BP - What does it mean

[CanIgetmuchbigger]

Hi all,

I'm 32 weeks and haven't been feeling great (dizzy, faint etc). Went to Docs today who has told me to stay off work and rest. My BP was 134/80 and I had a small amount of protein in urine. He didn't seem worried about this but should I be? Have got appointment with midwife on Tuesday just to check all is fine.

What do you all think? All I worrying unnecessarily?

Depends what your BP usually is. Wih regards to the protein in your urine, I wouldn't worry, ALL the way through my first pregnancy I had protein and they never seemed too concerned with it.

Don't worry as that is more likely to make your blood pressure go up. Sit down, put your feet up and relax.

Your BP should be under 150 for the first number and under 80 for the second (this goes up to under 90 if you suffer from certain pre-existing medical conditions). Therefore, you BP is ok, but the bottom number is right at the upper end of normal. Agree with rockinmum that whether this is worrying depends on what your BP usually is. If this is much higher than usual, I would be worried, if not, I wouldn't be. Check in your notes for previous BP readings to see if its higher or not. Your midwife will check in again on Tuesday to see if it has gone up. A trace of protein in the urine is common.

Thanks guys. Will try to chill out and speak to MW on Tuesday.

I thought under 90 was regarded as fine for the diastolic rate, ILDD? That's certainly what I've been told by MWs and my GP, anyway.

Agree that it's more relevant if the BP reading is very different from your normal baseline.

I wonder if because pregnancy routinely increases your blood pressure the upper limit is 90 instead of 80 whilst you are pregnant. I know its 90 in certain circumstances - maybe pregnancy one of them? In any event, providing OP's BP hasn't risen drastically 80 should be ok.

The "bottom* number [diastolic] needs to be under 90 in pregnancy.This is when your heart is resting , the top number[systolic] is when your heart is working. Many factors can influence your bp such as : age,weight,pre-exsisting medical conditions,medications and multiple pregnancies etc.....

Im 39 weeks pg , my diastolic has ranged from between 74-89 in the last 3 weeks soo i am now being monitored twice weekly at a birth centre.However, this is somewhat counter productive as stress/ or the thought of having my bp re-checked can increase the same!!!!

When monitoring your bp the mw/gp will be potentially concerned about pre-eclampsia.This condition can also show itself with these other signs/symptons :excessive oedema,blurred vision, headaches and protein in urine.Sure you re gp/mw will just continue to re-check your bp and monitor it as required.

i wouldn't say your bp is too high at all. i am 28 weeks and my readings have been 156/96 and i've now been put on medication as a result of it. I also have protein in my urine and although they were initially worried after doing a 24 hour test they said that it wasn't too bad. i would rest and sleep and be calm. i am sure they would have called you in urgently if there is anything to worry about.

I'm 31 weeks and mine is 120/60 and I feel dizzy and faint too! I was the same last time and passed out a couple of times during the third trimester.

I wouldn't worry too much but the fact that they have said to stay off work probably means that they are trying to ensure it doesn't go much higher.

As Louisesh says, it is important for them and you to look out for other signs of pre-eclampsia.

A friend of mine has had increasing bp at the both of her pregnancies and has been monitored on a weekly basis but they won't intervene unless she experiences pre-eclampsia symptoms. She has been told that she should go to the hospital if she does (she is 38 weeks now though and her bp is about 144/80).

It is probably best to chat to your mw for reassurance and so you know what to look out for.