High Blood Pressure Worries

[lippsbabyface]

We are just about to take the big leap to start our own family, I am worried which I hope is normal but mainly due to some of my own health problems. I currently suffer from high blood pressure and have read up on what this can lead to during pregnancy - needless to say the talk of preeclampsia is pretty scarey!
I will be looking to my doctor for help but had wondered if anyone was able to recommend or suggest any blood pressure monitors they might be using?
The only affordable one I seem to be able to find, which looks like it is suitable for pregnancy is www.oncallmedicalsupplies.co.uk/microlife-watchbp-home-afib-atrial-fibrillation-detection-system.html
Thank you!

Hi lipps

I had pre eclampsia with my 1st DS, and pregnancy induced hypertenstion with my 2nd.

As a result of the pre eclampsia I was under consultant led care and had a very successful outcome.

My 1st pregnancy and birth was hard as I had no underlying health issues at the time and so did not get the ante natal care I should have however I have a healthy and happy 4 and a half year old now.

I am 23 weeks pregnant with my 3rd ( IUD pregnancy) which was never in the pipe line due to my blood pressure issues.

I was prescribed medication to get it under control and then found out I was actually pregnant so had to come of it.

So I went into this pregnancy knowing I had serious bp issues;

This is my experience and I hope it helps:

At your booking appointment with a midwife they will take complete medical history including your blood pressure problems.

This happened to me with my 2nd and now 3rd pregnancy- I was
automatically referred to consultant care and have seen his team twice, in the early stages of pregnancy your BP can lower but this has not been the case with me its bordeline high at the beginning, but my consultant said that towards the end from about 28 weeks ( when I am next due to see him) he expects it to rise and has said there is safe medication that I can take should I need it.

That said I have a BP machine that I bought from bOOTS which has been brilliant for me.

I know when its high and so between appointments I either check it and or visit the GP-

With my daughter I was monitored closely in the consultant unit ( but I preferred this as I did not want to be with the midwives again )

I suppose once you are pregnant you will be classed as high risk but as I have found out they really can and do take care of you once you go in with the issues as opposed to suddenly having no issues and then presenting with pre eclampsia which can be horrendous ( pls xcuse spelling)

Good Luck hope this helps sorry if its a bit long x x x

Thank you so much for the info. I will be discussing it with my doctor and see if they too can suggest a monitor for me to use at home. I worry from what I have read that the cheap ones in Boots are not recognised medically and that apparently means they can be unreliable.

Hearing from you has put my mind at rest a little, I think I am a worrier anyway but your story seems to be a successful one and I wish you all the luck with your 3rd! How lucky!

Many thanks again :)

Hi Lipps,

In some ways it is good that you know you have an existing BP problem as it means you can be monitored more closely, as Seacloud said with her subsequent pregnancies. I had high BP from my mid 20s and my GP one day mentioned that when I was ready to start a family my first step should be to see an obstetrician, which I did. At the time I was advised to take low dose aspirin and calcium supplements from getting a BFP through to some time in the third trimester. I was classed as a high risk for pre-eclampsia (1 in 3 chance I think). Funny thing is, my BP is pretty low during pregnancy, had no problems in first pregnancy and now in third trimester with DC2 and still clocking in at 110/70 reading. This time around I was told not to bother with the calcium supplements, just the low dose aspirin. I am checked by midwife or consultant every fortnight, but so far so good - fingers crossed you have the same reaction.

I bought a monitor from Boots, it cost about £90 (Omron is the make) and was the exact same model that my Drs's surgery uses - if ever I feel a bit 'funny' it is my first port of call for reassurance. I won't post a link as I think there are newer models available that I'm sure are just as good if not better.

Hope this helps and good luck!