38 weeks raised blood pressure but not pre-eclampsia, anyone else have the same towards end of pregnancy?

[robinsongyal]

So my blood pressure pre-pregnancy has always been on the low side 90/60 sort of mark...

I went for my 38 week appointment today and my BP was up at 130/80 the highest it's ever been! But it's been high-ish (for me) now for the past 2 appointments, there's no protein in urine and don't have much swelling. Has anyone else experienced this at the end of their pregnancy?? Midwife said that i should just monitor how much i am doing and take lots of breaks but didn't really tell me if it was normal..

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

I don't think it's unusual for bp to rise at the end. I would make sure you have good and regular monitoring if it though in case it develops into something more serious. At least the end is in sight though, if you had your baby now they'd be fine.

[Foggymist]

High bp is quite common towards the end, that's not particularly high but high for you if it's usually low. If you've no extreme pr sudden swelling, no protein in urine, no headaches or visual disturbances then just monitor it as midwife said. It's fairly normal, your body is under a lot of pressure (no pun intended).

[DeliciouslyHella]

Yes, I did. My BP was 152/105 at 31 weeks and I was put on medication. From that point on I had twice weekly monitoring, including checking for pre-eclampsia (which never appeared). Had a couple of spells where it went up again and I had to be admitted to hospital for medication to be adjusted.

Eventually, at 38+4, my consultant called time on it and I was admitted to be induced. My BP was 160/110, and as soon as it came down, I was induced. DD was born the next day.

There is lots they can do for blood pressure, but as you are so late on - the answer may be for you to have the baby. Generally, most women's BP goes back to normal within a few days of delivery. I've remained on a very low dose of medication and am now 27 weeks with DC2. My BP has stayed mostly under control so far this pregnancy.

[DeliciouslyHella]

Also, just to add - although 130/80 may be high for you personally, it falls quite far under the NICE threshold for hypertension in pregnancy.

[bobbinogs]

I did with both pregnancies, more monitoring towards the end of the pregnancies but all back to normal within a month once I'd given birth.

[LotisBlue]

Yes, both pregnancies mine hovered around the border for concern in the last few weeks (145 /90). I had extra monitoring from the midwife but never developed pre eclampsia or anything else needing treatment, and it went back down after giving birth.

[SprogletsMum]

I did with my third I think it was picked up at 39+1. I had to go to hospital for a day off monitoring then they gave me a sweep and I had her at 39+3. My blood pressure came straight down after birth.

[Lunalovepud]

My BP went up at about 36 weeks with DC1 and markedly with a bit of protein at 38 weeks. I think the threshold for action is something like 150 / 100 (they are more concerned about the bottom number if I remember correctly...) so you are well within the safe range.

I am sure you have nothing to worry about but please keep your eye on the swelling and any other potential symptoms and get anything you are unsure of checked out - PE can come on very suddenly (it did with me) and it is better to get everything checked a million times and find nothing than miss one check and then be unwell.

Good luck with everything - you must be so excited - not long to go now!

[Fairy45]

Exactly same booking bp was 90/60 and at 37 weeks was 140/80 and banging headaches which i hadnt linked to bp at all just thought as per i hadnt been drinking enough. Midwife sent me to dau and they monitored babys hr and my bp. I then went in every other day for monitoring as it was on the up. At 38 +5 i was kept in overnight on 15 min obs then bang on 39 induced. Needed meds at this point to lower it.
Im pregnant again now and theyve prescribed daily asprin to keep bp low

[DuggeeHugs]

Mine spiked regularly from around 23 weeks and I had extra midwife appointments to keep tabs on it, a couple of monitoring days and was signed off for a few days at 30 weeks by my consultant. When it hit 180/110 at 39+0 I was taken straight from clinic to labour ward and induced. They can prescribe labetalol but for some reason decided not to in my case until I was admitted.

[annlee3817]

Mine spiked at 40 weeks, I was usually 90/58. The midwife took three readings and asked that I had another one done at the hospital later that day. Was advised that I needed a check a few days later, but by that time Dd arrived. They were concerned as it wasn't normal for me, but not too worried if that makes sense. All was fine though and I was swollen up like a balloon. Worth getting checked again though

[robinsongyal]

Thankyou for posting all your experiences, makes me feel like i'm not alone!! I feel generally really okay at the minute, apart from feeling like the size of a house, so i'll wait until the next appointment & just see what the deal is with my BP then! may have a little bubba before then though!

[Montsti]

I had high bp at 38 weeks (with my 1st) and they made me have a c section the following day as they said it was too risky to induce or leave me..

BUT I'm not in the uk and there is a very high c section rate in the private sector in the country I live...

[Montsti]

I didn't have pre eclampsia...

[MissisBee]

Im currently 32+2. My BP shot up at 30+0, around 160/110. Spent the afternoon being monitored in EOU then started on labetalol. It has settled to around 145/90 ish, checking it and urine daily and hoping pre-eclampsia doesn't strike

[PrettyGoodLife]

Wi had high bp st about that stage with both dc - I was closely monitored and avoided pre-eclampsia. The only downside was I had to stay in hospital after the births until the Bp stabilised, but that was just me. Good luck, I am sure you will be fine.