2nd Trimester

21 weeks pregnant, white coat syndrome, doctors prescribed HBP meds...Please help!!

Hi All,
I really need some fellow advice. I just got home from my prenatal appointment and I always have an elevated blood pressure while I am at the doctor’s office. I have lost family and friends in those environments and now that I am pregnant, it seems to be the focus, which in turn makes me dwell on it even more. Today at my appointment, one of the doctors has decided to put me on Nifedipine to lower my blood pressure, even though my pressures have been decent, not perfect, outside of the doctor’s office. I am terrified that I have already failed my growing baby and I am afraid that I will now reduce my chances of delivering vaginally. Any advice or even a moment of uplifting would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance

Re: 21 weeks pregnant, white coat syndrome, doctors prescribed HBP meds...Please help!!

  • Do you take your blood pressure at home? Just wondering how you know your blood pressure outside the doctor's office.
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  • Agree with PP, have you taken your BP outside of the Dr's office recently??

     

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  • If you really think it is white-coat syndrome, then you should be able to monitor your blood pressure at home and bring the record with you to your next appt.  When I was being monitored/medicated for my blood pressure (not pregnant), I was supposed to check it twice a day.  (To determine if I needed meds, and then to determine if the dose was acceptable).

     If your blood pressure is not elevated except at the doctors office, then it is not harming your baby at all. 

    If your blood pressure IS elevated, then it is best to take the medication that your doctor prescribed, and monitor your blood pressure at home to see if the medication is effective.

    Agree with this.


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  • Yes I do take my blood pressure at home. I started when I got pregnant to ensure it was only when I was at the doctors office
  • Thank you all, i lost my mom a few years ago and I suppose this is a bittersweet time in my life. I just felt as though I was the only patient going through this. My biggest concern is that with this medicine, I still want to deliver vaginally and some things I've read online said it can increase your chances of c-section delivery. Any thoughts?
  • NicB14
    Nicb13 said:



    Thank you all, i lost my mom a few years ago and I suppose this is a bittersweet time in my life. I just felt as though I was the only patient going through this. My biggest concern is that with this medicine, I still want to deliver vaginally and some things I've read online said it can increase your chances of c-section delivery. Any thoughts?

    You definitely need to discuss this with your OB.
    Have you heard of this?

  • mb314mb314 member
    edited June 2014
    Blood pressure is nothing to take lightly.  If you are monitoring your BP at home and it is consistently in the normal range, perhaps ask the doctor/nurse to take your BP again at the end of the appointment. You may be more nervous at the beginning of the appointment and more relaxed at the end as it is ending.  I have found that my blood pressure drops at the end of my appointments sometimes.

    I was on labetalol for pre-existing high blood pressure when pregnant with DS, and it wasn't a big deal.  I agree with pp, the link between the blood pressure medicine and the c-section rate could be tied to higher rates of early induction (which can lead to c-sections).  In the end, if you do in fact need the medication, keeping your BP under control is very important and a small increase in the risk of c-section is worth it. 

    If you do take the medication and get dizzy spells or feel light headed, that is a sign that your blood pressure is too low.  I went off the labetalol about a month before getting pregnant with #2 - it turns out what I thought was just light headedness from fatigue was because my blood pressure was too low and I no longer needed the medication.
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  • Thank you ladies!! This forum has been so helpful and put me at ease! I appreciate all of your time and comments!! Many blessings to you all!
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