Blood pressure question- anxiety when taking

[Starryeyed2021]

Hi all,
ive been monitoring my BP since I had high blood pressure in pregnancy, this gave me great anxiety and now I literally get so nervous when taking my BP at home…. I’m off the meds now but every time I take the readings I take it 3 times and the first reading is exactly the same (120/80 ish) and the second and third readings are much lower ( and my usual levels 99-100/ 60. This is my pre pregnancy level too and my normal I believe as it’s consistent with almost every reading I take. I jus r don’t know why it jumps so high on first reading every single time. I can predict it so textbook now so I completely ignore the first reading is this right? It literally happens every single time! How can my Bp differ so much within minutes?

You might have white coats syndrome which means your bp goes high when you’re taking a reading as you’re panicking.
When you’re getting ready to take the test you’re starting to worry so your bp is raised but lowers whilst you’re sitting and waiting to take your next couple of readings.

A lot of people with high BP would be happy with 120/80. You're overthinking it.

I have white coat syndrome.

Mine is textbook 110/70 at home and 140/90 in the doctors. I always take a photo of my home reading and it’s in my notes that I have white coat syndrome.

She still takes it and we have a laugh over the numbers. She takes note of what it was at home but will take a reading again and it will drop usually to 135/85 or similar.

What PP said, and I’m the same. Have you spoken to your perinatal team about the anxiety? The symptoms are very similar to high blood pressure, but you’re perceiving this as a threat and panicking, which is causing you anxiety. It can be part of post natal hormonal changes and sleep exhaustion etc, but you might benefit from some additional support to not have this anxiety around your blood pressure. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Hi OP, BP changes over the day - it's higher at some points than others, after exercise for example. When I take mine I take the first one, leave it a few minutes then take the second one. And if you're on 120 and 99 you're well within normal limits.

Not sure about other brands, but Omron BP monitors can be synced to your phone via their app. My white coat syndrome meant surgery readings were off the scale, but knowing how GPs like to slap a BP cuff on even if you go to see them for another reason, I take readings for a few days before the appointment and then show the GP the recordings on my phone (which are always "optimal").