high blood pressure

markandnicle3 · August 2014

Hi Ladies,
I don't say much on here and am relatively new but wanted some feed back. I'm 31wks and at my appt on Tuesday my bp was a little high. Dr didn't seem concerned but I'm 38 and this is my first pregnancy so I tend to be a bit neurotic. Lol I keep checking my bp at home twice daily and it remains high. Mostly around 144/90. I'm familiar with pregnancy induced hypertension and am wondering if any one has any experience with this.

Emerald27 · August 2014

^^ this.

Do you tend to run a bit high? Sometimes if women naturally have higher BPs, their docs worry less. At what level did your doc say he WOULD be concerned?

golfingdarwinfish · August 2014

What was your BP in the doctor's office? Do you know what your average BP was going into pregnancy? I don't want to cast judgement on your BP over the internet, but are you having symptoms of high BP? I would continue to monitor for 24 hours and if you remain asymptomatic but with similar numbers I would notify your OB. If you develop symptoms I would notify him sooner. If your BP is trending upwards it should be monitored closely as your risk for pre-eclampsia increase. Ask him what numbers are a "flag" for him that would cause him to become concerned, and what he feels is "normal". If his benchmarks make you uncomfortable be honest with him.

Also, try increasing your water intake and spending time off your feet as much as possible. If you are feeling increased stress because you're nervous about your BP, lay on your side in a dark room, or lay on your side and read a bit, try some yoga breathing, and take your BP again in a few hours. Testing too often may be stressing you out and causing further elevation.

vrj0522 · August 2014

Yep, I don't understand why your OB wouldn't say anything at all. I'd be calling and discussing it with him. Do you need to come in sooner if continues to stay up or if it goes up even further?

At the same time he might have simply put it on his chart to check for it at the next visit and for whatever reason he thinks waiting 2 weeks is acceptable. Nonetheless, I would be calling and making sure he didn't miss it.

ashie0610 · August 2014

Everyone else has given you great advice already.

Here's my anecdote - I had PIH with DS1 and it wasn't until it hit 140/90 at 37 weeks that they started to get concerned. It had been creeping up each week before that though starting around 34 weeks. Since you're earlier in your pregnancy than I was at that point, it's definitely something they should be watching very closely so that it doesn't develop into pre-e, or so that they can take extra precautions if it does.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I remember the anxiety of being terrified of having my BP taken once it started creeping up. I'm still scared it could happen again, but thankfully they are aware of my history and are watching it closely.

DreadGamerWife · August 2014

Call your dr. I have pre-existing HBP (and have been on various meds for several years) and was told that the following guidelines: If it hit 140/90 (two reading at least 15 minutes apart, resting) to call in for a change in med dose - but if it is at night, continue to monitor and call the next day. 150/100 - inform the on call doc (regardless of time) and follow their instructions. 160/110 - go to the hospital for monitoring.

If it is 140/90 and then drops to normal after 15 minutes of rest, continue to monitor and bring up at the next appointment. If it happens regularly, call in for a increase in meds.

ashcakes921 · August 2014

My blood pressure is consistently in the same range at all of my appointments but the difference is my Dr office is clearly concerned (they suck at hiding it). I have no other symptoms yet they want to closely monitor my BP so I find it weird your office isn't concerned.

AppleGrapeMSTK · August 2014

I was at 133/86 at one appointment (my usual is 112-125 over 60-70). It was high enough that they wanted to keep an eye on it. At my next appointment, it was 140/80. They were OK with this because it's the bottom number that is the most concerning and even commented on it going down. I was told that if it hit 140/90, we would be talking about PIH (which I had with DS1) and induction.

With DS1, I was consistently 140s/80s from 25-36w. I monitored myself at home and got 170/100, and my OB sent to to L&D to be induced. I would keep recording your BP and pester your doctor.

What are you doing when you check your BP? If you're lying on your side, resting, you will get a different reading than if you just climbed the stairs and mowed the lawn.

markandnicle3 · August 2014

I've never had high blood pressure before and have no other symptoms of pre e. I drink lots of water and don't work so I'm able to sleep and take it easy. I over did it big time this past weekend and am not sure if that could have anything to do with it. I checked my bp last night after my appt in the morning and it was 144/84 and this morning was 144/90. The diastolic has never gone over 90. I trust my Dr and will call him tomorrow if it's still the same to see what he thinks. From what I've gathered is usually treated with meds and bed rest. Ugh. Thanks for all the info and support.

markandnicle3 · August 2014

Yes they always check my urine, never any protein.

ashie0610 · August 2014

markandnicle3 said:
I've never had high blood pressure before and have no other symptoms of pre e. I drink lots of water and don't work so I'm able to sleep and take it easy. I over did it big time this past weekend and am not sure if that could have anything to do with it. I checked my bp last night after my appt in the morning and it was 144/84 and this morning was 144/90. The diastolic has never gone over 90. I trust my Dr and will call him tomorrow if it's still the same to see what he thinks. From what I've gathered is usually treated with meds and bed rest. Ugh. Thanks for all the info and support.

