high blood pressure:(

hi, everyone!

everything has been going great in my pg until just a few weeks ago. then the carpal tunnel got bad, and i started noticing that my bp went up a little (since i am over 40 i have been slightly concerned since the beginning, so i got a little home monitor and have been taking it daily). my bp has been really good--around 120 over 70 on most days at home. but after about week 20 of my pg i started to notice it was a little higher at home. at my appts it is usually high when i come in but then fine when i leave, so my doc has not been worried....

last friday, however, it did not go down (it was like 150 over 90 when i left). my doc wanted to put me on meds then and there. but i am very resistant to this. i know that meds have a ton of side effects and i get nervous about taking anything without having a lot of info first. on the other hand, however, i also know that it can be dangerous for the babies if high bp is not under control.

has anyone had a similar experience? taken meds? which ones? did it help?

i go back today and we will see how it goes. thanks sooo much in advance for any and all input!!

, jl

 

I didn't take meds, and I don't remember exactly what my pressure was, but I got a lot of advise and warnings about pre-eclampsia. High blood pressure can be so dangerous to you; I'm sure you'll do what's best! :hug99:

 

I have chronic high blood pressure. I've been taking Labetalol since before I got pregnant. I don't like to, but as with all meds during pregnancy, sometimes the benefits outwiegh the risks.

 

Try to take as much water as you can and a long distance walk will be better for you to keep the high blood pressure in control.

 

Hi had high blood pressure toward the end of my pregnancy - kept getting worse and worse until I was hospitalized at about 32 weeks or so. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and given Nifedipine. It helped curb my BP until my little munchkins were born at 35 weeks, 4 days. I agree with ppt...high blood pressure is dangerous for the babies and for you! You're doing a good thing, though, by researching all your options! Good luck!

 

I have had pre-e with both of my previous pregnancies and it is now threatening again this time. I did end up on bp meds with my last pregnancy and there is a good chance I will this time too. My little boy is a perfectly healthy 18 month old and thanks to the meds, I was able to carry him to 38 weeks. Best wishes to you!

 

they were worried about my bp from the beginning...and i just thought it was the mean nurse at my Dr's office since my bp had always been perfect. As i got midway through my 2nd trimester, the dr. and i discussed my working from home part time and curbing my daily walks. A pp suggested walking, i would not do so w/out your Drs approval (swimming is probably a better option, but ask your Dr).

At 25 weeks, we saw that Jake was suffering from IUGR and I was put on bedrest. I was able to work from home, but had to monitor my bp (i had already bought a cuff after the 23 week appt) and try to be on my left side. I was not on meds until after i delivered and my bp was still high. It has since returned to normal (102/68 at last check) - but if bed rest is an option, do that before meds (if your Dr agrees). It was amazing, I would come for my appoint, bp would be sky high, i would rest on my left side for 10 minutes and it would come down.

Also, they should be checking your urine for protein, i never had any and I watched my body for swelling.

good luck!
miriam

 

thanks for your input, everyone. my bp was pretty high when i got there yesterday, but later on it went "down" to 140/85. my doc still wanted to put me on the meds (aldomet) so i filled the prescription.

today i spoke to both my acupuncturist and my doula, both of whom felt it was best to just go along w/the doctor's wishes. the truth is that it is sometimes high when i take it at home and am relaxed, and i am doing everything i can to take good care of myself (excellent diet, 80-90 oz water/daily and work out 5-6 times/week). in spite of all of this it is still a little high, so i am going to try to just go w/the flow and hope it works....

thanks for all your input! it really helps.

~~jl

 

Jeri, it sounds like you are putting your babies first -- you'll be a great mama!

 

I took Aldoment through my entire pregnancy - I have chronic hbp also and the kids were/are fine...they were low birthweight but that was it...I made it to 36w before getting pre-e and having to deliver...

 

QUOTE(AmynTony @ Dec 11 2007, 05:07 PM) [snapback]529879[/snapback]
I took Aldoment through my entire pregnancy - I have chronic hbp also and the kids were/are fine...they were low birthweight but that was it...I made it to 36w before getting pre-e and having to deliver...


that's good to know! your kids are sure adorable right now. it's really great to hear everyone else's stories..... i am going to do the pre-e work up (pee pee in the fridge--oh joy!) after the holidays. luckily, i have no other pre-e symtoms right now, but we'll get a 'baseline,' which should be helpful later on.

thanks again for your input!

~~jl

 

i always had normal bp. my bp got high around the 28th week of pregnancy though...i was put on bedrest - stay on left side and relax...they gave me meds. around the end of the 33rd week...but i ended up w/ pre-e and gave birth at 34w2d. my bp was all over the place while in the hospital...once getting to like 200/100..they were taking my bp every 15 minutes for a whole afternoon and trying all sorts of meds via iv to get me stable. i ended up on lebatalol for a year after the birth. my bp finally returned to normal.

i would do what the doc. says because bp isn't something you should mess with.

good luck!

Lois

 

My bp went up around 20 weeks as well. At that point she took me off work for a week and between rest and fluids it came down. After that I was able to manage it by only working part time and resting as much as possible. At 32 weeks I stopped working completely b/c it creeped back up, but I was able to make it to almost 38 weeks before they induced. I had not developed pre-e, but my resting bp was 115/110 and the doctor thought better to deliver than end up with an emergency situation later. 6 weeks after i gave birth it was back to normal.

so rest rest rest and drink drink drink!