anybody else high risk due to BP???

[nov_mum]

wow, mamaheather. Being on bedrest with little people must be challenging at times. I was thinking about it the other day and how much it throws a spanner in the works. Still, the outcome is the main thing. I'm pleased you have gotten along so far. 35 weeks is a fab place to be and 36 would be awesome!!

I am now 26+4 and off for a scan and to see the OB tomorrow. Not overly convinced she will do anything but I feel pretty bad this week and my BP has been sitting around 144/96 most of the time. This am before getting out of bed it was 144/100 so it is not a downward trend by any means : ( I think it is time for more meds. I am on methyldopa 750mgs a day so there is a lot of room for movement with that and plenty of other meds to augment so I am feeling pretty relaxed about the situation. I think we still have plenty of week in utero in us yet : )

 

[AngelaSD]

HI everyone!

I am almost 28 years old, just found out this weekend I am pregnant! GREAT NEWS! I am about 4 weeks pregnant and after researching my blood pressure medication I have been on (Labetalol) I am freaking out a little bit. I have seen a few posts on here that HAVE made me feel better though. When I googled my medication all that came up was negative stuff and its made me think twice about it. I have been on high blood pressure medication since I was 22 years old (all in the family) and have been on Labetalol for the last 2 months. My blood pressure reading was fantastic yesterday at the Dr (118/79) but now after researching am scared. Please HELP! Can I even switch medication at this point? Has anyone switched from one BP med to another while they were pregnant?

Please help! I could use some support from others with High Blood Pressure. It is hard to find people who ALREADY HAVE high BP BEFORE beign pregnant.

 

[mononoke]

Hi AngelaSD:

I take it that you have delivered your baby by now since your post was dated back in 2011. Like you, I have an early onset of hypertension and since 27 I am already on maintenance drug since HBP runs in my family.
I am now 36 years old.

I was using Benicar before and my BP was wonderful. However, when I told my PCP that we were trying to conceive, he said that the Benicar is not safe during or when trying for pregnancy.

I was put on Methyldopa originally but I didn't respond well even when I was taking 500mg 3x a day; my BP was still shooting up. Since mine was conceived via IVF, a month before my cycle, I was switched to Labetalol and my BP was fantastic. It is controlled at <180/<90. I am taking 200mg 2x a day.

Like you, I did some research if the drug was safe during pregnancy and most especially during the first trimester, I was surprised that it was listed as a Class "C" for pregnancy risk. So I tried looking in the internet for some mother that might have some experience with it - I found your post. I was wondering if you have taken it throughout your pregnancy? If so, did you respond well and was there any complications with the baby? I found a perinatal peer journal online and in this site they were saying that methyldopa and labetalol are the first line of treatment for HBP in pregnancy. The difference though is that Methyldopa is a class B while Labetalol is C. Sadly, the former did not work for me.

I am now 7+2 weeks pregnant and had been on Labetalol since we were trying to conceive and will most likely be on it through out the pregnancy. I would really appreciate some input and information to set my mind at ease. Thank you for your time.

 

[mwah_xx]

Hi AngelaSD:

I take it that you have delivered your baby by now since your post was dated back in 2011. Like you, I have an early onset of hypertension and since 27 I am already on maintenance drug since HBP runs in my family.
I am now 36 years old.

I was using Benicar before and my BP was wonderful. However, when I told my PCP that we were trying to conceive, he said that the Benicar is not safe during or when trying for pregnancy.

I was put on Methyldopa originally but I didn't respond well even when I was taking 500mg 3x a day; my BP was still shooting up. Since mine was conceived via IVF, a month before my cycle, I was switched to Labetalol and my BP was fantastic. It is controlled at <180/<90. I am taking 200mg 2x a day.

Like you, I did some research if the drug was safe during pregnancy and most especially during the first trimester, I was surprised that it was listed as a Class "C" for pregnancy risk. So I tried looking in the internet for some mother that might have some experience with it - I found your post. I was wondering if you have taken it throughout your pregnancy? If so, did you respond well and was there any complications with the baby? I found a perinatal peer journal online and in this site they were saying that methyldopa and labetalol are the first line of treatment for HBP in pregnancy. The difference though is that Methyldopa is a class B while Labetalol is C. Sadly, the former did not work for me.

I am now 7+2 weeks pregnant and had been on Labetalol since we were trying to conceive and will most likely be on it through out the pregnancy. I would really appreciate some input and information to set my mind at ease. Thank you for your time.

Hi - I was the same I don't respond well to methyldopa at all and my bp was creeping up.

My whole pregnancy I was on labetelol 200mg x 2 a day. I now have a healthy nearly 16 month old baby boy and I made it all the way to 39+6 weeks pregnant before my bp went up to the point where I needed to be induced (and even then it was 140/90 with no protein)

The worrying things for me is the potential of iugr and my lo was born smaller (6lbs7oz on the 9th percentile) and I was monitored with growth scans every few weeks from 28 weeks.

Be prepared to do a lot of antenatal visits! Towards the end I was going every other day to have my bp measured as they didn't like what was happening with it.

I've been on bp mess since I was 21. If you have any questions send me a pm and I can tell you what my experience was like.

 

[surprisepg]

Ive been on labetelol since 8 weeks. High BP runs in my family and through the years my BP has been up and down but not to the point where medication was required.

My last pregnancy (twins) my BP went through the roof suddenly at 29 weeks. Its was 180/120. I was hospitalised immediately and told if BP didnt come down my boys would be taken via c-section. Luckily BP went down and with meds was controlled till I was 37 weeks.

Last week had my OB appt and BP has gone up. Im now on Lebetelol 3 x 200mg a day. I'm hoping that i can get to at least 37 weeks again. OB is hopeful in getting me to 38-39 weeks.

My worry is that bubs will be on the small side because of this. My last scan at 27 weeks tech said he was on the 10th percentile. My bump is measuring spot on. Im going in at 34 weeks for another growth scan just hoping that hes grown.

 

[mononoke]

Hi Surprisepg:

Thank you for your reply. I am also carrying twins . Before 37weeks was already considered full term but what I have been reading is that it has been recently changed to 39 weeks?? Based upon my research, with twin gestation the average weeks that they are delivered is at 37 weeks. Both of my older kids were born at exactly 37 weeks (this is prior to the onset of my HBP)..so I guess with my twin pregnancy my goal is to at least reach 34 weeks.

I also read that the most common side effect of Labetalol is low birth weight. Do you mind if I ask what are your twins' weights when they were born. I considered myself petite and my DH is also not every tall so I am not really expecting big babies since both my singleton where just around 7 lbs.

Thanks again!

 

[surprisepg]

Hi mononoke,

I read the 39 week thing too and asked OB and she said 37 is still considered full term it hasnt changed so I dont know whats going on with that lol

My boys were 5lbs 11ounces and 6lbs 2ounces at birth. The bigger twin had trouble sucking the first couple of days but by the end of his first week he was latching using a nipple shield. Other than that they were fine.

Its funny because i also have GD but I guess the BP meds affect baby more since my blood sugars are under control. I'll be happy if LO is 7lbs *fingers crossed*