High Systolic/Low Diastolic blood pressure - no other symptoms - 24w.

[Flisspaps]

Just back from 24wk AN appointment, came up with 3 unusual BP readings - 170/60ish, 160/60ish and 155/60ish. MW wasn't hugely concerned (more confused) and said that as my diastolic pressure was normal it was probably nothing, and could be caused by having something to eat (I had some biscuits before going to the appt) or rushing to the appointment (with two toddlers who had just woken up, been quickly strapped into the buggy and marched up to the clinic!)

I'm trying not to worry because that's not going to help, and if it was a real concern I'd have been packed off to the Assessment Unit straight away rather than being able to wait until later (when I've sent the minded child home!)

Not showing any signs of pre-eclampsia (no headaches, lights, oedema) and only a trace of protein in my urine. Feel absolutely fine, in fact, apart from some MS yesterday have actually felt better than I have done for a while over the last few days!

Am going to the Day Assessment Unit later on today to have more readings done, but until then, does anyone have any experience of this - it's not classic high blood pressure as the diastolic number is still normal.

it's not the classic case so no, I was always told the more important reading was the diastolic reading though which bodes well. am sure it'll be fine when you get to the DAU. I think they'll likely do bloods too to check on the protein in the wee (seem to remember my hand resembling a pin cushion with DD - nothign ever came back untoward though)
Hope it goes ok - and you don't have to rush.

BP is fine now but protein has increased so they want blood have crap veins so was going to see phlebotomist however they shut just before I got there so have to wait until Fri to get back to hospital. Having more BP readings done at the assessment unit on Friday anyway along with results of fancy urine tests, and have a planed appt with the SoM tomorrow at home as well re my homebirth against medical advice plans, have seen more MWs this week than in the whole pregnancy so far!

Thanks for your reply

I'm showing my ignorance - what's a SoM? I was like that with midwives buses as soon as I went on maternity leave I was up the hospital 2-3 times a week, always fine though and best they check you out early so all clear for the home birth. Brave you. Hope it goes well tomorrow, and they have extra fine needles for the bloods.

Supervisor of Midwives

Hey Fliss

At my booking this time the BP machine was really playing up (she reckoned the batteries were going; can give wacky readings when that happens) so in the end the mw whipped out the old fashioned 'do it by ear with a stethoscope' to get the reading - did the first mw try that at all? (although good to hear BP was 'normal' by the time you got to DAU)

With DS2 I got reoccurant uti's - mostly asymptomatic, the only clue being protein in my urine. Perhaps the case with you too? I hope so, in as much as it's easy to deal with and not some horrible pre-e portent.

Manda :)

They did it the old fashioned way at the antenatal appointment, and then with a stethoscope AND a fancy machine at the DAU - both were giving unusual readings but at least the DAU ones were more settled.

Saw SoM yesterday at home, she did BP again and it was STILL unusual but again she wasn't too concerned.

She said she was very good at getting blood so I let her take some whilst she was here rather than getting them done today so the results should be ready for me when I go back to the DAU later. She did say if my BP was still erratic come 40+ weeks, I'll struggle to find a MW who is happy to support my homebirth plans (didn't let on that I knew that if I rang and refused to come in they'd have to send me someone out) but to be honest, if it's still erratic then I'd hope they'd have worked out why and be able to do something about it, and I'd not choose to stay at home then anyway, however there is an MLU next to the CLU and she agreed it would be a good compromise for me to agree to that if we don't get to the root of the BP issue.

Protein had gone back down to a trace again yesterday (she tested wee whilst she was here) so perhaps it's just a blip or a UTI like you say.

High systolic normal diastolic is classic white coat syndrome. If I were you I would get 24 hour monitoring (its uncomfortable and a pita but it gives a 'proper' reading.) It may either put your mind at rest or confirm there is an issue. My BP is generally about 130/80 but I have had readings as high as 160/90 (although not in this pregnancy) I now get nervous when they take my BP- helpful!!!!!!

Now you see, that did cross my mind - many years ago when I was on the Pill, I was given a 24 hour monitor as my BP was always quite high at GP appointments, but with the monitor it did prove to be normal the rest of the time. So now you've said that, I do think it's probably a case of white coat hypertension - however my BP was perfectly 'normal' all through my first pregnancy. Perhaps THAT was the anomaly, not these readings!

No-one's mentioned this as a possibility as they all seem to be focussing on the risk of PE. If it's up again today then I'll ask about 24 hour monitoring again, and it should all be helped by me finishing work today so should be more relaxed generally (not this afternoon's readings though, I've had a bloody good cry because my last mindee who has been with me the longest has left, and I'm gutted, that should do my BP a whole lot of good!)

PILs have a home monitor and we're going up there for Christmas so I might whack that on a couple of times a day as well whilst we're there - they don't live near us so at least I can keep an eye on it and call my MW for advice if necessary when we're away.