High blood pressure- any thoughts?

[surprisepreg]

Hey ladies,

So I posted this in third trimester but got no replies...I figured it doesnt hurt to try here.

So last Wednesday was the start of a weekend of monitoring for baby shane and me. He wasnt moving as much so I was sent for NST and BPP. They didnt love results Wed but let me go home and come back Friday. My Blood pressure was also elevated so I was given the 24 hour urine test to do- I dont have the results of that yet. Friday they didnt like results of NST and BPP again so they sent me for more monitoring at hospital. BP was high the whole time...but baby shane ended up looking good, so they told me to go home and come back Sat for more monitoring. Sat BP was still up but Shane looked good!

I ended up going back to the hospital yesterday because baby Shane decided to go on a movement strike and freak me out. Of course the second he was strapped to those monitors he started squirming and kicking...I wonder if this is a sign that hes going to be one of those kids who always does the opposite of what ppl want? lmao

Anyways, all looks good with him again but my BP was still high...the top number stayed between 140-155 for the majority of the time...it went higher once or twice as well as into the 130's twice. The lower number stayed in the 80's most of the time with a few spikes intot he high 80's and one over 90. Its not ridiculously high...but is high. My BP has always been normal....usually 120/70 (ish) or lower even at home :-/ (I happen to have a electronic bp monitor at my house so I have been keeping an eye on my bp since becoming pregnant as I am heavy and know I could develop bp issues. My baseline bp at home has always been pretty low...often around 110/60ish...sometimes a little higher but never over 120/70 (ish). Wed through today my baseline pressure at home when resting is at least 130/80 (ish) but is often spiking in the 140's and 150's. The bottom number rarely goes past the high 80's but has occasionally. I had one high spike today of 167/95...but it went down fairly quick.

They did find protein in my urine sample on Friday. Yesterday they said there was only a trace of protein and my blood work still looked good. Im really not sure what that means...any one have any idea?

Im supposed to go to the doctor on Tuesday...hopefully she will have some answers. Just wondering if in the meantime anyone has any thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[A3my]

Hi there, I experienced the same issues in my pregnancy. They only worry if the bottom number stays above 85/90. Try to take it easy, I was silly and worked until 3 days before I was due and even then I went mad cleaning the house. I was admitted becasue my BP was up at 165/90 and I had 3+ protein in my wee, I had pain on the top of my stomach and I could see blurry lights. I also had really swollen ankles, so bad my skin split with the stretching. My son was induced 2 days after I was due for these reasons (they said it was pre-eclampsia).

So I dont think you need to worry too much, just take it easy and keep an eye on baby's movements. If you are ever worried call the midwives. They will probably keep a closer eye on you and bump and might not let you deliver in a midwife-led unit

 

[surprisepreg]

Thank you so much for the reply. I actually have a doctor and not a midwife (its a lot less common to find midwives in the U.S.)

I wish I could stop working (soon...not quite yet) but unless my doctor were to say I had to stop and put me on disability pay, I wouldnt be able to afford it. Unless she says otherwise I need to work until Baby Shane makes his appearance.

It wouldnt be so bad except ontop of my already typically bad nights sleep, I think my bp has been spiking at night and waking me up. The last few nights ive woken up feeling like I couldnt get a good breath and like my heart was racing. I wasnt by my Bp machine (its downstairs) but that has also happened a couple of times during the day and when I checked BP it was high. Im just feeling so tired...ugh! Maybe it will get better? (wishful thinking??) :-/

 

[A3my]

oops sorry I didnt notice you were in the USA what you are describing is palpitations, try not to worry thats normal. I had that too, its due to the extra blood in your circulatory system and the pressure that puts on your heart. Saying that, they do get worse when you do too much. If you ever get palpitations that last longer than 1/2hr you should contact a doctor Do you sleep on your left side? thats the best position for breathing and circulation. Hope the doctor was helpful today x

 

[surprisepreg]

Hey,

Dr appointment went well. She prescribed labetalol for my blood pressure as it is steadly getting worse. She said the spikes im getting could cause a stroke and that its not good that my baseline pressure is so much higher then it used to be. I took my first pill a little while ago. I must say it seems to have helped. All afternoon (before I took meds) bp bp has been around 140/90..with spikes higher. I was having trouble breathing and felt tons of pressure in my head. I took the meds and now my bo is down and my head feels much better...and I can breathe! Which is always a good thing...lol

I am a bit worried about these meds though... :-/ I dont like taking meds while preggers.

