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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Labetalol, blood pressure and what is high?

31 replies

Winniepooh23 · 04/04/2012 22:27

Am 26+5 and blood pressure has been around 140/80ish since booking. I have a touch of white coat syndrome and also take blood pressure at home where it's around 120/75 mostly.

MW sent me to daycare today, after a routine appointment, for a blood pressure trace and I got a bit anxious at the speed of it all so pressure around 145/85. Having a 24 hour monitor Tuesday and been told to expect to be put on labetalol on Wednesday. Baby measuring well for dates and all well there. I'm not keen on taking any medication and would like to be monitored rather than take drugs. Anyone any experience of labetalol and high blood pressure. All experience gratefully received.

OP posts:
Snowy27 · 04/04/2012 22:40

Hi
I'm 36+2 and currently taking labetalol. My BP was fine (120/70 ish) right up until last week when it went up to 150/115. I've had 2 round of monitoring both averaging about 140/110 but post labetalol it's about 110/60. The monitoring involved 3 BP's taken 20 minutes apart plus blood and urine checks- fortunately both clear and hoping to stave of pre-eclampsia!

In terms of taking the labetalol- I don't like it- makes me feel very dizzy, however I know how dangerous high BP can be (My Mum had me by emergency CS when her BP reached 180/140!) and it can go up quickly! 26 weeks seems 'early' for your BP to be high- do they think it will keep on climbing and that's why they're keen to give you medication? might be induced soon if mine goes up but that would be less of a good option at 26 weeks so maybe they want to keep it as low as possible?

Original poster
Winniepooh23 · 04/04/2012 22:47

Thanks snowy. They are not worried about pre eclampsia yet as its not been low then high, just consistently high. They're just worried its high. They're already talking about early epidurals in labour and it all seems too much too fast when it doesn't seem that high and I just don't understand the rush. :(

OP posts:
RancerDoo · 04/04/2012 22:48

I had labetalol in my first pregnancy ( and atenolol afterwards for a while). I started to get high bp from about 24 weeks. By the time i was 36 weeks it hit something like 140 over 100 and i was hospitalised for a night and prescribed drugs. High bp is potentially very very bad for you, so best to control it however you can, and if it is high at 26 weeks i think it is likely to get more so.

The meds didn't make me feel bad and dd was (and is) utterly perfect.

Original poster
Winniepooh23 · 04/04/2012 22:51

Thanks rancer. Glad your dd is perfect. Makes me feel a lot better.

OP posts:
RancerDoo · 04/04/2012 22:51

Ah yes, it does move fast. At 36 weeks one midwife started telling me that maybe i should have a caesarean to get the baby out, and i got the impression that some of them couldn't differentiate between pre Eclampsia and high bp. In any event, high blood pressure is a problem and I'd rather take a low dose of drugs than risk the results of persistently high blood pressure.
Although i think the point at which they worry is 140 pver 90, so you sound a bit below that.

WhatSheSaid · 04/04/2012 23:01

I had high bp in both pgs (all the way through - pre-exisiting condition - I have it when not pg too) and was on labetalol all the way through. From memory I think they would start to worry especially once the bottom figure went over 100 (which it only did once with me, at 38 weeks). Both pgs were otherwise uneventful and both dds were born at nearly full term with no problems (and both absolutely gorgeous Smile).

First pg they induced labour a few days before my due date as they didn't want me going overdue with high bp. Second pg I chose an elective c/s. High bp can be very well controlled in pg. 145/85 isn't that high so hopefully all will be well

Original poster
Winniepooh23 · 04/04/2012 23:04

Thanks everyone, hearing about perfect dcs really reassures me. I just don't think it's high enough to rush to drugs but.....whatever it takes to get this little one here safely!

OP posts:
bishboschone · 04/04/2012 23:18

I had pre eclampsia in both my pregnancies . It started with high blood pressure but it has many other symptoms and I would imagine they have checked those for you. I was hospitalised at 29 weeks with ds and made it to 33 . I was given labetelol at increasing amounts during my stay ( up to 1200 mg a day) it made me sick and I'll at first but I soon got used to it . Try not to worry , my blood pressure was very very high and still fairly high considering the dosage . If yours has gone down thats good .

seeker · 04/04/2012 23:28

My blood assure went up very early in my first pregnancy, and continued to go up. Labetalol got it under control very quickly. I had pee sticks to check for protein every day, but I didn't have any oth symptoms and a natural labour and birth 4 days aftr my due date.

Second time round I took labetalol at the first hint of my bp going up and it stayed rock solid slightly high but fine all the way through. Once again natural labour and birth a couple of days after due date. Remember that PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension) and pre eclampsia are very different things. But be very aware of the symptoms of pr eclampsia and move vry quickly if you think you have any of them.

GemmyMummy · 05/04/2012 08:52

I had high blood pressure form the start of my first pregnancy (around 140/90) and was put on labetalol from around 30 weeks I think. I had weekly monitoring at the assessment unit and remained on labetalol for around a year after having my son. However, I too have a serious case of white coat syndrome!!

I am now 13+4 pregnant with my second baby and my booking bp was 150/88. I get so nervous and anxious going to mw and GP appointments and I know that this causes the high bp readings!!. I was advised to see my GP regarding labetalol and he decided to give me a 24 hour bp monitor as he didn't want to give me medication when it wasn't necessary. Anyway, the 24 hr readings came back normal (average bp 124/77) and there is no need for labetalol.

