Anyone else suffered from high blood pressure when pregnant with twins?

[Mumof2Pregwithtwins]

I haven't had high blood pressure in my previous pregnancies.

The consultant today told me that I've got about a 5 to 10% chance of getting pre-eclampsia....

I'm not good with health problems and I'm really panicking. Anyone else been in a similar situation?

[NotsoHoHoHO]

No experience myself, I am afraid. How many weeks are you?

[pophas2boybeans]

hiya. I haveen't got high blood pressure with this pregnancy although I expected it as I had very high blood pressure with my last pregnancy and that was just one baby. How high is it?

[Mumof2Pregwithtwins]

I don't know how high it is - but the consultant told me that I should start taking aspirin every day.

I'm only 12 weeks pregnant. So if I'm already having to take pills at this stage - I'm worried how my bodies going to cope with the next six months.

Maybe I'm just being pathetic...

[NotsoHoHoHO]

You are not being pathetic. Could you have a word with a midwife,get her to tell you what it is and explain things more so you are not worrying over Christmas.

[Mumof2Pregwithtwins]

The thing is - the more I know the more I worry. It's something over 90. Don't know if that's really high or not.

[SuzyFelts]

hi
didnt have HBP during my twin pregnancy but got it straight after - my 2 are 6 months and i am still taking betablockers. Basically anything above 140/80 is considered high but it should be read over several readings otherwise it could be that you've jogged there or something. In pregnancy the bottom number is the more significant and what they will be watching. Mine got as high as 150/105.

I would be careful with what type of food you are eating - your chloestrol level is a major part of HBP and its naturally much higher during pregnancy - a benecol mini yoghurt drink a day could help and make sure you keep up some gentle exercise poss pregnancy yoga as you could try and help it with breathing exercises?

Unfortunately i'm having to try and do the above with 3 kids under 4 - catch 22!!!

[throckenholt]

I had it with my first (HBP not pre eclampsia) but not with my twins. Although my HBP didn't start till later - at 12 weeks it was normal.

I think if it is high at 12 weeks it is not supposed to be as a result of pregnancy but more an underlying thing.

How high was it ?

There are a few drugs to control blood pressure that are routinely used in pregnancy - talk to your midwife about it.

[throckenholt]

just noticed you said something over 90 - that is not hugely high - but is on the borderline for normal high blood pressure.

Mine got concerned if it regularly measured over 150/100 - and at its highest it got to 180/120!

[Mumof2Pregwithtwins]

Thanks for all the reassurance. The consultant told me to start taking aspirin every day - but I'm going to see if I can fix my diet first - cut out salt, drink a lot more water etc and see how it goes.

[throckenholt]

I think cutting out salt in pregnancy is not a good thing - can't remember why. Just eat sensibly.

Drinking more water is good. And more exercise is generally good for lower blood pressure.

If the consultant said take asprin I would maybe check with the gp or the midwife. Although small dose asprin is meant to help with some who are prone to miscarriage (presumably related to thick blood) - so it should be ok.

[throckenholt]

I forgot to say - swimming is meant to be good too - something about being in water helps.

[neenztwinz]

I had HBP at about 16 weeks PG and was told to rest, so I had a couple of weeks off work. I didn't have another HBP reading again during the entire pregnancy so perhaps your reading was just a one-off too. The 5-10% risk of pre-eclampsia could just be the normal risk for a twin pregnancy rather than anything specific to you. Don't worry. You will be heavily monitored throughout. Good luck!