pregnancy and high bp

[karenmec]

Are there any mom's - to - be or new mom's who had high bp when they fell pregnant? I have just found out I am 7 weeks pregnant. I have had borderline high BP for a year, am 38 and been on a low dose beta blocker for a benign heart palpitation issue (basically had symptoms which I found difficult to manage day in day out so was popping a pill to prevent symptoms). With the beta blocker my bp was falling well within normal range. Have been told I can't take the beta blocker due to risks to baby. They won't give me another unless my palpitations return... Over the last week my bp has started rising. Just wondering if anyone out there has had beta blockers or bp meds during pregnancy, What monitoring you had and what it was like managing pregnancy with associated high bp risks. Thanks

Hi Karen

I just thought I'd add my 2 pence worth. I had borderline BP never actually high for a short period the year before I fell pregnant and was on Lorsartan for preventative reasons.
I started seeing a consultant before I fell pregnant as I have other health conditions and was told to discontinue Lorsartan and move in to Labetalol which I believe is type of beta-blocker and safe in pregnancy.

I'm currently 37 weeks and my BP has been stable and low throughout. I have my own monitor and check it myself and record my readings for the doctors. Initially my dose was too high (100mg twice a day which is the starting dose) and I was having dizzy spells in the mornings. It was adjusted down to 150 (50 in the mornings), but now I'm only on 100mg as my morning readings are still low.

As a side note, I've also been told I can continue taking Labetalol after the birth and whilst BF too.

Hope this helps

The midwife recorded my BP as 140/90 at my booking in appointment, started taking baby aspirin around week 13. BP crept up around week 26 and I started taking labetalol after a couple of nights in hospital. I had to increase the dose around week 36 as my BP wasn't controlled (required a couple more nights in hospital). Had a few extra scans during my pregnancy and extra midwife appointments. During labour they kept a close eye on me and my BP was constantly checked. Didn't need to take labetalol after the birth as BP was back to my normal (borderline high).

I already had high BP when I got pregnant. I'm on 400mg labetalol and 250mg methyldopa twice daily and they are both safe in pregnancy. I monitor my BP every day and mine has been pretty stable throughout. If I did have any concerns about it rising then I'd go straight to the GP. Last time I was pregnant my BP wasn't controlled so well and rocketed straight away. The GP then spent about 4 weeks gradually increasing my dosage but unfortunately the pg ended in MMC at around 12 weeks.