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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Home birth and high BP

29 replies

dazrohk · 25/01/2011 17:10

Hello everyone! :)

My blood pressure has gone 'high' at 150/90 and I have been put on BP tablets which seems to have reduced it to 140/80. I feel fine in myself (urine, blood fine etc) and baby is fine too.

I really want a home birth, however, and of course I am being advised not to go down that route.

Just wondering if anyone else out there had similar experience and what they decided to do.

I am 36+1 by the way.

OP posts:
mamasunshine · 25/01/2011 17:21

I had a home VBAC in 2009. I had pregnancy induced hypertension and was in hospital from 39-40wks until BP diastolic stablised in the 90's with blood pressure drugs, so I got discharged and had an amazing homebirth. I only live a couple of mins from hospital though and would have transfered had my BP gone up to late 90's. The hospital were not particularly pleased about this, however the NHS midwives were AMAZING! I just knew it was the best option for me and baby at keeping BP down as hospital puts it straight up. I laboured a lot in water and that kept my BP down really well.

Good luck with your decision, it's very hard to make these choices when you get so much negativity. Just do what you feel is the best thing for your own situation Smile

Original poster
dazrohk · 25/01/2011 17:35

Thank you so much for replying!

You're right - it is so hard to make these decisions, especially as my MW isn't exactly encouraging.

I live 20 minutes from the hospital so not too far away.

I, like you, feel that I would be much more relaxed and 'safe' at home than at the hospital.

OP posts:
AppleAndBlackberry · 25/01/2011 17:40

I had high BP with DD and was given Labetalol. I was planning a homebirth and no-one said to me at the time that it was a problem, though I had to go in in the end as soon as labour started because of meconium.

Hools · 25/01/2011 17:41

Sorry to sound negative, but the other side of the story is that it could be potentially very dangerous for you and baby.

I developed hypertension with ds1, and had readings similar to yours.

At a mw check one day, it had risen to 160/95, and they decided to induce me.

Good thing they did, as later that day my bp had gone to 203/118!!!

I was totally unaware of this, pacing round to bring on my labour - I felt absolutely fine.

I ended up having a very scary emcs under GA - an experience I would not wish to repeat - we both nearly died. :(

Of course I'm not saying that this will happen to you - but guidelines are usually there for a reason, maybe better to be at hospital in a less clinical environment where they can monitor you from the start - than being blue lighted in, in an emergency.

I wish you luck and hope it goes well x

Original poster
dazrohk · 25/01/2011 18:12

Yes, you're right, Hools, and it's good I hear the other side too Confused

OP posts:
SlowComfortableShrew · 25/01/2011 18:22

Having had pre eclampsia which came on very suddenly there's no way I would risk a home birth with high bp. I was very ill and all my vital organs started to fail. I think even on that home birth web page " you can't have a home birth because" they don't say home birth with high bp is advisable . I planned a home birth for both my children BTW so I'm definitely not anti home birth, but dont think you should ever fuck about with PE.

PDR · 25/01/2011 20:01

I have high bp - around the same as you - sometimes up to 150/100 and my midwife said they would not recommend a home birth or even a waterbirth at the hospital as I would need to have increased monitoring. I am almost 37 weeks and she also said that there is a high chance I will be induced before DDay anyway in which case I'd be in hosp anyway.

It's really interesting that you have been put on meds - my BP is often in the high 90s but they have not mentioned meds yet at all Hmm but I have to go to the hospital for "monitoring" quite a lot Confused!!!

Hools · 25/01/2011 20:02

My consultant said he wouldnt put me on med until my bottom figure was 100!!

Now this makes me go Hmm when my gp gets ansty when it goes over 90.....

Hools · 25/01/2011 20:05

also - as PDR has said, - they will probably want to monitor you - I know its hard to hear, and is far away from the home birth you envisaged, but at least you know what MAY happen now - I was so blissfully ignorant and sure my birth would be 'perfect' - I skipped the C section section in Miriam Stoppard - I really wish I had gone into it being more aware - so you are totally doing the right thing by getting these opinions!

Lulumaam · 25/01/2011 20:07

you'll have BP checks in labour at home, and obvioulsy if symptoms worsen, you can transfer in.

you are on medication and no other issues and your BP has stabilised

I would have the home birth on the proviso that you transfer in, which would be recommended anyway in the circs

if your BP goes up in hospital if you have white coat syndrome, then home might be better for you

it is ultimately your decision and you need to weigh up the pros and cons and make your decision

PDR · 25/01/2011 20:10

Hools I have also been told conflicting advice Confused

  1. Midwife says over 85
  2. GP says over 100
  3. Consultant says over 110 Shock

I am going with over 110 as I have been for enough monitoring on the ward/delivery suite as it is and every time they say the baby is fine, moving well etc.

I have a reading as low as 70 in my mat notes so 110 is quite high in comparison!

darkmornings · 25/01/2011 20:12

I had high blood pressure not on medication though. I had a trouble free birth and my blood pressure went down as soon as I gave birth. I rested as much as poss before the birth. My midwife was amazing and I was her first home birth. For me it was a wonderful experience so glad I did it.

