chronic hypertension - what should I expect?

[Yasminesa]

Hey ladies,
Thanx for the welcome, had to take a few days to adjust to the labetalol I didn't feel right at first and that scalp tingling was annoying. Back at the hospital in a bit to see how my body has taken to it - I have been checking at home but they still want me in .
Quick question - will I defo neeed more scans to check LO's growth? or is that only in certain cases?

Sorry I am such a novice but I have been trying to treat myself under normal pregnancy standards not under a hypertensive patient way.

Hope you and your bumps are all doing good.

 

[miss moody]

Hi everyone!
Good to hear how you are all getting on.

W8ing4ours hope things are going well for you and baby Madeline

Dinah93 sounds like things are well regulated. I'm on methyldopa too along with aspirin and have been fine so far, Urine has also been NAD which is definitely good going for me. Let us know how the scan went and enjoy sharing your happy news

Yasminesa Hi and welcome! I'm also expecting my first in April, due on the 8th. I'm still on methyl dopa but I know labetalol is widely used hope it is suiting you. Care wise I've only been seen once extra by MW to check BP as consultant was happy for me to have BP checked only every four weeks until 28 weeks when it will be fortnightly unless it rises. I'm in for a scan at 27 weeks to check all is ok with growth. I think it's fairly standard to have growth scans if your hypertensive as a raise in BP can cause the placenta to not work properly and not deliver all nutrients baby needs. Keep us updated with how you're getting on

Newgirl Hi :wave:
I struggle to keep tabs on my meds too and I only need to take them three times a day. I was setting reminders on my phone but it was driving people in my office nuts, they couldn't understand why I needed reminding that it was 3 o'clock every day
I'm definitely thinking a lot more about third trimester and the possible outcomes. I've not actually seen my consultant yet at hospital appointments but will definitely be seeing her at 27 weeks so will be hoping to have questions answered and fears allayed. My mum wants to make a trip to Oz in March and I'm frightened that she'll be away at a time when I'm most likely to have trouble with my BP. All sounds well with your bump, at our 20 week scan our baby has very long legs, my husband has been telling folk the baby isn't mine! (He's 6'4", I'm 5'3")

Take care all and stay in touch

 

[Dinah93]

I think it all depends on your individual circumstances and how dangerous they consider your bp to be. I'm at the hospital every 4 weeks for consultant check, weekly for midwife check, and it will be 4 weekly scans after 20 weeks to check on progress.

 

[Yasminesa]

Ok slightly concerned, bp is fine but I have been getting a tight chest now for 20 mins, should I call the MW or maternity ward? or just ride it out?

 

[Hi I'm Louise]

Hi I'm glad I came across this thread

At my booking in appointment my BP was 160/110 and my midwife freaked out. Since then I've been to the hospital 3 times for monitering and been put on methyldopa. The consultant thinks I had pre-existing hypertention that had gone undiagnosed.

At the hospital today my BP has come down (143/79 I think) but I have to go back next week to be monitered again and see the consultant. Can I assume this will be a regular thing?

 

[Dinah93]

Hi Louise, yes it's likely they'll monitor you weekly, although it's come down to a great level. The hospital may feel comfortable getting your midwife to check it once they're satisfied it's come down if you have no other issues.

Yasminesa, how's the chest today? With everything getting squished up a bit inside a cold can knock you for six a lot worse than normal, which is why the flu jab is so important for pregnant ladies. If you're still feeling breathless/pains I'd go to the doctor just to get checked out and reassured.

 

[laura077]

Hello ladies, thank you so much for sharing your stories and information. I was diagnosed with chronic hypertension at 6 weeks because my bp was 155/96. They put me on 250mg Methyldopa twice a day. I just had my 20 wk anatomy scan and checkup and bp was 145/91 so they upped my dosage to 500mg 3 times a day. I was worried about a high dose affecting baby. His growth is right on schedule, but my doctor warned me that the "honeymoon" of my pregnancy is probably almost over and he wants to see me every two weeks.

