chronic hypertension - what should I expect?

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Hi ladies, glad I found this thread!! Hope you all don't mind if I join you?

I've read this thread from start to finish! DINAH- you have been through so much, I'm lad grace is getting loads better and you are also doing well!! She's beautiful!

I've had chronic hypertension since I was 16 (no cause, no family history)
With my first pregnancy I was started on labetalol which kept my BP under control till at least 33 weeks then I started having to add nifedipine as well as the labetalol, then at 35weeks, they couldn't control my BP anymore and blood results showed my liver function was going off so was diagnosed with PE , even tho i had no protein in urine, my bloods said otherwise, I was induced at 36weeks and had a 5lb 1oz boy :) he's going to be 4 years old on my due date :)

This time I'm under complete consultant care however my BP doesn't seem to be behaving as well this time, I'm taking 100mg labetalol 3 times a day however had to go to maternity assessment on Saturday as had the worst headache ever! No relief from pain killers, BP was very erratic, was on monitor for almost 2 hours getting 10 minute BP checks and they ranged from 145/80 to 165/100 they changed drastically every 10 minutes , it would be 135/95, then 10 minutes later 145/84, then 10 minutes later 160/ 90, no pattern at all!! when all I was doing was just laying on the bed and was very relaxed! I had no protein in urine but was full of ketones, checked bloods and all was ok, wasn't dehydrated and I'm eating well so I don't know why my urine is full of ketones??
So worried about lack of babies movements, she is normally so active all day but since Friday I have barely felt her at all, maybe about 3 times in 4 days! They checked heartbeat at maternity assessment on Saturday and it was grea between 130-150 however I'm still concerned at why she suddenly isn't moving as much?? The midwives didnt seem concerned tho. Have my consultant again tomorrow so will Definately be mentioning it to her and really hope she let's me gets scan just check to fluid level etc!

I kind of feel in the dark a bit about what the plan is gonna be, don't know if il be induced this time or if bloods stay ok if il be allowed to carry on till due date? Really not sure what theyre planning and it's quite annoying not knowing what to expect.

Anyone going through anything similar?

Xx
 
Thanks seaweed,

My son is now 2.5.

I have got a monitor at home as my doctor insisted on it after the birth of my son and do still check it before i go to the docs. I really did not like the labetalol and nifedipine when i was on it last - i used to get a lot of horrible side effects. Im just waiting to receive my referral letters.

Deafgal - apparently it is quite common for bp to rise after birth? not sure why, I though that giving birth would completely fix the the problem.

Wishful - how many weeks are you now?

x
 
deafgal said:
nifedipine ER 30mg
and yes, but they told me it is safe.
Click to expand...

That's good to know :thumbup: just curious, since I am hoping to BF.

Welcome, Wishful :wave: I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through with this pregnancy. I've had essential hypertension since I was 15, too. I do have a family history, but still, it's frustrating, isn't it? Everyone is always so surprised that I got it so young. :nope:

I don't know what to tell you about the ketones, that sounds weird. And I would be concerned about the lack of movement too. I would worry about something happening with the placenta (although I imagine her good HB speaks against that). Definitely ask for a scan and keep us updated. :hugs:
 
Hello - I've just sat and read this thread and wondered if I could gatecrash?!

Had chronic hypertension since I was 21 and was managing to drop tablets (originally on ACE inhibitors and diretics pre-preg!) when I told my doc of plans to TTC - was put on labetelol (200mg twice a day) and then started with the diet and exercise which helped control and I was hoping to come off them - then boom bub decided they want to make an appearance (which I was thrilled about!)

So far so good, my BP is behaving *touch wood* and I've moved up to fornightly monitoring of protein/BP from consultant/GP/MW with my first growth scan in a week! Its just very scary to go through this and not know whether you will be able to have any control over what happens to your body (damn BP!!!)

Does anyone know if my BP holds up whether I'd be able to go with a normal birth, I really really want to avoid a c-sec if possible and would love to try a water birth therefore no epidural!

But anyway enough of that - hello and its nice to know that we aren't alone!!
 
Welcome, mwah :wave: it's definitely very scary for things to be so out of our control and not know what's going to happen! I'm glad your BP has been good so far.

mwah_xx said:
Does anyone know if my BP holds up whether I'd be able to go with a normal birth, I really really want to avoid a c-sec if possible and would love to try a water birth therefore no epidural!
Click to expand...

I'm in a similar position. I'm hoping for no interventions and intermittent monitoring. I plan to bring it up with my doctor next time I see him, which is in about 3 weeks, and I will let you know what he says, but I would love to hear from anyone with more experience.

How is everyone else doing? :flower: I have my first growth scan later today. He was a few days ahead at 20 weeks, but I'm a little nervous since everyone (not including my doctor) says my bump is so small and it's kind of getting to me. :cry: Fingers crossed everything is ok! BP has been beautiful, except for this morning when the top number went up, but only to 126. (I'd be totally fine if it stays there, of course, but I'm a little afraid of an upward trend.)
 
