High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I never had high blood pressure before. At 36 weeks my blood pressure went up. I know this is common, but I though it usually went down after giving birth. Now, 5 weeks after birth, my blood pressure is still high. I am on medication 2 times a day.
Did this happen to anyone else? Did it eventually go down, or did it stay high? how do you manage it?

Thanks!

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I developed eclampsia at 30 weeks and had a seizure bc my blood pressure was through the roof - 7 months later I am still on medication for it....it is still a little high. I am hoping that in the next few months I will be able to come off of it.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

It took about 2 months for my BP to go back to "normal". I got induced due to high BP. I also became anemic during my pregnancy and that has stayed with me till this day (and I'm almost 6 months PP).

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I developed HBP during pregnancy, but it went back to normal within 48 hours of delivery.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I developed preeclampsia the evening I went into labor (I was 110/50-120/60 my whole pregnancy). I actually spent one extra night in the hospital b.c my labs were off from the meds and the high bp after delivering DD. I was on meds for about 2-3 weeks after delivery - I was told that this happens to many people. My BP went back to normal at about 2-3 pp and has been normal every since. I think some people take longer or shorter to go back to normal than others do.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

My BP was high after I gave birth. I was monitored by my OBGYN for the first month or so who put me on meds and then he told me to see my GP who sent me to a nephrologist. The nephrologist changed my meds and told me that this happens sometimes after giving birth, having a newborn and the stress of everything. He predicted that by the time my maternity leave was over that I would be completely weaned off the meds, and I was. Buy a wrist BP machine and take your BP at different times of the day.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I am still having issues, 16 months pp. At my doctor's recommendation, I bought an at-home monitor and check my pressure every day. It's borderline most of the time (I had one super-high reading last month, which prompted the home monitor).

I am also trying to work out more and eat better. I cut out a few bad things cold turkey (soda, fried stuff) and am going to cut out more. Even though it's better, I still want it to be lower.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I had high blood pressure after delivery. i hated the medicine. it made me feel really tired and achy.

i think sleeping on one side makes it go down. that is what the nurses told me.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I had my daughter early because of the preclasmpia I still take medication 6 months later.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I developed high BP at 33 weeks. I am also on meds 2xs a day right now. My OB said it can take 6 weeks for your BP to return to normal.

Re: High Blood pressure after pregnancy

I had preclampsia as well, delivered 6 wks early and put on meds (2x/day) for hbp. I'm still taking it now (3 1/2 yrs later) but it seemed that every time I went to the Dr. even a yr. after delivery, I still had a bp of 140/90 (white coat syndrome). I also don't deal w/stress very well so I think they just kept me on it.

BP however has been normal...low even for the past 2 years or so.

*also went to weight watchers which I think helped.*

Message edited 7/12/2008 9:10:46 PM.