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

Original poster

Blood pressure

31 replies

Daisypops · 19/12/2006 20:36

Quick question... I am really nervous and anxious about labour, yesterday at a check up I was the same and my BP was up! Does anyone know what will happen if my BP is high when I'm in labour. I have a feeling I'm going to be really anxious and panicky which evidently increases my bp. Will this affect labour, what will they do to help me?

OP posts:
lulumama · 19/12/2006 20:39

sounds like 'white coat syndrome'! when your blood pressure rises in a medical situation! unless it is massively raised, you won;t need anything...concentrate on relaxing, breathing evenly and going with the flow..make sure you have good support throughout the birth.... and talk about your fears before hand !! don;t go into labour holding on to negativity and fear...really important to release your fear!

an epidural can lower blood pressure, but i wouldnlt recommend it just for that...

practice a visualisation to go into during early labour to get you in a good place!

is this your first? and who are your birth partners?

yulelog · 19/12/2006 20:41

your bp will go up in labour as your body is working hard. infact in me it was a sign i was in labour as my bp had been rock bottom all pregancy. they will monitor it so dont worry

liquidclocks · 19/12/2006 20:41

Don't panic! Everyone (well, me and loads of other people I know) gets anxious about labour but when it happens your body just goes into automatic.

You can help yourself by writing a detailed birth plan and talking with other people about their experiences. In my birth plan I put loads of stuff like "I'd like to try with just gas and air and have a waterbirth but if I'm not coping I would like to keep the option of an epidural open" - I wrote it more for me than the midwives. It was like I gave myself 'permission' to not cope whilst still hoping that I would - that made me a lot less nervous.

How many weeks are you now?

Original poster
Daisypops · 19/12/2006 20:44

Thanks lulumama. Yes this is my first. My birth partners are my mum and my patner. My mum will be great and is all for staying calm, relaxation, breathing etc and it really wise! But I can't control what my body does and how it reacts, I also get a rash all over my chest and face, quite embarassing really. Was just wondering if it will affect bub, hope not. x

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lulumama · 19/12/2006 20:48

you canlt control it..but you can address it beforehand.....and that is why it is so important to voice any fears and worries, no matter how small, before hand

you will be absolutely amazed how well you do cope..let go, don;t worry about rashes or anything like that..give yourself the freedom to let your body lead you.....LO will be just fine.....

the midwife isn't going to care if you are hot ,sweaty, got a rash or are screaming and swearing..you need to do whatever you need to get the baby born..

really great that you have your mum with you too!

Original poster
Daisypops · 19/12/2006 20:50

liquid-I'm 37 weeks on thursday. I'm going to discuss my birth plan with my MW on thursday. It awful because my chest goes really tight aswell and no matter what I can't control it. Its odd! One way or another bub has to come out I just hope I can stay calm.

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Posey · 19/12/2006 20:51

lol at white coat syndrome! My dad used to have to get his BP checked regularly and couldn't work out why the nurse always made the reading higher than the doctor

lulumama · 19/12/2006 20:52

are you scared of the labour...or scared of how you will react to labour?? IFYSWIM

Original poster
Daisypops · 19/12/2006 21:05

Scared of labour. Petrified. I went to my ante natal classes lulu and felt really faint when we did our tour of the delivery suite . Sounds daft but I associate going to hospital with been ill but I think I need to realise I'll be going in hospital for something positive this time! Its the unknown I think. Everytime I look at my hospital bag my stomach turns. How stupid am I!?

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lulumama · 19/12/2006 21:24

not stupid at all..........

if you weren;'t a little anxious, i'd wonder why!

can you break it down at all

are you scared of losing control

of being in a medical environment

of things being done to you that are painful or scary

that you won;t cope with the pain

if you don;t want to talk about it here..you can cat me or email me

lulumama 21 @ hotmail . com

no gaps !

are you north or south?

lulumama · 19/12/2006 21:25

have you had to be in hospital a lot previously> for yourself or someone else?