Had a growth scan this morning due to my BP and LO is doing really well. She is in the 67 percentile, placenta is working very well and she has lovely long legs. I am monitoring my BP at home and receiving fantastic care. Got an appointment back at the hospital in 2 weeks to make sure placenta is still working properly and meeting gynae and midwife in the meantime! Fingers crossed my BP will stay OK on the current medication as I am really nearly there!
Wishing everyone else good BP readings and happy and healthy pregnancies :-)
 
Very glad to hear you and LO are doing great! You really are nearly there!!
Ours is around 45th percentile overall...a few days behind last time but everyone seems perfectly happy with that. I guess we can't all be above average! :shrug:
 
I was told no issue at all with a natural birth with high bp, but a complete no to a water birth as with having high blood pressure that automatically made me a high risk pregnancy and they needed to be able to monitor more closely. They also made me aware that if bp started to become unstable an epidural can control it to give you time to get the baby out, but they wouldn't let it go uncontrolled for very long before doing a c-section.

Grace finally came home on Thursday!!! After 101 days in the neonatal unit she's now in a cot beside me and it's very very strange. She's on oxygen, and seems to have the sniffles, she spent all yesterday awake with only ten min naps, but thankfully she's finally a bit more asleep now.
 
Aww glad you're little ones out now Dinah. My blood pressure has been ok so far, but had my 36 week growth scan yest and the sonographer said that the blood flow was low and the umbilical artery bit was just under the 5th percentile and that I should be tested with doppler scan again. She then asked when my next appt was and i said well i have a midwife one today and consultant one next week. Anyway i went to my midwife appt yest and they said that doesn't sound to good and not to wait till consultant appt next week but go to antenatal day unit and see a dr so i go to the dr and he says its all fine that the blood flows low its if its high that you worry???. I don't really know what to think but will just wait for my consultant appointment next wk x x
 
Aww, Dinah, glad Grace is finally home! I can imagine it must be strange, but I'm sure all of you will be adjusted soon :hugs:

WinterKage, that's strange...I thought low blood flow was a concern too. But I'm not a doctor. Anyone have experience with this?
 
Just popping in to say I am so glad Grace is home Dinah, I know what a long road this has been for you. I hope the next few weeks and months go smooth for you two and that baby Grace gets bigger and stronger and that you two get adjusted well to being at home together. <3 :hugs:
 
Seaweed Eater, thanks hun x I will post in main section of gestational complications, see if anyone has any experience x x
 
Ahh Dinah - glad that Grace is home! Must be a relief after all this time!

RE the water birth thing - well that sucks! Mind my BP still has to behave itself for the next 13 weeks, so I will just keep my fingers crossed that everything isOK and behaving. Luckily, touch wood, so far my meds haven't had to be tampered with and apparently there is still a long way that the docs can go, which is good!

I have my mini GTT later, with extra Pre-e bloods to be taken.........just fingers crossed thats all fine!

Seaweed and anne.hopeful - glad your growth scans went well!

WinterKage - hope you get some answers!
 
Hi Ladies

I hope you dont mind me posting on here. I was wondering what you think about my situation or if any of you have been in a similar situation.

I have suffered from hypertension for approx 4 years. I believe it is weight related as i have a high BMI and as i put on weight the BP went up. I discovered i was pregnant late Feb, and was moved onto Methyldopa 250mg, 2 per day. Mid Feb i suspected i was pregnant and stopped taking my other meds as they were not baby friendly, so my BP was raised at that point the pregnancy was confirmed and the new meds prescribed, and i responded well to the Methyldopa. Unfortunately i miscarried but my GP kept me on the Methyldopa as he knew i wanted to try again for a baby.

I am now 7 weeks pregnant, and my last 3 BP readings have been low. I had a booking in appt yesterday and my bp was 102/74. The midwife checked with a registrar who took me off the tabs and wants to check me over in 9 days. They also mentioned another medication begining with L that was their 'usual medication'. Has anyone been taken off there meds for so long? I am quite surprised by it. I am back at my GP next wed so will get it checked then, as i am concerned it may rocket without me knowing and cause problems, although i was reassured that the obs registrar knows what they are talking about.

Sorry this is so long, no worries if no one has experienced this. :flower: xx
 
Hi Doushy, I was never taken off my meds as my BP was never that low in first tri (it was normal), but my doctor did mention that sometimes he likes to take people off during first and second tri when BP tends to drop naturally for many women. I would just keep an eye on it and definitely speak up if it gets high when you're off medication. You may want to buy a monitor to use at home so you don't have to worry about it shooting up too high without your knowledge. (Buy an arm cuff, not a wrist monitor, and I don't know what's sold in the UK but my doctor recommended the brand Omron.)
 
Thanks so much for your reply, you have made me feel so much better. I didnt realise that bp can lower naturally, fingers crossed mine remains normal for a while so i can build up to the meds as my pregnancy progresses.

You can buy decent BP readers here, so i think i will invest in one (i did have one but it wasnt very good or reliable).

Thanks again, i really appreciate it :flower: xx
 
Hi Doushy - as seaweed says, my blood pressure dropped to 110/60 over booking in, in fact my BP over pregnancy has been the best it has ever been since I was diagnosed with chronic hypertension!!

My consultant has kept me on my medication - I presume the ones they are talking about putting you on is Labetelol (which I'm on) as it seems to be a standard pregnancy BP med here!

Other than that - congrats on your pregnancy!
 
Hi All,

I went for my scan today and am 11 weeks along. Everything was okay but when i got my preg notes back they have booked me in for an app with the hypertention clinic next thurs...I am starting to panic already! If i start getting worried, im scared my bp will be even higher. I wish i didnt worry so much! Not on any drugs yet but think i may be after this app.

xxx
 
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