Blood pressure and pregnancy

Lindstothee · January 2017

Hi everyone! So I'm just wondering if anyone else is experiencing any issues with their blood pressure? I haven't ever had any issues with my bp but all of a sudden week after week it just keeps climbing. Sometimes its not that high but this morning the bottom number reached about 84 so it was 121/84 but usually is around 134/79. I'm kind of concerned because at night when I go to bed I hear a pounding in my ears and my heart feels like its going to beat out of my chest but it is not accompanied with any pain. I went to my dr's a couple weeks ago for this issue and she was going to put me on asprin but then she took it in my left arm and it was 110/68, which is my normal. I know its bad to doubt my dr but all the other times i've taken it it's been high and this was the only time it was low. The pounding in my head and chest has me worried, does anyone else have this? I do suffer from anxiety but it doesnt seem like that's what this is, or maybe heartburn?

brookeelyse527 · January 2017

Your numbers aren't that high. I would def say it's anxiety related. When I feel even slightly anxious, I take my bp at work and it's 140s/90s. When I'm calm during pregnancy, it's 120s/70s. Pre pregnancy I am 110s/60-70s. We have more blood flow during pregnancy, so it's natural for bp and pulse to go up a bit. Resting pulse goes up 10-20bpm. Mine is in the 100s-110. And yes at night I notice it but it's not pounding, just can tell it's harder and faster while pregnant. If you're focused on your heart beat, you will get anxious about it only causing it to go up. Just know it's normal. If you drink caffeine, maybe cut back since that increases pulse.

Mango517 · January 2017

When my anxiety is really bad, my heart lets me know. It will race, skip beats, cause me to not be able to breath. I normally have amazing BP. It's all super scary so you have my sympathies.

Do you drink coffee? That's the primary reason I had to mostly give it up, coffee increased my heart rate and really ramped up my anxiety as a result.

If you're very concerned then I would take a detailed journal of what's happening for a few days, and then call the dr with your concerns.

Lindstothee · January 2017

I have been keeping track of it and it does go up weekly. Sometimes I notice myself getting dizzy and my eye sight gets a little blurry and thats when I decide to take it.

I actually dont drink caffiene, i'm a water girl, i've never drank coffee really haha

I guess the main reason why I get concerned is because it's usually so low and my dr said if its anywhere near 150/90 to be concerned.

It's my first child so everything i'm experiencing tends to freak me out a little bit. I think a lot of it has to do with heartburn though it seems to be a big cause of my worries haha causing me to have anxiety. I just read all these horror stories about preclampsia and it freaks me out.

redheadedcamel · January 2017

Mine is like 150/84, 143/82, and 160/86. My doctor put me on aspirin and BP meds today. I have history of high BP in my other two pregnancies. They will watch you close. Pre-employment threats are closer to 20 weeks. If you are concerned take it daily at your house and make a list to show them.

Lindstothee · January 2017

Do you get that pounding in your ears feeling? It's only on the left side for me. It's not there all the time, just some nights.

liz4382 · January 2017

I have definitely noticed a stronger/faster heartbeat which is normal in pregnancy. Not sure about BP. I know we do have more blood volume, as others have said. I think 120/80 is considered "normal" so just keep monitoring and communicating with your doc if you have concerns. I completely understand the FTM anxiety--I am the same way!

redheadedcamel · January 2017

@Lindstothee yes when it is high I do. Mostly on the side I am laying on. It then makes me panicked and go higher. I strongly suggest you get a cuff and check it daily at home while writing it down. Then you will have proof for Dr. I was under impression that first tri blood pressure is generally lower but I am not a Dr.

NYTino24 · January 2017

*TW* I was having headaches and blood noses (coughing up clots that didn't stick) a lot when I got pregnant, so I had bloodwork done by the hematologist two weeks before my MC started. Well I noticed that my diastolic BP, which is normally 60, went up to as high as 85 and my systolic, which is normally under or around 90-100 was up to 115-120. I first went to the school nurse and she said it was 116/75. She said it was normal for BP to be lower when pregnant, but for me it was higher. Then at other visits when I started bleeding, the diastolic climbed up to 81, 82, and 85. I know it's under the threshold for high BP, but it's also like saying a temp has to be over 100 to be a fever. My normal body temp is like 97.1, so 98.5 or higher is MY fever. I'm going to bring it up to the docs and ask for repeat testing (I had SIX tests in the antiphospolipid panel that were abnormal. Some were kind of close, but one was a 27 when the max normal range ended at 12.) and I want to bring it up, so I will be asking and will update it you want. Stay calm unless you have several reasons to worry. If you have a concern, track data and ask your doctor!!

Lindstothee · January 2017

I'm still having this issue and today makes the third day that it has happened. I'm getting concerned but feel like i'm bugging my dr. I have an apt with her tomorrow but wondering if I should call today just in case.

clairemwalker · January 2017

Just weighing in. I had perfect bp with my daughter (125/85) the whole way through until the week i delivered and if shot up to 171/95 it took days to go donw after i delivered, and was still 155/90 when i went home. I assumed my bp had returned to normal but i had my first bp check this pregnancy (8+3) and its 150/91! Maybe it never went down post p? For OP, i would definitely keep tracking it and writing it down.

NYTino24 · January 2017

@clairemwalker I would bring it up if it was an issue last time. It sounds high!

clairemwalker · January 2017

@NYTino24 I definitely will. I have the same mw looking after me so she is aware of my history. I am keeping an eye on it at work from now on (i have a bp machine there) so i can track it and let her know

Lindstothee · January 2017

It does bother me but my dr doesn't seem to be worried because i'm so early into pregnancy. We will see as things progress. 12 weeks tomorrow

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