blood pressure question....

[icklekid]

Just back from 34 week midwife appointment - she took blood pressure said the first number was high but second one was fine so not to worry. She then redid blood pressure top number was lower but bottom number higher. She then merged the two readings. Top number from second reading and bottom number from first reading!

I clearly have no idea what either number means but did find the whole thing a bit odd. Do I need to worry? Thanks in advance!

[purplemurple1]

How did she take it - manually or electronic?

[Mummymidwife87]

Err, you can't merge the numbers.

The top number (systolic) is often in lime with stress, and is significant. Over 160 can result in stroke if stays above that number. The lower number (diastolic) should be below 90.

It should be done manually not on automated machine.
Very odd.

[icklekid]

No she did it on an electronic cuff?
I guess I'm just hoping that I will continue to feel fine and if not get myself to go to get blood pressure checked again?

[ismarah]

Ickle the numbers also might not be that high. Do you know your normal pre-pregnancy BP and your BP so far in pregnancy? It should be listed in your book. Normal range is about 100-120 / 60-80, when pregnant anything above 140/90 starts to make them go hmm.

You can't merge the measurements like that but they do vary. If you are chatting or moving that will affect the cuff. If she wasn't worried, you probably don't need to be either but for peace of mind maybe have it checked? And definitely ask / mention it at your next appointment.

My local surgery now has a DIY BP monitor in the waiting room, maybe yours does? Boots might do it too if you're worried - or they sell them or £10-20. If you do measure it yourself, don't worry about the numbers if you get a one-off that's high, provided you are checking ir regularly, like 1-2x a day. It's when every measure is high that they'd start to be concerned.

[icklekid]

Thanks ismarah got all bp in notes and is higher than previously but not above 140/90 when 2 combined!

I'm going to go with if shes not worried I wont be. Was a medical student (sat looking very uncomfortable!) So I'm sure she would have set the example and checked again if she was concerned!

[sleepingdragon]

I have just moved areas and so have ended up having my blood pressure checked 4 times in a week. my blood pressure had been stable through my pregnancy, 135/137 the top number taken on an electric machine. the day after and a few days later my new area have taken it again manually and it has been 120 each time. the midwife said the same as the poster above that it can come out higher on an electric machines so they are supposed to do it manually.