My mw is happy that the high bp readings she takes are down to white coat syndrome and says they might need to monitor me a little more closely later on in my pregnacy. I have been prescribed by my consultant to take 75mg of aspirin a day just to keep my blood thin and make sure it is flowing to the placenta correctly just in case at times by bp does go a little high.

I was certain I was going to be put on labetalol again from an even earlier stage and I'm so relieved this isn't the case.

heartmoonshadow · 05/04/2012 08:59

Hi I have just been diagnosed with PIH i.e high BP there is a NICE clinical guideline I found

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13098/50418/50418.pdf

whilst I was looking for information on induction and it has some good tables for if you are mild/moderate or severe and an indication of what doctors should do.

I am on labetalol the same as I was in my first pregnancy where my PIH turned to pre-eclampsia I took the tablets for 3 weeks before birth and about 8 weeks after in decreasing amounts and to be honest other than during pregnancy I have had no BP problems.

Good luck

BoysInCoatheads · 05/04/2012 09:08

I don't want to scare you, OP but I had wonky BP from booking in. It was Reading okay at home when MIL checked it but not so in appts so I blamed White coat syndrome. Around 30 weeks it started creeping up, just a tad and was averaging around 130/90. After monitoring etc they recommended Labetalol but I don't like medication so I discussed it with my Obstetrician and we agreed to just continue monitoring as it wasn't too bad.

Fast forward to 40 weeks and I was very poorly with pre-eclampsia and 16 months later, my BP has never returned to normal.

This may not be the case for you, but at 26 weeks you've a way to go so it may be worth a few weeks of pills to ensure you and baby are okay.

Babycameearly · 05/04/2012 09:28

Hi - I was on labetalol (highest dose) and Methyldopa (highest dose). Had to have cs at 34 weeks as bp was still high despite meds. Baby was small and has been poorly since birth. Docs are looking into whether my meds affected him via breast milk. Unusual and not the normal all (don't want to scaremonger!!) but do watch out for slow growth, sleepiness etc if you decide to bf after taking meds. Ask your mw about going on the CHIPS study - means they'll monitor you more closely. Lo is now lovely and healthy BUT it was scary for a time (rehospitalised for 2 weeks)

I started a thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1431016-Beta-blockers-and-bf-a-warning

bishboschone · 05/04/2012 09:33

Baby ... Do you think there is a link between labetelol and sleepy babies?

Babycameearly · 05/04/2012 09:38

I'm no medic and would never make any assumptions. Consultants / doctors etc have done every test possible on my baby and have ruled out everything they can. He was discharged 3 weeks ago but they are still looking into the possible link. Like I said - don't want to scarmonger, just wanted to raise awareness.

I must stress - I've been told that it is the drug of choice in pregnancy and MOST women have no problems!

bishboschone · 05/04/2012 09:44

No it's ok , my ds is 9 months and born at 33 weeks . I asked at the time and was told no but I was having a massive dose to keep my PE under control and I can't believe it had no effect .

Babycameearly · 05/04/2012 09:47

I was told no so many times - only 1 doc was prepared to look into it and is now convinced that my meds did cause it - LO was VERY poorly but is thankfully fine now! You can't take so many otc painkillers etc when pg / bf - so I find it hard to understand how massive doses of labetolol etc are fine!

MyleeneCrass · 05/04/2012 09:54

You need to follow medical advice with this, don't fuck about with pre eclampsia. They are trying to keep your bp low so your baby can stay inside as long as possible. Make sure you know the other symptoms of PE too.www.preeclampsia.org/health-information/signs-and-symptoms

bishboschone · 05/04/2012 09:58

I agree baby , I was hospitalised for 4 weeks and didn't have a lot of choice but take it as they said my blood pressure was dangerously high . My ds was in scbu for a month and although he did gain weight well he was very sleepy when he came home , I queried it many times but it was dismissed . I was just going on a hunch so it's good to hear I'm not the only one .

Babycameearly · 05/04/2012 10:02

LO has an appointment with the consultant who's looking into the link (he's been brilliant - has ordered med journals dating back to the 80s when it was first prescribed etc) later this month so will let you know. He took blood from me this wee for 'academic purposes' too. LO's other symptoms were low temp / low blood sugar / unresponsiveness...

bishboschone · 05/04/2012 10:14

Have pm you baby .

Original poster
Winniepooh23 · 05/04/2012 11:16

Thanks all, baby sorry to hear about your LO. Do they think it was the BF and not in utero exposure?

OP posts:
Babycameearly · 05/04/2012 11:52

Not sure Winnie - he was most poorly when he was 4 weeks+ so poss bf related but who knows. Tests are ongoing so hopefully that will aid research. However high BP in pregnancy DOES need to be sorted and if meds is the only way then they need to be taken!

Original poster
Winniepooh23 · 05/04/2012 11:58

Baby would you mind pm me with what your consultant thinks. I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

OP posts:
Snowy27 · 05/04/2012 18:49

Hi
I've been back today for more BP monitoring- 140/96 dropping to 130/82 when I had my next labetalol- all bloods/urine fine!
I did ask the MW about early inductions etc and she said as long as my BP stays controlled and bloods/urine are fine they would let me go to term, but might not been keen to wait the full term+2.
She also said that while the high BP isn't causing 'problems' it still puts pressure on your body- but on the plus side once baby is out you should feel fab in comparison!