Worried about high blood pressure at only 23 weeks

[ltrip84]

Has anyone had high blood pressure so early in their pregnancy? I have already had three high blood pressure readings at my OB appointments (158/77, 155/90, can't remember the other one), but my BP seems okay when I take it at home- usually in the 120's-130-s/ 80's. I had the 24 hour urine test for pre-eclampsia a few weeks ago and everything was okay. Now, the doctor is going to refer me to a specialist for gestational hypertension.

Does anyone know what will happen next?
Will I get meds or bedrest?
Is it possible I could still get pre-e?
They won't induce me this early on will they?

I'm just worried!

 

[Leilani]

I expect you'll be given meds to keep you BP down. I expect they will monitor your urine on a regular basis for PE.

Your home monitor may not be terribly accurate, but if you always use it the same way, you will be able to see if you get any "not normal for you" readings iykwim.

I would also ask for additional scans to check that bubs is still growing, and to check the blood flow through your placenta.

Lots of ladies get gestational hypertension. They definitely won't induce you, unless something is very wrong with your baby.

 

[Londonbump81]

Have you not thought about 'white coat hypertension'? When your blood pressure rises in medical environments? I Definitely have this, I can literally feel my blood pressure rising before appointments and always read high. Most home monitors sold these days are clinically validated so your readings at home may actually be accurate. Could you ask to be monitored in your maternity/ women's department for an hour or so. That way you may get more true readings. I did this last week

 

[ltrip84]

Thanks for your replies. At my last appointment, they checked my BP when I arrived and before I left and it had only went down a little, but it was still top high. I gave them my list where I monitored at home but they were still concerned that its high at every appointment. I guess even if it's borderline high, I would rather get meds and not worry about it so much.

 

[Andypanda6570]

My blood pressure is always normal at home, when I go to the doctor it is high, cause I am nervous/ it happens to a lot of people . The above poster is right, cause that is me, I get nervous around people and my BP shoots up. It is normal when pregnant for your BP to go up. They gave me BP meds also, a lot of women take them and their babies are fine.. Don't worry everything will be ok..

 

[reebee1979]

I had pregnancy induced hypertension in my first pregnancy. .started around 21 weeks and doctors were puzzled as to why. Mine to were a touch lower at home, but did start to climb. I was 150/90 at 21 weeks, was monitored for that week then prescribed Labetelol 100mg 3 per day... bp sat at 115/70 for the entire rest of pregnancy. Was induced at 36.5weeks when it started to climb again, but no signs of pre-eclampsia. You will be fine. .so will bubs!!!

This pregnancy my bp is on low side hahaha go figure. Doc said mayb just because its baby number 2, but odd things happen in pregnancy, right lol.

 

[Andypanda6570]

I had pregnancy induced hypertension in my first pregnancy. .started around 21 weeks and doctors were puzzled as to why. Mine to were a touch lower at home, but did start to climb. I was 150/90 at 21 weeks, was monitored for that week then prescribed Labetelol 100mg 3 per day... bp sat at 115/70 for the entire rest of pregnancy. Was induced at 36.5weeks when it started to climb again, but no signs of pre-eclampsia. You will be fine. .so will bubs!!!

This pregnancy my bp is on low side hahaha go figure. Doc said mayb just because its baby number 2, but odd things happen in pregnancy, right lol.

I also was given Labetelol.. I was on Antenelol (SP) but that isn't safe in pregnancy that is why i was put on labetelol. Most women you will find are put on labetelol, it's safe. But for me the side effects were horrible, but u get used to it.. Xo

 

[ltrip84]

I had pregnancy induced hypertension in my first pregnancy. .started around 21 weeks and doctors were puzzled as to why. Mine to were a touch lower at home, but did start to climb. I was 150/90 at 21 weeks, was monitored for that week then prescribed Labetelol 100mg 3 per day... bp sat at 115/70 for the entire rest of pregnancy. Was induced at 36.5weeks when it started to climb again, but no signs of pre-eclampsia. You will be fine. .so will bubs!!!

This pregnancy my bp is on low side hahaha go figure. Doc said mayb just because its baby number 2, but odd things happen in pregnancy, right lol.

I also was given Labetelol.. I was on Antenelol (SP) but that isn't safe in pregnancy that is why i was put on labetelol. Most women you will find are put on labetelol, it's safe. But for me the side effects were horrible, but u get used to it.. Xo

What kind of side effects did you get from labetelol?

 

[Dinah93]

Your bp is only borderline high, as in at the point they'll be thinking about a low level of labetalol, its nowhere near where it needs to be to think about delivering the baby. They wouldn't induce this early as it can have a negative outcome for the baby, if they needed to deliver this early it would be a caesarian. I would try not to worry, without protein high bp on its own is much less of a worry, there are a lot of meds they can have you on before they throw in the towel and deliver. As long as you have no protein in your urine/uric acid in your blood pre-e isn't a concern. As a guide my bp was 185/128 on max doses of methyldopa, labetalol and nifedipine, my protein +4 and my platelets had dropped from 266 to 102 in the last 5 days before they decided to deliver my DD early.

 

[LaraSue]

Mine has been high since like week 13 or so, I've been on Procardia since then. It's still high but not as bad. Mine is relatively high all the time. They've been doing extra scans to make sure bub is still growing (which he is...he's a hoss!) but they are going to induce me about 4 days early because of my BP.

 

[ltrip84]

4 days early isn't bad at all. I go to a specialist for gestational hypertension on Wednesday so I will try to let you all know how it goes.

 

[surprisepg]

Mine has been high since like week 13 or so, I've been on Procardia since then. It's still high but not as bad. Mine is relatively high all the time. They've been doing extra scans to make sure bub is still growing (which he is...he's a hoss!) but they are going to induce me about 4 days early because of my BP.

I'm in the same boat as you. My BP was high since 10 weeks. I was put on meds immediately. My dose has only increased once through this pregnancy so far and I too have had extra scans. I have had 6 including my dating, 12 and 20 weeks scan. They check the cord blood flow, the fluid around baby and of course growth. I was told at my last scan that he is in the 10th percentile but as long as they see growth thats not a concern.

I also have GD

They wont induce baby unless BP cant be controlled and you show signs of pre e.