Gestational Hypertension/PIH: Anyone Else?

MrsCaliRN · March 2015

So I'm pretty freakin' bummed because out of nowhere, my pregnancy went from completely low-risk to high-risk. Last Wednesday, I visited my hospital midwife and my blood pressure was great (110/73). The next day, I visit my homebirth midwife and my blood pressure was 154/101! I, of course, was in complete denial, but she re-read it and it was the same, so off I go to L&D. While there, my blood pressure goes up even more (peaked at 163/113) and that's when they told me I'm staying the night. Through it all, my LO looked great and I have had no signs/symptoms of pre-ecclampsia (elevated protein in urine, epigastric pain, random swelling or severe headaches) so that's good. But my homebirth midwife let me know that since I am now diagnosed with PIH, I can't do a homebirth anymore.

Anyone else in a similar boat or have a similar experience with a previous pregnancy? How did your pregnancy turn out? Did you deliver early? Did the PIH develop into pre-eclampsia? Any personal stories or words of encouragement from experience would be much appreciated.

klkonwi · March 2015

I am not PIH Dx yet. I did go in the other day because I was having headaches and feeling crummy..... BP normal for me is 100/60 and mine is now 132/90. Had labs and they were all normal so now I just have to be careful and watch it....... Very worrisome

thinking of you.

KaLikeAWind · March 2015

No experience here, but wanted to wish both of you well and to let you know I'm thinking about ya! Hugs!

stenzel1 · March 2015

I had the same thing happen last week. I'm 28w6d with twins and was admitted to the hospital for 2 nights. I did have elevated protein in my urine but after a 24 hr urine test it was normal. My midwives are now splitting my care with the MFM doctors at the practice.
Are you monitoring your blood pressure at home? I have a follow up appt today so we will see if they're happy with my levels. Wish I had some advice for you but it looks like we are in the same boat for now. Just wanted you to know you're not alone.

nyneyblackmam · March 2015

I had preeclampsia with both of my previous pregnancies and it looks like this one is headed the same route, as my blood pressure was high and platelets low at my last appt. I have other high risk factors with this pregnancy (baby has a duplicated collecting system in her left kidney). With just the preeclpsia, I was not worried, as I delivered 2 wonderfully healthy babies previously with this complication. The only disappointment is that I have never gone into labor naturally (was really looking forward to it this time around) and I am unable to have a home birth. Good luck to you.

kyleegail89 · March 2015

I was just diagnosed was gestational hypertension last week after battling high blood pressure and headaches. No signs of preclampsia, but my doctor went ahead and put me on blood pressure medications. I'm now having to have a growth ultrasound done to make sure my blood pressure wasn't effecting the placenta.

With the diagnosis of PIH, you do have a higher chance of developing preeclampsia.

Good luck with everything!

MrsCaliRN · March 2015

Thanks so much, ladies! I was honestly starting to believe that I was the only one in this month with this diagnosis (although it would be great if NONE of us were high risk).

@stenzel1 My 24-hour urine came back normal as well (Whew!) Although they haven't been able to give me an automatic BP cuff yet, I have been monitoring my BPs at home for my own knowledge and also to make sure I am not too low and need to hold my morning medication. They have me on nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker) and so far I haven't really experienced any side effects. I just wish there was something I could do to reverse this diagnosis! How about you? Did they put you on any meds? Regular BP checks?

knwilliams01 · March 2015

I am on hospital bed rest until delivery due to PIH - my blood pressures are actually normal but the protein in my urine is 3x above normal. Due to the PIH my amniotic fluid is low and is being monitored with daily biophysical profile ultrasounds. Baby is also very small (IUGR small) but she is a tiny little rockstar.

stenzel1 · March 2015

They haven't put me on any medication, but I have to check my BP 3x daily. I just got back from a follow up appt and they are not happy with my BP and recorded BP from the past couple of days. Also had elevated protein in urine again, very swollen feet and ankles, and seeing "stars" every now and then. They are sending me to a high risk doctor ONLY from now on. Not sure what the plan is but I find out on Thursday when I see them!

It's been kind of a roller coaster because at first they told me it was minor preeclampsia... then downgraded to PIH... and now today back up to full blown preeclampsia.

