7/4/2012 ~ 6 wks
DD 12/2013
mmc Baby Girl 7/12/2015 ~ 14 weeks
Twin girls! 8/26/2017