Epidural because of raised BP?

[maroon35]

Hi All,

I'm currently 30+5 with my first. I had slightly raised BP pre pregnancy which I was on medication for. All the way through this pregnancy I've been on meds for BP, so far all is ok and its been normal, no need to increase dosage.

I'm having more MW appts so they can keep an eye on me also seeing consultant occasionally.

At my last MW apptmt the MW said that the hospital were likely to encourage me to have an epidural as one of the side effects was that it lowered BP. anyone heard of this? I'm not keen on the idea but I'm keeping an open mind at present.....

Hi maroon, and yes, epidurals do tend to lower bp - thats true. And not just because they lower stress/pain, its a side-effect of the meds.
I'm 30+4 with my second, and had highish bp at the end of my first pregnancy - with the result that I was induced (ended in section) at 39+4. Then it soared postpartum, and I was on meds for six weeks - at which point it came down again.
I'm also having more apts (every 2 weeks) and consultant led care, but so far so good....still, they are expecting me to have problems with bp at the end again.
I found the sudden rise in bp I experienced really scary - so will do whatever is suggested this time; but maybe you could ask them at your next apt what the options are? Perhaps, if your bp is ok at the start of labour, they can just keep checking it and advising as you go?

Hi, I shouldn't worry epidurals are amazing. I plan for a drug free birth then had everything and I say god bless the epidural.

Good luck with the birth and best wishes X

They do lower your blood pressure quite a lot. I have the opposite problem to you, low blood pressure, and after the epidural I nearly passed out and had to have an oxygen mask on at intervals.

You are right to keep an open mind. I think epidurals are wonderful and had to fight to get one, but that's just me. See how you feel as labour progresses. Some women do not feel the need for one, and you might be one of the lucky ones.

Had the same with both my pregnancies - was on mild medication with freq MW and consultant appts (do not have any probs when not pregnant).

Although I was induced both times at 39 wks, I only needed one lot of stuff to get me going and I insisted that I didn't want any further intervention unless I asked for it (am fairly strong willed!). Had vaginal delivery both times and didn't feel the need for anything else other than a few gasps of gas and air.

i am the High blood Presure queen!!! i've had high BP throghtour all three babes... and have hypertension when not preg so am on meds usually...

for my first pregananncy (when tehy first detected) they monitored me to the hilt as tehy were scared that it would turn into pre eclampsia... so had 24 hour bp monitor... admitted a couple of times... had higher dose of meds (methodopya and nifedipine) in to see the Day Assessment Unit for CTG's and Urine and BP checks... plus under consultant care...

being first preganancy i went along and was given an epidural during labour for the reasons you have been given.. the plus side to this was that i was first on the 'epidural queue' due to their worries over the BP... epidural was given quite early on so relatiovely pain free.. although i think it made my labout a lot longer... plsu epidural wasn't as effective as it should have been... and they kept topping me up so this resulted me going completely numb and i didn't even know whether i was pushing or not... ended up with Ventouse delivery...

2nd preganancy as they had seen me nefore they were a little more relaxed although i was still under consultant care and popped into Blood Pressure clinic once a month and then fortnightly... however ds was a super fast 45 min birth.. waters broke at home... too late to get to hospital... dh delivered in hallway!!! with paramedics arriving after the birth!!! so there was obviously no epidural there!!!...

3rd preganancy (born on tuesday night!!!) BP behaved beautifully (once a month in BP clinic) until about 35 weeks... where it started to raise.. so once again back into fortnight visits - turning into wekly vistis to DAU.. BP/Urine/CTG/Bloods...

was expecting to be montored like 1st birth, with BP cuff/ catheter/epidural etc... BUT they didn't even ask if i wanted an epidural (whihc i was quite pleased about!) and within an hour of going into full blown contractions dd2 was born...

so the main gist if this... ?? if it's your first i expect them to be more inclined to offer you an epidural quite quickly like they did for as they like to err on the side of caution...

i think the best thing i would say is like you've already said... keep an open mind... don't have too many goals for childbirth (except a healthy baby at the end!) as if you do set yourself goals if it doesn't happen you get dissapointed...

sorry to be waffling on so much... DD1 at school, dd2 baby asleep, ds1 playing with granny post birth euphoria!!!! [GRIN]

i had pre eclampsia with first child and was admitted to hospital for 2wks . i had to have a drip on one arm and a bp machine on other.they suggested epidural and it was the best thing! i haertily reccommend it esp. for first chid.go with it they know what they are doing.

Can you guys be more specific on how high your b.p. was?

My mw is muttering about how I'm at least an 'amber' risk due to high bp last pregnancy - won't take me in the mw led unit, expect monitoring, come in to hospital early etc. etc.

Thing is - last time it was detected at 38 weeks - but don;t think it went much higher that 140/90 (induced at 40 weeks). Is that really such a big deal?

I'm 34 weeks now and it's jumped from 110/70 steady to 125/80 in four weeks, so I'm expecting things to go the same way... but would rather avoid unnecessary intervention.

Any tips on keeping it down? I'm already planning to go on mat leave a bit early and gone total cold turkey on any coffee and salt. Thinking of getting those flora blood pressure drinks.

cant remember but i was admitted when i started seeing white stars!!after that i was checked regular in hospital and let out at weekends.they discussed an induction but fortunately nature took course but they kick started my contractions thru drip.whatever happens go with the epidural.

Hiya

Mine was stable at 165 / 90, with spikes above that - caused fitting etc. I was admitted to the unit every time it went above 140, and released as soon as I was seen, as it woulod drop again.

I didn't get an epidural (blood tests were lost and Anaesthetist was busy- typical my luck LOL). I ahve however worked for a pre-eclampsia support line, and do know that epidural is highly recommended by top Consultants worldwide for it's BP reducing effects, standard practive indeed in most units and where available.

My DS1 was born by emegency induction with severe weight loss issues and has (I think related, cannot prove) since been diagnosed as disbled; therefore I would definitely recommend the Epidural route if it is available

BTW, there is research in Aus, not necessarily accepted ehre but it ouldn't hurt, to show a high protein diet helps, and that you shouldn't cut out salt as some is required in PG for cellular reproduction. if anyone is interested I can give you an e-mail contact- look at here and you'll get the e-mail. Have also read that a passionfruit a day, kiwi and potatoes with no green help- all LOL I suspect but hardly difficult and well, have to say i tried anythinga nd my BP was great in both my later PG's.

I have incredibly high bp when not medicated. Epidural wasn't mentioned once when I was waiting to have the twins. I did have one in the end but only because they were an elective section (lying sideways). So.. never heard that excuse before.

my BP has been as high as 108 (the diastolic.. the bottom number which is the one they always worry about)... having a diastolic at 90 is my norm... i always say i'm practically comatose when it's in the 90's!!!!

KW, 140/90 is not that high. Its borderline high/normal, but in late pregnancy bp does tend to rise anyway - and then usually drops after delivery.

I wasn't medicated until after the birth, when my bp went up to around 160/105. And they were jittery until the meds started working. I had NO symptoms whatsoever - luckily, I kept an eye on it at home after dd was born as one doctor had mentioned it can spike up a few days post partum.

I was induced at 39+4 because I'd had a rising trend, with figures as high as 155 top, and 95 bottom. At that point, they were keeping a close eye but hadn't mentioned epi as safety measure - though I'm sure they would have done if the induction had actually had any effect on my bp (or the rest of me!).