This was me too. I had no other signs of pre-e whatsoever and no history of high bp. No swelling, no protein, no headaches, and I felt fine. Consistently high BP readings can be enough to cause concern on its own though. It was enough for them to decide to deliver my baby that day.

I know it's scary. Hopefully it's just a fluke due to overexertion like you said, but if it's worrying you and you're getting these readings at home on your own, it's worth letting your doctor know via a quick phone call rather than waiting until your next appointment just to be safe.

One other thing - I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere that bp can be higher in the mornings. I have no medical background whatsoever so maybe someone who works in that field can confirm or correct that for me. Maybe try taking it in the afternoon or evening to see if there's a difference?

sjhartline · August 2014

Mine is around the same 145/90. The Drs ran some extra tests but they are not too worried. They are just going to keep monitoring it. The are the experts I trust them.

TinyTRex321 · August 2014

In my last pregnancy I was suppose to monitor my bp at home at the end twice a day and I was on bed rest. I was suppose to take it after resting for at least 10 mins. I had to call if either number was over 140/90 and then they would have me go to L&D for monitoring. On my 4th trip to L&D I was induced at 38 wks bc my bp kept creeping up. I never has pre-e but the bp alone was concerning enough that baby was safer out than in.

serenbach · August 2014

Blood pressure is all about what's normal for you personally, if it's always been about that mark don't freak out however if it's shot up then there may be reason to be concerned. However you may be causing yourself the extra stress by worrying and being anxious and checking your BP twice a day, try and relax if your doctor isn't concerned that's usually a good sign. As a nurse I wouldn't be concerned about a 144 BP unless there was a massive change from previous readings. My BP since being pregnant has been around the 100/60 mark and the other day I felt dizzy and had blurred vision and my BP was 130/80 which was high for me personally so I rang the midwife and she got my checked over and just advised that I take it easy and I have had no problems since, so please take it easy and try and relieve your anxieties which may lower your BP however if you are really concerned try another doctor or midwife as you can never be 100% of things like pre-e!

mmorga15 · August 2014

Not having protein in your urine does not necessarily rule out pre-e or other high risk pregnancy conditions. My blood pressure started to run high around week 35 last pregnancy, I don't remember exactly what my numbers were but they were somewhere in the 135/80-90 range. I never had protein in my urine so I continued on with somewhat high blood pressure until week 39. They finally sent me to the hospital and come to find out I had HELLP syndrome. I honestly didn't have many other symptoms that were abnormal for pregnancy, slight headaches and occasional upper abdominal pain. This time they are watching my blood pressure like a hawk, I am taking it twice daily, and I get blood work done at every other appointment to monitor my levels.

You are your biggest advocate and only you know how you feel. If your blood pressure is high for you I would push the doctor for further testing to keep both you and your baby safe.

hermanavelasquez · August 2014

140/90 bp is not good at all in pregnancy, you should insist with your doctor about this.

kindacrunchy · August 2014

I have had PIH I'm both of my previous pregnancies. It started around 28 weeks with both. With my first they put me in the hospital overnight for monitoring and then strict best. With my second they were much more lax about it because I had a history of PIH without it turning into pre-e (I will preface this by saying there is no longer a differential diagnosis PIH is an outdated diagnosis and it's all under pre-e now but I never spilled protein). Anyway, with my second I was put on modified bed rest and monitored at home. I was pretty consistently 140/90 - 150/100. The guideline I was given was that if it got to 160/110 I was to go straight to the hospital. So far this time my bp has been great ::knocks on wood:: but my doc still has me monitoring because of my history and 140/90 is the magic number for hypertension and extra vigilance. Many women have elevated blood pressure towards the end. For some women that is just what their body does and it doesn't turn into a problem (per my doc). I bet your doc is planning to keep an eye on it but I would also be monitoring it at home to be on the safe side.

markandnicle3 · August 2014

Cantisa, I didn't realize I needed your permission to start a thread. My bad.

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