Good luck

cazzybabs · 25/01/2011 20:15

I was on medication and not allowed a home birth :( I think one risk is you can hemorrhage with high bp also baby more likely to be distressed in labour and have low blood sugar and blood pressure as a result of the medication

I am still on medication - 5 months post birth :( :(

picc · 25/01/2011 20:41

same here, cazzybabs. am still on labetalol (albeit a minimal dose now) 14 wks after birth of DS2 Sad

...but am just writing to give some encoragement, too.

I had to be induced in the end (although this was at 40+11, so not early) so, despite planning a homebirth, had to go into hospital.

I had a really 'nice' hospital birth, though, despite having to be monitored the whole time (which was actually lucky in the end, as DS was shoulder dystocia and blue... but cos he'd been monitored constantly, we knew he'd been okay til last minute)

anyway!!
the point is that despite high BP, induction, hospital birth and being monitored constantly, I had the birth I 'wanted'. Moved around a lot, listened to iPod and sang Blush... avoided pain relief....

I think I was lucky to have an absolute star of a midwife... but they are out there!! :)

cazzybabs · 26/01/2011 14:17

picc - are you breast feeding?

AppleAndBlackberry · 26/01/2011 16:06

Feeling surprised that no-one said anything to me after reading this thread. I actually did have a lot of complications that could have been a result of the high BP.

picc · 26/01/2011 16:06

yep.... does that affect it?

Original poster
dazrohk · 26/01/2011 16:37

Hi all,

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.

Just spent 5 hours at the hospital Hmm being monitored etc. BP is nice and down now, and still, I feel fine. I think if everything continues this way, I will aim to have a home birth and just be vigilant about my BP.

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 26/01/2011 16:40

well, that;s good news !! it's right you've been checked out .. did you have a series of BP readings and any blood tests?

Original poster
dazrohk · 26/01/2011 16:48

Yes, I was hooked up to the BP machine for about 30 minutes (144/81, 143/73, 119/62, 113/64, 126/65, 135/73) and they took my bloods and urine too and baby seems happy too :)

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 26/01/2011 17:09

do you feel reassured? sounds like you'll be good to go for homebirth

mamasunshine · 26/01/2011 17:15

That's good news that everything's looking good for you Smile As you say you can be extra vigilant during labour, and tell anyone straight away if any headaches/visual disturbances etc. The MW's will be extra vigilant too, and with a homebirth you get 2 midwives and a student (if you don't mind) so I actually felt much safer than being watched by a machine. They checked me at least every 20mins (BP etc) and made me do very regular urine tests throughout and after labour (for protein).

I'm 40+9 now waiting for another homebirth (with blood pressure on the high end) but not on meds this time. I've been told to go into delivery if diastolic reaches 100 (but I'm postitve it won't Smile Positive thinking and all! When are you due?

Original poster
dazrohk · 26/01/2011 18:39

I do feel reassured in the sense that things have improved.

I just hope that, if the home birth goes ahead, I won't get my community MW as she makes me feel a bit nervous and unsure of myself.

Oooh, hope your time is imminent, mamasunshine! Are you taking your own BP at home? I was thinking of getting my own machine, so I could keep an eye on my BP. My due date is 21st Feb :)

OP posts:
carlyvita · 26/01/2011 19:47

Ah, I'll keep an eye on this thread, as somebody who is always measured with high BP and having a HBAC in June.

I've bought a small BP monitor and have come to the conclusion after a few weeks that there may be something in this White Coat Syndome after all. I can literally feel myself tensing up and heart pounding when MW/GP reaches in bag!

There is a huge difference between readings taken by others and those taken on my own, in a block of 3 readings!

JJWMummy · 26/01/2011 20:12

Just to add my two pennies worth -

I've had high bp with my last two, preg induced hypertension - With DS2 it was from 33 wks and was monitored every other day, drove me mad but was neccessary, I had planned a HB but it had to be cancelled even though bp stabalised with Labetalol 400mg daily, was just to dangerous as I was 45 mins away from hospital.Despite this DS was insistant that he was born at home and turned up in 3 hrs flat, midwife didn't make it so DH did the delivery and paramedics turned up 10 mins later with the MW following shortly after. With DD I thought I'd got away with it and registered for my HB at 37 wks only to find out 2 days later that bp had shot through the roof again, was soooo dissapointed, HB was cancelled and this time I did go in cause in monitoring me they found I had a mitral valve regurgitation as well. As it was I had a lovely hospital birth, 1hr from start to finish with a fab male midwife.

The plus point to having high bp is that you usually labour very quickly as the body wants to get rid of baby as fast as possible.

The danger, where high bp only is present, ie. no protein etc is that you are at a very high risk of having a stroke.
Bp will generally rise during labour due to the extra stress your body is under, usually goes back down after but can take sometime.

Here thay medicate when bp reaches 140/90 mine when discovered was 140/96, however during labour it topped out at 226/135!!! I have lived to tell the tale but 6 weeks on I'm still on meds and having bp checked every week.

Pls be very careful if you go ahead with HB, it can be very scary.

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