 

[Tititimes2]

Hi, ladies. I just wanted to say hello and I hope all of your BPs are doing ok.

I have had 3 losses in a year and a half and with two of them I have had severe BP issues (not the cause). I have had chronic hypertension for many years and I guess it comes with the territory. In fact, I knew I was pregnant this time before a FRER told me b/c my BP shot up all of a sudden (I check it regularly). Called my OB and he knew it too and we talked for two week adjusting my meds until I got my BFP. Seems Labetalol and Nifedipine together are working for now and I'm in my regular range for pregnancy as far as my OB is concerned. Right now, I am still working, which is a good sign, since last time I was home on bed rest from week 8 until my loss at 14 weeks and the doctor was set to hospitalize me the day we found out that our little guy had anencephaly and T18, which was incompatible with life.

I am miraculously back in the pregnancy forum, guarded but hoping for the best. I am being very careful about my diet (low sodium) and getting a tiny bit of exercise by a little walking every day. High BP is scary in pregnancy b/c of all the effects it can have on the baby, but it can be controlled, as many of you know, if you keep up with it.

Wishing you all wonderful pregnancies and normal BPs!

 

[Yasminesa]

Hey ladies,

Thanx for the support, so nice not to feel alone with chronic hypertension.

Miss Moody - so strange that your edd is the date I think my little girl will arrive, my edd is 4th of April but have a strange feeling she will appear on the 8th lol just a feeling but I have been known to be right lol. How are you?

AFM -the chest pain eased but hasn't gone. I have an obstetric appointment today so will talk to her about it as she speacialises in hypertensive patients yay!
Anyone get a sore stomach on labetalol?

 

[W8ing4ours]

Hi ladies! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, its amazing how quickly this last week has gone, all the days have merged together! Madeline and I are both doing well! I am recovering nicely from the c-section. I feel like I should be honest and mention here the only real side affect my gestational hyptertension (and preeclampsia) had on my recovery. I had to be put on a magnesium drip immediately following the c-section. This was not a good experience. Magnesium helps regulate blood pressure somewhat, but it's main purpose is to stop any seizures from happening due to the high blood pressure. The drip stayed on for 36 hours and it made it really difficult to feel ok. I felt like I was burning up, I was confused, it was hard to think straight, and just overall made me feel icky inside. Looking back, I was pretty drugged up on pain medications etc because of the c-section, and obviously the magnesium was better than having a seizure, but I feel like I should mention it because it was a difficult side affect of having high blood pressure immediately following birth.

So, that said, Maddie is amazing! I can't believe I'm a mom and I can't believe how much I love her! I have no idea what day it is, or time it is, I need a shower and I haven't had more than 3 or so hours of sleep a night in a week, but it's all worth it! Hope you are all doing well!

 

[Tititimes2]

I am recovering nicely from the c-section. I feel like I should be honest and mention here the only real side affect my gestational hyptertension (and preeclampsia) had on my recovery. I had to be put on a magnesium drip immediately following the c-section. This was not a good experience. Magnesium helps regulate blood pressure somewhat, but it's main purpose is to stop any seizures from happening due to the high blood pressure. The drip stayed on for 36 hours and it made it really difficult to feel ok. I felt like I was burning up, I was confused, it was hard to think straight, and just overall made me feel icky inside. Looking back, I was pretty drugged up on pain medications etc because of the c-section, and obviously the magnesium was better than having a seizure, but I feel like I should mention it because it was a difficult side affect of having high blood pressure!

I am so happy for you! And she is so adorable. I am so glad to hear that you and your daughter made it through your pregnancy just fine with the dreaded BP issues. Thanks for sharing your story! It so helps to hear that everything can be just fine. Congrats

 

[Dinah93]

I'm so glad it all worked out for you, huge congratulations x

 

[Yasminesa]

W8in4ours - Aww she's adorable and the info is invaluable, Congrats.