I would just recommend staying off your feet as much as possible.. when I rest more my symptoms decrease a little bit. How far along are you btw?

luckyrainbow · March 2015

Oh wow glad I saw this. I was at my docs last week with a BP of 180/80 usually I'm at 120/70 she rechecked and it went up to 150/80 and I'm now on BP meds aldomet. I usually do have high bp when pregnant so this is not new to me just always freaks me out. My previous two went full term so I'm hoping this one does too. I'm doing the 24hr pee test again. Did it on the beginning and it was clear and now have to re-do it

jesicabrennan · March 2015

Same thing happened to me with my first but I was all set to have my homebirth right up until 38 weeks when my blood pressure started to spike and I basically ended up with an induction 2 days later for mild preeclampsia even though I had no headaches, swelling etc etc. I opted for a "light" induction, a pill called miso that basically threw me into labor on my own and I labored without any more meds for 24 hours before finally giving in to exhaustion and got an epidural and pitocin and a much needed nap. I slept for 3 hours then woke up and pushed baby out in 45 mins without any tearing. It was the best I could have hoped for given the situation but I'm hoping I can just stay at home this time!

queequeg09256 · March 2015

I've had high blood pressure this whole pregnancy, they just put me on med for it I'm 28w tomorrow I now have to go in for weekly visits they haven't made me do any urine tests though so not sure what is up with that. Just one more thing. Baby is measuring 2 weeks ahead now where she was right on schedule I'm going to be asking a lot of questions at my next appointment for sure.

rrroy13 · March 2015

I'm so glad I found this thread. After two 3-hour stints in the hospital this week for bps above 140/100 I'm home on short bed rest for the next 4 days. Luckily urine and blood tests have been perfectly fine. Currently doing the 24 hour urine collection (oh the things you do when pregnant) as the final rule out of preeclampsia. My Dr. seems confident that, at this time, it's just gestational hypertension. He did say, however, that presenting with hypertension so early (only 27wks) that preeclampsia is likely in my future. So, weekly appointments, daily bps, and planning for induction. I'm bummed about the potential change in birth plan BUT happy to learn that the issues presented by high bp impact my body, not the baby.

HayesRN13 · March 2015

Oh no! just working in high risk this is a majority of my patient load

sorry you can't do your home birth ....are you monitoring your BP now at home ..what has it been running since?

bosleyb · March 2015

I had preeclampsia with my first child. So yesterday when I had facial swelling and a headache I went to the pharmacy and checked my blood pressure. It was 167/77 so I called my doctor and went to his office and at his office it was 142/77. He said my urine looked ok, and while 142 is high he was not worried about preeclampsia. When I went to the ENT doc today my pressure was again at 142. I am hoping to not get preeclampsia this early. Last pregnancy it happened at 36 weeks and 4 days and they just hospitalized me for 3 days and then induced me and I had a 7lb 7 oz baby. Having high blood pressure this early unnerves me!

KonaCoffeeBean · March 2015

bosleyb said:
I had preeclampsia with my first child. So yesterday when I had facial swelling and a headache I went to the pharmacy and checked my blood pressure. It was 167/77 so I called my doctor and went to his office and at his office it was 142/77. He said my urine looked ok, and while 142 is high he was not worried about preeclampsia. When I went to the ENT doc today my pressure was again at 142. I am hoping to not get preeclampsia this early. Last pregnancy it happened at 36 weeks and 4 days and they just hospitalized me for 3 days and then induced me and I had a 7lb 7 oz baby. Having high blood pressure this early unnerves me!

Just a tangent... I have never had a remotely accurate reading from one of those automated blood pressure cuffs. I was wondering if I was the only one who had largely divergent numbers between pharmacy and doctor's office.

bosleyb · March 2015

The doctor did tell me that these machines can frequently be off. And when I asked about buying one for home he was not a fan of that either saying he felt it would lead to unnecessary L&D visits to the hospital.

MrsShattles78 · March 2015

I'm in the same boat. My blood pressure hovers at 148/92 at the lowest to most of the time 158/110. That's about what I usually get at home and that's what it was in the doc's office today. I had to spend a week in the hospital 2wks ago d/t contractions, high blood pressure, and migraines. I was on magnesium sulfate through IV for 3 days, that was the worst! Long story short, baby looks good, my doc had now quadrupled my Aldomet and I'm on bed rest. Not a high level of protein in my urine yet, but I have to do another 24hr urine this weekend. Hope all is well with u and ur lil one!

Edit: I wasinduced with my first born 5wks early for the same problem. She was small but healthy!

MrsCaliRN · March 2015

HayesRN13 said:
Oh no! just working in high risk this is a majority of my patient load sorry you can't do your home birth ....are you monitoring your BP now at home ..what has it been running since?

Yeah, I'm monitoring twice daily and I have to call in when it's outside any parameters. My BP is usually somewhere in the high 120s and 130s/80s and low 90s before I take my ProCardia XL in the morning. Around bedtime it's 110s/80s. The most annoying part is I have to talk to the advice nurse once a week super early in the morning and report my BPs. So. Much. Work. And I have another 12 1/2 weeks until my EDD!

war6 · April 2015

My blood presseure from 2 to 3 weeks getting little higher normally throuout pregnancy it is 120/80 but now its gone to 130/90 or 130 /89,85 my doctor prescribed me urine test and give loprin and after observation of 2 3 days they put me on medication any one else can think that on this range of bp should i take loprin aur bp medicine??

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