Post natal hypertension/ white coat hypertension

[chloejo]

Hi all,
Anyone else have ongoing issues having blood pressure taken in clinical settings? I had gestational hypertension and my bp got much worse in the week after birth. I really wanted to get home to my son and new baby but couldn’t leave hospital until my bp settled which took about 6 days. Resolved after a few weeks but my bp soars when taken by doctors/nurses now. When I take it myself it it totally normal. It is def white coat panic. Does anyone have experience of this or any solutions? Much appreciated

Drink more water can improve bp.

I also have white coat hypertension, last time I was at the doctors, bp was so high they wanted to rush me to A&E, but left me watching telly with a glass of water for 20 minutes and then it was only slightly higher than my normal.

I used to suffer with this but then I got a home bp monitor, not too expensive online. I take it myself after relaxing for a few minutes, best of 3, gives a much more accurate reading

I had the same thing, blood pressure wouldn't stabilise after birth and I had to stay in hospital until we found medication that helped bring it down.
I'll check it at home with a monitor and it's always 126/78 roughly, never over 130/90. But I've been to the doctors twice since birth and it's been 140/88 both times. It's very annoying because I don't believe I need to be on the medication anymore but because it's high when I'm at the gp they want to keep me on it 😔

I had pre eclampsia with both my children so consequently I got a bee in my bonnet re blood pressure from then on! 20 years later I have white coat syndrome and both my GP and myself just accept this. The very act of trying to calm down makes me more anxious! I have an Omron home blood pressure monitor and check my BP maybe once a month and make a note on my phone. Whenever I visit my GP he looks at my phone and makes a note of my readings on my records. I wouldn't be happy taking meds unless I was convinced I needed them.

Yes! Big time.

I had blood pressure issues following the birth of my first baby and ended up back in hospital with it. And a nice dose of anxiety to go with it! I was put on Labetalol, which I’m still taking 9 weeks later, however my BP readings vary massively depending on who is taking the readings. I got myself an at-home monitor and send readings in now which helps a lot, and I find that if I’m having my blood pressure taken in the surgery now, I’m a bit more chilled as I know it’s actually fine and just my mind playing tricks.

Get yourself a monitor if you can, that’s definitely the best way forward 😀