High BP - all other tests are negative

[TacoTime]

Hi,

First time poster here - need some advice/reassurance.

I have never had a problem with high BP before getting pregnant. Then for my regular prenatal tests I would always have a high BP at the start of the app't and then it would go down when re-tested 15 minutes later. Yesterday, at my 29 week app't it was high (145//90) and wouldn't go down when re-tested later. So my dr sent me to the hospital. I was put on a BP monitor for 2 hours and it never went down. They took blood tests which were all fine. I haven't had any headaches or swelling. Oh, I should also mention that I have anxiety. The dr sent me home and originally said I should go on modified bed rest but then said I could work but nothing else (no trips to the mall etc) and that if I have any bad headaches, blurred vision, spots etc I need to come back immediately. I see my regular doctor again in 2 weeks. Anybody have any similar experiences? Any advice??? Thanks everyone!

 

[daisy72]

Probably you've got pregnancy-induced hypertension. Pretty common. They might also ask you to do a 24 hr urine test, as it usually picks up protein in urine much better than a simple dip test. I don't have personal experience, but I know some ladies here, they take medication for elevated BP, and it helps. Probably you should speak with your OB about it.
I personally have a white coat syndrom, so what helped me, I bought my own BP monitor and I take my BP daily and then show to my OB. This, however weird, helps me not to have too high BP readings in the office, as I know that my BP is actually OK. Maybe this can work for you, too. Good luck!

 

[xolynn]

Mine was 142/82 at my appointment today...they said that my top number was a bit higher than it should be and they would be keeping an eye on it at future appointments. I did feel pretty nervous when I first got in the room though when they took it... which I think has something to do with it. Even at normal dr visits pre-pregnancy my top number would run as high as 136-138 because i get so nervous at the doctors lol. I'm kind of scared about it though because my mom has very high blood pressure and on multiple meds to try to get it down..

 

[sethsmummy]

hey hun I have high bp atm and am on baby aspirin. my last reading last Thursday was 156/86 so my top reading is JUST below the severe hypertension mark and my bottom line is JUST below the high mark. I have had protein in my urine a lot of the time and have swelling in my fingers and get headaches a lot and generally feel unwell. I have weekly appointments now to check my BP/Urine and get full blood works done.

Tomorrow I see my consultant at the hospital for my 32 week Growth scan and to book my elective section date. I am hoping my BP has come back down again otherwise im scared of being admitted on bed rest. I couldn't leave my son for that long! He has NEVER been without me and I dont think his dad would cope on his own with him.

xxx

 

[TacoTime]

Thanks for the info. My dr didn't take a urine sample, only a blood test. Can you tell if you have pre-eclampsia without a urine analysis?

 

[sethsmummy]

I think they can hun as i have weekly blood tests on top of the urine tests xx

 

[Etoiles]

I also never had a problem with high blood pressure before and was also recently diagnosed with it from my Dr. My reading was 140/80 and all other readings for weeks the lower number has been higher than 80 so he said it would be best to start blood pressure medicine now to prevent problems later.

I started taking the medicine and two of my most latest readings were lower so he said that was great. I do have to go back every 2 weeks now instead of every 4 for a check up though.

 

[TacoTime]

what is "too" high for blood pressure? I went to the hospital last week and my blood pressure was 140/91. They sent me home and said to take it easy and to just go to my dr app't in 2 weeks. Do you think I should go in before then? I have no other symptoms.

 

[sethsmummy]

high blood pressure is anything over 140/90 and severe is 160/110

xx

 

[OmiOmen]

High blood pressure with all other tests coming back clear is pregnancy induced hypertension. It may stay as how it is, it could get worse or possibly develop into pre-eclampsia. Because of the potential that it could develop into pre-eclampsia you should be getting regular checks from a midwife or doctor from now until delivery.

With my son my I started getting high blood pressure at 22-23 weeks and had to get my blood pressure and urine checked twice a week from then on and when the blood pressure came back high (and it always did) I would be sent into hospital to have blood tests and fetal monitoring. I developed actual pre-eclampsia at roughly 38 weeks. I am now classed as high risk to get it again so will have checks every 2 weeks providing my blood pressure stays okay. I was recommended by my GP to buy a home blood pressure monitor though and I decided to get the urine analysis dip sticks to check for protein in my urine too should I have a questionable reading on my blood pressure monitor.

