I did it.....I googled

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

Yes I know nobody here is a dr. And yes I have every intention of calling my OB first thing in the morning. Now that that is out of the way, I'm starting to freak myself out a bit. I stupidly googled blood pressure ranges in pregnancy and saw that if the top number is 140+ or the bottom number is 90+ then they worry about pre-e. Well I went to urgent care (and having seen a dr today is the only reason I haven't called my dr today, they just wanted me to call him tomorrow and I will) for a suspected UTI. They confirmed it and gave me a script for an antibiotic. NBD, been down that road a million times just not while pregnant before. Well I noticed that the nurse wrote down my bp as 130/82, that's borderline high for any normal person but insanely high for me. The highest I have ever seen my bp is 117/67. I normally have bp so low that the nurses joke they don't know how I'm still living (100-105/60-63 are my normal ranges) and DH pretends he's mad because even on his bp meds mine is lower. I guess there's not much point to this other than getting my thoughts out there. With DH out of town I don't want to worry him too much (he already freaked when I told him I had a UTI this morning) until I know more so this was basically my only other option to "talk" through my thoughts.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

kitchencolors said:

It seems logical to me that the UTI could make your BP higher. Hopefully your OB will have an idea. Do you have any other pre e symptoms? I'd say take it as easy as possible tonight and talk to your doc in the morning.

I mean I have some abdominal pain but that could be UTI too. My feet/legs have swelled for quite a few weeks now but typically go back down over night. I've been doing as little as possible with a toddler around but luckily he has actually done pretty good entertaining himself lately.

bcnoelle · February 2014

I hope you get some answers tomorrow. I would rest up and drink fluids (even though it seems counter-intuitive w high blood pressure)...it should help UTI. My normal blood pressure is super low and pregnancy has been about 90/60, which is on the high end for me. I really think everyone's 'normal' is different and pregnancy can throw off your normal significantly without meaning something is necessarily wrong. If you notice continued unusual swelling tonight, I would go to labor-delivery.

carissa32581 · February 2014

For what it's worth any type of infection usually makes my blood pressure higher. Hope that's all it is!

Mamazon2014 · February 2014

I have major white coat syndrome which has me under pre-e watch. Last apt was 148/95 when I first got in after driving in horribly slick winter traffic. When they retook it later, it was down 136/88. So i have to monitor multiple times daily at home. Home BP is SO much lower (as in mid 120s-115s/60-80).

I'm guessing that between your growing bump making respiratory functions slightly more strained and stress of possible UTI, that it was just an off day for BP.

If you're concerned, maybe check your BP a few times a week using the cuff at the drug store and if it stays elevated, then talk to your OB?

haylo33 · February 2014

BP in the 130s for 1 reading is probably nothing. Could be the situation or infection. I'm no doctor, just a nurse but I wouldn't worry. And I'm surprised to hear you say nurses comment on your normally "low" BP. Low 100s isn't a bad thing at all. The new recommendations actually say 120/80 is the high end of what they like to see. But like I said, you can't go by 1 reading especially when it isn't that abnormal.

jenb_99 · February 2014

UTIs and other infections can cause high blood pressure, usually due to dehydration.

Furthermore, it is possible to have high blood pressure during pregnancy without having preeclampsia. I had gestational hypertension with my first (consistently 140/90, every checkup) but never tested positive for protein in my urine or developed any other symptoms of preeclampsia.

Sometimes high blood pressure is just high blood pressure.

mrspopsicle · February 2014

I wouldn't worry about it at all. My BP was frequently that high in my doctors office with my last pregnancy long before we were worried about pre-e. My doctor was more concerned once I started getting consistently high readings at home.

Junebug060609 · February 2014

As a former pre-e'er...for sure follow up with your doc. It sounds completely possible that your reading was situational (be it white coat, the infection, etc), but a jump in bp is important to discuss with your doctor. S/he needs to know about that reading, even if it was a dud.

I know you are planning to follow up, I just wanted to emphasize how important it is for all the ladies here to tell their docs stuff like that.

shaunamw · February 2014

If you were stressed or worked up about going to the clinic, if there was a long wait etc that could raise your BP . Whenever I have an afternoon appt after being at the office all day my BP is ways higher than if I go on my work from home day Irvin the AM.

That+One+Girl · February 2014

Infection, stress and pain can all increase your BP. If it was just this once I would not worry about it too much, but still let your doc know at your next appointment.

If you are really worried about it you can get a simple BP cuff for home use and track it for a while yourself.

Miles2Go · February 2014

I had an abnormal spike early on. I think it was mostly stress related for me. I'd give yourself a few days to settle and get going on meds, then maybe go check it out at the pharmacy. Most of them have the do it yourself stands and if not, most pharmacists will take it for you. You can keep an eye on it under "normal" circumstances and see if it goes back down. Try not to freak yet.

Jillzy86 · February 2014

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your LO. I hope it's just the UTI that's the cause, try to take it easy, put your feet up and get a good nights sleep. I'm sure your OB will have answers to releave your mind tomorrow morning. Keep us posted!

ho11yday · February 2014

Every time I have ever gone into the urgent care for a UTI, my blood pressure is always high, probably due to a combination of pain and infection.

MerryLove · February 2014

I wouldn't worry right now. It was likely a little higher in the moment due to the fact that you were at urgent care and had a UTI, both of which suck. It's a stressful situation, especially with your husband gone, so you probably had a temporary rise due to circumstance. I know it's hard, but try not to worry about it! I'm sure your doctor will be able to ease your mind tomorrow...I'll be thinking good thoughts for you!

deanna1313 · February 2014

I am normally 116/74 before pregnancy, but I was at 130 /80 (120/75 at my last one. Whoo-hoo) at my first few appointments. The dr said that is normal during pregnancy and not to worry about it at all.

I think having the UTI can affect it and sometimes just rushing or white coat syndrome.

sisterjanet · February 2014

I'm not a doctor so this could be all backwards and totally incorrect. That said, I think if you usually have a low blood pressure that means it has more room to go up before it's a problem. I mean, the number is high for you, and a bit high for anyone, but according my my understanding the thresholds for problems don't move just because your usual number is lower.

I'm basing that on my temperature, which is why I keep disclaimering. My usual temperature is between 95.something and 97.something, which means if I get a fever it has extra room to rise before it's a dangerous fever. I had thought it meant that the doctors need to know because it's dangerous for me at a lower number, but DH who knows way more biology than I do explained that the dangerous temperature doesn't move around just because the person's usual temperature is different. (I don't know if the kinds of things that happen with high blood pressure work the same as the kinds of things that happen with high temperature.)

In short, I hope you're ok, and try to resist the allure of Dr Google.

kb2bkk · February 2014

Did you ask the clinic to retake your BP? Sometimes you can just have one off reading and after waiting 4-5 minutes and have a much more normal reading. Hoping it's nothing for you, but around 34 weeks my BP started to climb 140/85, and by the I was induced for pre-e at 40 weeks my BP was 150/95ish. The climb to hit that was slow and I could only see it because I had been charting my BP, there were no other major spikes once my BP became elevated.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

I called to touch base this morning. They want me to just monitor it from home and let them know if it remains an issue. Now to locate the cuff so I can do that!

IBackBevo · February 2014

If you were in pain or just stress of going to the doctor can raise it. Mine was 154/94 at the urgent care place with my kidney infection. My old OB doesn't worry about 140s over 90s even. I would bring it up to your doctor but I would not worry until it actually clinically high. Also, bp goes up during pregnancy...even healthy pregnancies.

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