Any medical people around? Why would the top number for blood pressure be this high?

[Mybabystolemysanity]

On Labetalol for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (currently 36 weeks). Have been into hospital today for a growth scan and BP readings as part of monitoring, and have seen consultant who confirms from blood tests that I definitely don't have pre eclampsia. Going back on Friday to be seen again, so please no need for worried posts telling me to call Triage. I'm pretty well and being properly looked after, I promise!

Blood pressure has crept up from 130/70 at booking to 155/95 at 30 weeks, at which point I started the medication. Continuing to rise despite dose of Labetalol increasing over the last two weeks. Now it's running 160/80 and dose has been increased today to 800mg over four doses.

Does anyone know what would cause the top number to climb so high while the bottom number stays relatively stable? I should really have asked today and didn't. More for my own curiosity than anything.

The top number is the pressure when the heart has just beaten, forcing blood into the arteries. The bottom number is taken in the pause between beats, so it naturally is lower and more stable. When the top number shoots up while the bottom number stays stable it's called isolated systolic hypertension.

Pressure during the heartbeat can rise because the heart muscle is contracting harder or because something is constricting your arteries. Both causes can be treated.

Each hypertension medication has a specific effect, or "mechanism of action". If one won't sufficiently control the problem, a second (or even a third in some cases) is usually added to provide another means of lowering the pressure.

Go back to your doctor and ask for an addtional medication. The one you're on now belongs to a class called beta blockers. They slow the heartbeat. A second class, called calcium channel blockers, both slows the heart and relaxes the arteries and are commonly used in pregnancy. If he or she is concerned, show them this

Fetal safety of calcium channel blockers

A third class, called ACE inhibitors, just relaxes the arteries but can only be used in the first trimester.

The readings you are getting now are worrisome and should be brought down if possible.

Good luck with the baby.