 

[A3my]

Hey,

It does sound like its getting worse so its good they've given you the meds. I took it when I got admitted. I'm the same, I worried about meds when pregnant but its really important to stabilise your BP. As well as stroke it can also increase you chances of placental abruption, which is why its so important for you to take it easy. How much longer do you have to work for?

Glad the meds are making you feel better

 

[surprisepreg]

Hey,

Unless the doctor puts me on disability im supposed to work until baby Shane is born. Luckly I think they want to put me on disability...or at least the doctor I saw yesterday does. Hopefully my regular doctor will agree. I'll hopefully find out tomorrow.

My bp today on the meds is definitly better. Still getting spikes here and there (especially at work...I felt pretty sick a couple of times...but dont know how high bp got as I wasnt by my machine.) When I got home my bp was 155/75...so the bottom number is good...but the top number still needs to come down. Ive been resting and its slowly dropping and im starting to feel a bit better (had a pressure headache again). I really hope I wont need an increase in the medication. Hopefully two low doses a day will be enough...especially if I dont have to work. I think that will make a difference. I love my job...but working with special needs kids is definitly not a low stress job. :-/

 

[Tanikit]

Basically blood pressure works like this: the first number is what the pressure in your blood vessels is when your heart pumps blood through them which is why it is athe high number - they usually do not worry about this number too much - it just means that your heart is pumping hard and pushing out a lot of bloood in one go and that your vessles are measuring the pressure of all that blood.

The sesond number is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart relaxes and the blood rushed back into the heart. This will be the minimum pressure the blood vessels are under and that is why it is the important number. It should be around 80 usually (normal is 120/80) so anything less than 90 is fine during pregnancy.

Glad you are on meds now. I also had slightly raised blood pressure towards the end of last pregnancy (mine usually runs low at 100/70 or so) and it went to 160/100 at one stage but by sitting quietly for a while it dropped to 140/80 and I was never treated for preeclampsia. I also kept track of it by myself at home and it stayed around 130/80 when I checked which was ok.

They should keep a close eye on you now, but sounds like the meds are working fine. Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy.

 

[A3my]

Hey, I really hope they've signed you off work. Like I said I worked till 3 days before I was due (5 days before I was induced) and it was hard going even though I was doing desk work by then. I'm sure working with special needs kids must be hardgoing as well as being rewarding.

 

[surprisepreg]

Hey! They told me no more work...so thats good. BP however was still high...mainly the top number but they are concerned. They doubled my meds and said if we cant stabilize it we will deliver soon.

I took my bp meds at 9:30 and as of 10:30 (ish) bp was like 152/90....last night it went down in less then an hour. Laying on my left side right now and hoping that brings it down. *cross fingers*

 

[Tanikit]

Good luck - glad you are off work and try and keep your feet up and get plenty of rest. Hope the new dose of meds work. At least babes is 34 weeks now so you should be ok either way, but it is scary.

 

[A3my]

Great news you are off work! just take things really easy now. good luck

 

[surprisepreg]

Thanks ladies! All looking good today on the double dose of meds! BP been nice and stable!

 

[A3my]

yey

 

[surprisepreg]

Thank you! Im so relieved! Ive found that about an hour (ish) b4 im due to take the meds it starts to go up. but I am able to keep it under 140/90 by laying on left side and resting until its time for meds! Highest its gone during that hour is 138/80. The rest of the time its been staying around 124/69!! Yay! I hope it keeps up! Thanks for all the support and advice!

 

[A3my]

Thats great news, you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy now x

 

[yhl80]

I just saw this post, I'm glad that you are feeling better! I'm just entering my second trimester and my OB found that my BP is elevated on the latest prenatal visit, 140/95. And he ordered for me to do the 24 hours urine analysis in a few weeks. What medicine did your doctor prescribe you to control your BP? I am getting a little bit nervous myself, although my OB said that the baby is fine, but my chance to have BP complication in third trimester is there.

 

[A3my]

I was prescribed labetalol. I also did the 24 hour urine. Try not to worry, they'll keep a close eye on you and your baby. Take things as easy as you can xxx

 

[yhl80]

Ah, Thanks for sharing. Yeah I've been nervous when the OB told me this. I hope you and your baby are doing well

 

[surprisepreg]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you ladies know that Baby Shane was born on November 6 by c-section after a failed inductionl

He is beautiful and doing great! My milk is taking a while to come in...I dont know if that could be because of the labetalol or just because Shane is a bit early and not nursing as well as we would like. Either way...he is here...he is safe and he is healthy!

Thank you for all the advice!! I really appreciate it!