Yep you ladies were right, extra scans at 28 weeks and 34 weeks, been told I should be taking 75mg of Aspirin a day (should of had it from 12 weeks, oops!) another check on kidneys and liver with bloods and scans and then see consultant at 28 and 34 weeks and depending on how I am be seen either every 4 or 2 weeks, feeling better with this consultant - she knows what she is talking about.
So pleased to have found this forum as I had no idea about the effects bp can have on the placenta and that I should have been getting more scans - you ladies are saviours!

 

[newgirl79]

Hi again everyone,

It's so reassuring to have all of you to catch up with...definitely makes me feel less nervous to hear other's experiences and how they're dealing with things! W8ing4ours- Madeleine is absolutely gorgeous- you must be on cloud nine! Thanks for sharing the info about the magnesium too, always better to be prepared I think!!

Yasminesa- hope the chest pain has eased. Did you get any wheezing with it? I often felt like I couldn't catch my breath when I was on Lab. but think this was due to being mildly asthmatic.
Louise and Laura077-hi, it's good to hear from you. Sounds like you can both expect regular monitoring from now on! Can be a bit of a pain with all the extra appts but I've found it quite reassuring too.
Tititimes- so sorry to hear about your losses, it must be a difficult time for you at the moment, but it's good to have you with us and hope we can continue to be support for one another...

Update from me: Had my 24wk growth scan this week and all is looking good with baby- they also scanned arteries in my groin as apparently the blood flow through these gives a good sign of how the placenta is functioning. All looks fine so the consultant says at this stage there is no evidence that I will develop pre-eclampsia I'm back in 4 weeks time for another scan and consultant appt...

MissMoody- I asked more Qs about the 3rd Tri/birth and the consultant said whilst they won't want me to go over 40 weeks there won't necessarily need to induce me before then if my BP stays where it is now (hovering just under 140/90). They will still be keen for me to have epidural and I've said I'm fine with that IF my BP is raised and not just as a preventative measure, which she seemed happy with. Hope you're managing to keep on top of your meds without the alarm- perhaps we just need to stick post-it notes absolutely everywhere to remind us

Sorry for another long post!! xxx

 

[Yasminesa]

Hey,

Newgirl - Ye its labetalol makes me feel like an elephant is sitting my chest for a short time after taking the tabs lol. Glad to hear everything looked good at your scan.

Did anyone feel awful when taking 200 mg x 2 of labetalol a day with 75 mg of Aspirin? or is it just my body being soft lol

 

[laura077]

Thanks Newgirl! Yeah this week has been a bit rough since they upped me to 1500mg a day. I'm a lot more tired and feel sick after taking it. Hoping my body will adjust to it a bit better soon. As long as it keeps the bp down and me out of hospital early, I'm happy!

W8in4ours- So glad to hear your cutie arrived safe

 

[Cheska]

Hi ladies.

I was diagnosed as having essential hypertension when i was 15.
I have had a bad experience with high bp and pregnancy earlier this year.

Now under a specialist at a different hospital and she has put me on nifedipine and labetalol. My blood pressure at the minute is the best it's EVER been so I am feeling a lot more confident and trying to think positively about 'next time'.

It's nice to see you all keeping each other positive and having somebody in the same situation must help greatly. Im hoping this next month will be my turn and that i can join you all shortly .

Best of luck to you all xxx

 

[Dinah93]

Glad you're being taken care of early Cheska.

Midwife bp check today, 120/80 - really pleased with how the methyldopa is working so far (so long as I don't get the bp checked at the hospital where suddenly it goes sky high!). I feared it might be way up as I've had a headache for 3 days, dizzyness, light headedness etc, so glad to find out that's just normal pregnancy.

 

[Tititimes2]

Great BP Dinah!

 

[JessPape]

Hi! I'm new, I haven't really been classified with high bp yet, as I think my doctor is just keeping an eye on it. However, I'm contemplating if its hiigh at my next appointment on the 29th, if I should ask to be put on meds? I've never had high blood pressure so I know iits pregnancy induced. But my mother and grandmother also had high bp well pregnant. This is my first and very exciting pregnancy, I'll have my first ultrasound in january! Nice to find a place where other people have the same issues.