Blood pressure quite high at booking?

[thesmallestpotato]

This has been on my mind since my booking appointment yesterday.

My blood pressure was 137/95 which I thought was quite high but the midwife didn't seem bothered in the slightest. I always thought bp was meant to drop in early pregnancy?

I had 'higher than they would like' bp readings in my last pg, which they always put down to 'white coat syndrome' (despite my insistence every time that I am perfectly comfortable in a medical environment) I went on to develop pre-eclampsia (ended up severe, emergency c-section & IUGR baby) which went undiagnosed for a good few weeks but even still, that started in the 2nd trimester, I'm only about 9 weeks along at the moment. The placenta was very small last time too which I gather can be due to high bp, I'd really like to avoid that this time and have a normal sized baby!

Should I be concerned about this? I have checked my bp on my Mums monitor and it is always in the 120/70 sort of range (pre-pregnancy) which I gather isn't exactly great even though I'm slim and eat OK, don't get a huge amount of proper excercise but I'm definately not inactive.

I'd really like to talk to someone else about it, I don't feel I can ask the midwife again. She said they wouldn't put me on bp meds if I hadn't been on them already pre-pg and she booked me in for a dating scan at about 12 weeks then another appointment with her in 8 weeks time as normal. Is this right?

You could always get one of those checkers (or use your mum's again) now that you've had yours done at the MW.
Take it once a week maybe, and keep a record of it with your ante-natal notes.

I can't say if you're likely to develop pre-eclampsia again, but it's a good idea to start by seeing if it's you or them that's making it high.

I remember being told that blood pressure was considered to be on the high side if it was above 140 on the top line and above 90 on the bottom.

While yours may not be high enough to warrant medication, it might be something to keep a more regular eye on, especially because of what happened during your previous pregnancy. I think if it were me I would arrange to see my GP and see what they think, or call the midwife team and tell them why I was so worried.

I think I remember reading that it usually drops when into the second trimester rather than first. But I could be wrong about that.

Sorry, first sentence should have read "above 140 on the top line, and/or above 90 on the bottom" I was also told that it's the bottom line that's more cause for concern.

I hope you get your mind put at rest either way by having it confirmed that it is ok, or having it checked regularly if it is on the high side. It's understandable you being worried after your previous pregnancy, I can't imagine anyone seeing it as a problem that you're looking for some extra reassurance.

Hi smallestpotato...i've had high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in both my preg's, DS IUGR due to early onset pre-eclampsia, in and out of hospital from 5months preg due to high BP and protein in urine, he was born weighing 1.8kg. Your right about the placenta getting less nutrients making the baby small. I was told that in high BP, this is due to the speed/velocity of the blood through the placenta dropping of less oxygen and nutrients

This is high for booking, anything over a 100 on the bottom and they would admit me straight away for overnight obs, even in my 2nd pregnancy when things were a bit more controlled a reading that high warranted an increase in my medication. You may have pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) as I was told pre-eclampsia only really starts from week 20, given your history I think that this high BP needs more consideration although i'm not a registered medical practioner.

I would go to the nurse in your local GP surgery, get it checked again and any concerns they should refer you back to the antenatal clinic