Moms who had pre-eclampsia

I am 39 weeks and my BP has started to creep up... All pregnancy it's been 120/80. Last week I was a little nervous meeting the new doc and it was 130/90. They took it again after the appt and it went down. Yesterday I was worked up about it being high again and it was 160/90!

Again, they check it again and it went down, but only to 140/90. Just to be safe they took blood and I have to do the 24 hour test :(.

This happened with my daughter as well.... All the tests came back ok and I went into labor on my own- for other reasons ended up with a c section. This time I'm really hoping for a VBAC so I'm trying to keep my cool when I go tomorrow because I definitely think my nerves are not helping! She said my pulse was 100 which would indicate I was nervous.

My question is, can they diagnose you as having pre-eclampsia just on bp alone? Or is it a combo of all the tests?

Thanks in advance!

Moms who had pre-eclampsia

I was diagnosed with it at 35 weeks. I had picture perfect BP whole pregnancy and at 33 weeks it started creeping up. Like you, it would drop down when I rested. At the 35 week mark I was sent to L&D for monitoring, 24 hour urine showed protein but not enough for pre-e diagnosis. They were considering my discharge but wanted to wait for blood work. Well the blood work showed that my kidney function and so thing else were at a crawl and within an hour I had my little guy.

The blood work was the only thing that convinced them to go delivery and not more monitoring and bed rest. At the 39 week mark if you are still high, my guess is they are going to deliver you if it's still high. Whether or not thy let y try VBAC will likely depend on how high and if they think it will creep up higher during the stress of labor. They worry about stroke as with pre-e and e, the BP rise happens very quickly,

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

With my DD my bp had also been creeping up for days. It would go up and down like yours. My blood work came back fine but the doctors decided that my bp trend wasn't looking good so they induced me at 38.5 weeks. DD was fine buta few days later I ended up with post partum pre-e (which is very rare) so I am glad the doctors induced when they did.

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

When I was PG with DS I had vision problems from week 25 on. At my 32 week appointment my BP went up and they also had me to the 24 hour test. While my BP was lower than yours, my urine test was high. So I was put on strict left side only bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. I delivered DS at 39 weeks.

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

I am not sure it can be diagnosed on BP alone. I had high BP my whole second and third tri and had to be on BP meds for it. They kept a close watch on my protein levels in my urine and they were always fine.
I was never diagnosed with pre-e- only pregnancy induced hypertension.
It's 2 different things.

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

I am not sure it can be diagnosed on BP alone. I had high BP my whole second and third tri and had to be on BP meds for it. They kept a close watch on my protein levels in my urine and they were always fine. I did the 24 hour test as well. All came back fine.
I never had vision changes or severe swelling (other than my normal pregnancy swelling)
I was never diagnosed with pre-e- only pregnancy induced hypertension.
It's 2 different things.

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

Thanks!

I just went to rite aid to check it and it was down to 128/83. I know that is still a little elevated but it makes me feel a little better.

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

didnt they cheeck your urine at the doctor's?

mine came out with protein plus my bp was elevated. that still didnt qualify me for the diagnosis until i did the 24 hour.

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

if i remember correctly, i was diagnosed with bloodwork and the 24hour urine. good luck, they are probably just being super cautious!! my friend has HBP and they made her do two 24 hour urines just as a precaution, and she did not ever develop pre e.

Message edited 11/7/2013 4:59:03 PM.

Re: Moms who had pre-eclampsia

You might just have pregnancy induced hypertension. Preeclampsia is usually diagnosed with a 24 hour urine collection and blood work in addition to blood pressure.

You are full term and will be fine. Just follow your doctor's orders! Good luck!

Moms who had pre-eclampsia

It's not bp alone and I know this is ridiculous but try and relax and not take your pressure a ton of times