 

[princessatmey]

i developed severe pre e in labour last preg no warning sighns.
i was toldid be seen more frequent nxt preg.
preg again an bp was still high from prev preg 3-4mnths before i was 140/90 at booking an this was on meds. taken of meds an i stabled at 10 weeks to 120s/70s started rise again 20+wks 130s/80s. i got headaches at 26weeks and i was back an forward to docs an l&d til at 31-32 weeks i had a high reading at hosp as well as docs higest num on top was 156 an on bottom 101 or 110(jst got glimpse) luckly they were not together. i was put on meds and 24hrs in hosp. bp went dwn after few days to 120s/70s again but is rising again to 135+/85+ i have alot other symptoms ie blurd vision dizznss all time.headaches an recently chest pain. my bloods ar ok (doc happy with them) last 2 urines had + protein an +lecocytes sent sample off as i had an over nght tay in hosp last week.

now 39+1 an waiting on labour

 

[TacoTime]

i developed severe pre e in labour last preg no warning sighns.
i was toldid be seen more frequent nxt preg.
preg again an bp was still high from prev preg 3-4mnths before i was 140/90 at booking an this was on meds. taken of meds an i stabled at 10 weeks to 120s/70s started rise again 20+wks 130s/80s. i got headaches at 26weeks and i was back an forward to docs an l&d til at 31-32 weeks i had a high reading at hosp as well as docs higest num on top was 156 an on bottom 101 or 110(jst got glimpse) luckly they were not together. i was put on meds and 24hrs in hosp. bp went dwn after few days to 120s/70s again but is rising again to 135+/85+ i have alot other symptoms ie blurd vision dizznss all time.headaches an recently chest pain. my bloods ar ok (doc happy with them) last 2 urines had + protein an +lecocytes sent sample off as i had an over nght tay in hosp last week.

now 39+1 an waiting on labour

Thanks ladies and good luck with the labor.

My bp is actually normal when I first wake up so I'm assuming that so far so good. No headaches. My next dr app't is in a week. I guess we will see how that goes. Keep me informed of your stories please!

 

[hopefulfor1st]

Mine went to 140/90 at 34 weeks, was checked for pre e weekly or mireso, by 36 weeks after quitting work dropped to 130/80 so thought allwas fine, at 37+5 at my routine app was 135/85 and they said fine. 2 days later at 38weeks the docs assume I had a sudden unexpected blood pressure spike and it caused 2 large tennis ball sized blood clots behind my placenta causing an abruption. Lucky I got to hospital in just 10 minutes before bleeding got too unmanageable and 15 minutes after walking in the front doors my LO was born via c section and I was receiving a transfusion. I really feel I should've been medicated at 34 weeks for it!

 

[princessatmey]

Mine went to 140/90 at 34 weeks, was checked for pre e weekly or mireso, by 36 weeks after quitting work dropped to 130/80 so thought allwas fine, at 37+5 at my routine app was 135/85 and they said fine. 2 days later at 38weeks the docs assume I had a sudden unexpected blood pressure spike and it caused 2 large tennis ball sized blood clots behind my placenta causing an abruption. Lucky I got to hospital in just 10 minutes before bleeding got too unmanageable and 15 minutes after walking in the front doors my LO was born via c section and I was receiving a transfusion. I really feel I should've been medicated at 34 weeks for it!

how traumatic for u hun was kinda similar my first preg(prev). i was low risk all preg went my 39wk apoint all fine i was feeling fine lol didnt feel preg hee hee and 2 days later i had my baby. i woke at 2.50 am with backache an deliverd by forceps at 12.55pm (10 hrs) waters broke on route to bigger hosp at 8.40am. i had scratch test on bubs head done an came bk abnom so they did 15min call an luckly i was fully dilated.

 

[Mrs_Bump]

My BP was 130/88 today but has been 110/70 until now, and I had some protein in my urine. I have no other symptoms at all like headaches or swelling (my rings are actually loose). They're sending my urine for testing and said I'd have the same tests in 2 weeks so I guess I'm in a similar boat.

 

[tartlet]

Make sure they are closely and frequently monitoring you, and don't ignore any upper abdominal pain if you get any. If you have not heard of HELLP syndrome, Google or Wiki it, I had never heard of it when I got it with my first, and had been suffering with the pain for 3 days before going to the hospital. I had PIH for 4 weeks before developing HELLP. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of symptoms to watch for, good luck!

 

[MandyV]

Both my pregnancies I had pregnancy induced hypertension all my labs were normal and with my second I had PIH and pregnancy induced tachycardia. I was out in meds which helped until 37 weeks with both pregnancies I was induced at 37 weeks cause they just couldn't control my BP but my labs where always normal, after both pregnancies my bp returned to normal and so did my heart rate, the drs said it had to do with how my body reacts to pregnancy hormones and the stress of pregnancy.

 

[sevenofnine]

I just started medication for pregnancy induced hypertension today, at 40 weeks. I was tested on Sunday and again today (bloodwork and urine sample) to check for pre-eclampsia. My blood pressure was 150/100. Always normal but has been elevated for the past couple weeks. This is the highest it's been so far. No other symptoms.

Shouldn't be long until delivery now!