High Blood Pressure AGAIN!!

[GemmyMummy]

I am 7+2 and attended my booking in appointment yesterday and on the midwife taking my blood pressure she discovered it was high....150/88. This is my second baby and the scenario with my first was much the same....I had high bp readings from first appointment!

I've to see my GP next week regarding the high BP as the midwife said it would probably be a good idea to start on medication ASAP going with the history of my last pregnancy as my bp continued to increase and my son was a small baby. I've also been told that I come under the RED care plan which will involve me being seen regularly by a consultant.

I know it is for the best that I am being so closely monitored, but I just wished that this pregnancy would be different! I am not the best patient as I become extremely anxious in any medical environment (which does not help with the bp readings) and the thought of all the clinics and assessments terrifies me!! I am also extremely scared about developing pre-eclampsia and I just feel so down and tearful about the whole thing!!

Sorry to go on and on but I just needed to get things of my chest as I feel sooo bad about constantly crying to DH and don't want him to worry any more than he already is!!

Thanks for listening......feel a wee bit better now!!

When you see the GP, it might be worth asking to go on a 24 hour BP monitor rather than going straight on to medication.

It could show that your BP is normal most of the time - if you know you are anxious in a medical environment then your BP will naturally go up when you have an appointment, it's called white coat hypertension.

If the readings are consistently high then it's only 24 hours longer that you've waited for medication, and given that you seem to have had quite an early booking-in appointment, that shouldn't be a problem (some areas don't want to see you until nearer 12 weeks!)

I am in a similar situation although my blood pressure is at 23 weeks still ok but slowly rising. I also have extra monitoring, consultant appointments and extra scans as my DD was also small. I'm just trying to think that all this monitoring will hopefully mean a healthy baby at the end of it all, and a healthy mummy too. I am trying to go with flow and hope you can too.
A 24 hr monitor sounds a good idea to get an accurate picture of your BP.

I had the 24 hr Bp monitor about a year or so ago and it confirmed that I do have high BP. I have been on medication on and off for it and I feel that the anxiety I have simply makes my bp readings higher again.

Salhal what is your BP reading? I totally agree with what you are saying. I know all the monitoring is for the best and will hopefully mean a healthy mum and baby. Just feeling a bit teary today and scared of all the "what ifs". Hopefully the Dr will put me at ease at my appointment next week as I would love just to be able to enjoy this pregnancy.

Sorry for late reply at last appointment BP was 130/83 so not mega high but an increase on initial reading of 110/70. I'm keeping fingers crossed it doesn't get any higher but during my last pregnancy it became increasingly raised and then shot up after birth. Hope you are managing to go with the flow.