High blood pressure

Just got back from the doctor and i have high blood pressure! I am so upset. The nurse took it first and then like 20minutes later the doctor took it ans he said it had come down slightly and that it it hadnt he would have sent me to the hospital! So now i'm in medication and have to be closely monitored. I have an appointment on saturday to see if the meds are working and then another next wednesday to check placenta and fetal growth. I just cant believe this

Re: High blood pressure

How far along are you? Don't worry, they caught it and they will keep it steady with the medication. Remember that if you work yourself up, that will bring up your BP, so try as best as you can to stay calm

Re: High blood pressure

Thanks, i'm trying my best not to get upset i just feel like such a failure. I should be keeping this baby safe and instead i have high blood pressure. Im 25w3d today.

Re: High blood pressure

I developed high blood pressure late in my last pregnancy. Thankfully, it was a slow increase so by the time it got out of hand I was about ready to go anyway and induced. I am a little concerned about it this time as well. Did your doc devise any plan for you to keep it in check? One thing I am trying to do this time is work out a little bit. I had a little bit of extra weight on me both this pregnancy and last so I don't know if that had anything to do with it. It is very common, though. And a very good thing your blood pressure did start to level out a little bit. Sometimes nerves do it too, that happened a couple of times during my first pregnancy but by the time they re-took it, I was fine. to you, it is scary, But, please don't blame yourself, like I said it is something that happens sometimes.

ETA: Just saw you are on meds and being monitiored, that is a good thing that they are keeping an eye on it!

Message edited 12/13/2011 2:06:03 PM.

Re: High blood pressure

Re: High blood pressure

I have pregnancy induced hypertension too. Found out after my 20 week visit. I started on 100 mg labetalol and then 1 week later I was moved to 200 mg 3x a day. Now at 28 weeks I am up to 300 mg 3x a day and it seems to be working. I am checked every week or two and I have my own digital blood pressure cuff I use to record my BP several times a day. Just be sure to know what the more dangerous symptoms are... Seeing black spots, pain across upper abdomen, etc.

It is nothing you did wrong! Not only do I have the high BP and am on meds, I also have gestational diabetes ! I just monitor and try my best.

Message edited 12/13/2011 9:33:27 PM.

Re: High blood pressure

you didnt do anything. Hang in there

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i had high blood pressure for about 7 or so weeks at the end of my pregnancy. they did not treat it at all and my DS ended up being 4lbs 10 oz at birth and he was 39 weeks!

i know medication is a stinky thing but let them treat you because you dont want to risk a low birth weight, its scary when they are so tiny

Re: High blood pressure

Thanks everyone, I feel a little better now. I'm also on the labetalol, 200mg 3x a day at least until saturday when I go back to the doctor. My best friend is a PA and she assured me the med is fine for me and baby and that it would be much more dangerous to not treat the high blood pressure. She also insisted that I go get a digital home cuff, which I did and to check my bp a few times a day. Surprisingly after only one dose of the medicine bp is back in the normal range. I thought something was wrong with the cuff but she said the medicine starts working in 20-30 minutes. Anyway for now I'm just resting, DH won't let me do a thing :)

Thanks again for all the reassuring and kind words!

Re: High blood pressure

what was yoru blood pressure reading? had you eaten alot of salty foods lately?
hope all goes well and its controled easily! oxo

Re: High blood pressure

Re: High blood pressure

earlier in my first tri my bp was much higher bc i was eating pickles like an animal lol

most likely now its not what you eat...although lower sodium does help...its just the stress the baby is putting on your body.

please try not to feel bad.. i know how you feel. i have gestational diabetes, clotting issues and most likely will combat some sort of high bp later on. you arent failing baby...you are taking care of him or her.

hopefully the meds help quickly!!! xoxox

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Dont beat yourself up about it. we never know how our bodies are goign to react to pregnancy. Sometimes they are fine other times our bodies do not do what we want.

You are doing the right thing and just keep in touch with your Dr about it. I learned from my blood clots that a phone call to the Dr is not bothering them so don;t be afraid to call.

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How high was it? I'm surprised they went straight to medication if this is the first time you've had a high BP reading. I had high BP during the 3rd timrester with DS and was just monitored closely. I'm not sure if I fully developed pre-eclampsia, but I was moving towards it. I was put on bed rest 1 month before my EDD, but not before they ran a bunch of tests (blood tests, 24 hour urine test). I didn't need medication though. It's good that your doctor is being proactive about it and is monitoring you. Good luck!

Re: High blood pressure

I too have just been told that I have Pregnancy related hypertension. My Dr told me to start taking 81mg aspirin everyday and that he will be monitoring me. I have to go back on 12/29. Mine was 133/80 on Thursday and when I checked it again last night it was 137/82. It is totally freaking me out too! I also have high protein levels in my urine which is also something that must be montitored with the high BP. Hang in there. Just think...We are so close to the end