Original poster
Daisypops · 19/12/2006 21:35

Thanks for your e-mail address Lulu.

I'm north, nr Leeds.

I'm scared of the pain and of not knowing whats happening to me and not knowing if whats happening is normal. I'm scared of been too tired to go thru it all.

I keep telling myself that its the most natural thing in the world and what women are designed for but you hear so many scare stories dont you? I want it to be nice and calm and a positive experience afterall we're desperate to meet our bub. Part of me wants it to all happen now to get it over with!

I've not been in hospital a lot recently but I defo have the 'white coat syndrome' you mentioned earlier.

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liquidclocks · 19/12/2006 21:37

Have you ever done any relaxation before now? It can be extremely effective even in labour - I used it with my first (then after a few hours of v painful induced labour had an epidural - lovely!) and with my second (just with gas and air). I also kept my little mantra going 'at the end of this I'm going to have my beautiful baby' - over and over again! It really helped.

Original poster
Daisypops · 19/12/2006 21:45

Liquid-the only thing I do is deep slow breathing and to try tell myself what I already know! IYSWIM! I keep telling myself 'I'm going in to meet our baby' and 'its got to come out one way or another' Oooh talking about it is making me feel more positive and making me want to get it done with!

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lulumama · 19/12/2006 21:46

am in merseyside....if i was a bit closer, i'd pop over and have a cuppa and a chat iwth you ! good idea re the mantra from LC!!

read some books about natural vaginal birth...

anything by Ina May gaskin, sheila Kitzinger and Michel Odent

they all have websites too......

you know rationally that your body can do this..but untill you have done it..it is fear of the unknown..and emotioanlly it is hard to deal with it

i did a visualisation of my cervix opening, imagined it like a closed flower , and imagined it opening like a flower blooming...!! do what works for you!

it is really good to look this now...before you are in the labour ward....

Original poster
Daisypops · 19/12/2006 21:57

Thanks so much for your advice lulu. I have saved this thread and will keep looking at it. Have also kept your e-mail address incase I need more advice. Hope thats ok. x

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MKGnearlyimmaculateconception · 19/12/2006 22:04

How much is it up? At 37 weeks mine jumped from 122/78 to 150/100 in one week. After a week of bedrest, my midwife decided to induce me because there was no change. The funny thing is that as soon as I was given the prostaglandin insert, it went right back down, and stayed normal.

Don't take this for granted now. Definitely try to stay off your feet as much as possible. Eliminate any unnecessary stress from your life asap.
Definitely try visualization exercises. If you can do stretching, or some relxation technique. Drink plenty of water and cut out salt.

lulumama · 19/12/2006 22:05

no worries , dasiy...am on computer every day, so shout if you need me !

MKGnearlyimmaculateconception · 19/12/2006 22:06

There is nothing to fear. This baby has to come out eventually. You just have to relax and let it happen.

Relaxation is the key, but also look at other factors that would make your blood pressure rise.

lulumama · 19/12/2006 22:08

MKG..you should think about becoming a doula..you are very knowledgeable about birth and very warm and approachable and laidback!

MKGnearlyimmaculateconception · 19/12/2006 22:09

hey lulu, been crazy over here lately. We're good here. I got so freaked because last week I had a doctors appointment and my bp was 112/86, the 86 not being good. Then I realized that I had been running around all day before I went so not a big deal. But I've put myself on a better diet, increased my exercise, and am taking a little more "me" time.

MKGnearlyimmaculateconception · 19/12/2006 22:10

Thank you. You know I've thought about that lulu, my problem would be that I get so excited for others that I wouldn't be able to contain myself.

lulumama · 19/12/2006 22:11

you take it easy honey.....got LO already to take care of.........xx > but you have krispy kreme donuts!

MKGnearlyimmaculateconception · 19/12/2006 22:12

I don't eat the KK donuts. That LG&T. She's the loon that's obsessed with them.

lulumama · 19/12/2006 22:15

sorry !

terrible memory

and you nevere seem to be signed into MSN when i am !