White Coat Syndrome

[Hotdamndiggitydam]

Does anyone have experience with White Coat Syndrome and the pregnancy journey?

I’ve never liked going to the doctor, sometimes I’m really nervous, sometimes I’m not. I registered at a new doctors after finding out I was pregnant. My blood pressure registered high, and before the appointment I had been nervous, mostly about not knowing what to expect, not knowing where I was going or who I was seeing. It was a new patient medical so we did a few more bits and I calmed down massively but my blood pressure was still high. I had to go back for a follow-up test at a different time of day, knew what I was expecting so felt fine but my blood pressure was high for the first reading then about 135/70 for the second (I think). It had been mentioned that they thought it was WCS but they just wanted to rule anything nasty out from the outset.

I was sent home with a blood pressure monitor to do four times a day (two in a morning and two at night) for a week and my blood pressure averaged around 110/60. I’ve not heard anything since so assume that’s ok?

I had my booking appointment at home (clinic was busy, apparently) so I was more comfortable and I’d felt a bit nervous prior, but I’d done my research and knew what to expect so felt relatively calm but registered a 140/70.

Midwife seemed a bit concerned so I told her I’d been monitored and seemed ok with that but did mention it would be monitored throughout and I could be considered for some medication if it’s continously high, which I’m assuming it will be in clinical settings. But if I take something to lower my blood pressure when it usually sits around 110/60 could have its side effects?

I’m also concerned about the birth, would I be deemed a risk of preeclampsia from high blood pressure? Or could the anxiety of the impending birth cause my blood pressure to rise and be considered dangerous? I’d be happy with an elective c-section if I was honest but I don’t know how I’d position that being generally low risk as it stands.

Other than a stage of ridiculous and irrational anxiety whilst I was on the pill, I generally only get nervous around things that you would generally be nervous about, big meetings, interviews, doctors (lol) so I don’t consider it to be a generalised anxiety thing, I’m fine day-to-day but was just wondering about the implications these high readings could give me throughout this pregnancy.

As you can see, I’m thinking about everything other than how crap I feel at the minute so probably way ahead of myself but I’d rather know. Thanks for making it through this massive ramble. First time mum problems

Practically had a panic attack first time I saw a doctor about my first pregnancy (I don't do well with waiting rooms and I was waiting a while), doctor then thought he heard a heat murmur (+blood pressure 140 something) and ended up referred for an echo which turned out fine. I found the midwife appointments got better because they generally had less waiting, we're more predictable. I also found that if they used a manual pump to check blood pressure it didn't stress me as much and have lower readings. But even now I sit there trying to slow my breathing when they do it as the thought of having it measured instantly makes it higher. 110/60 is fine btw.

My midwife thinks the lab at my ob makes me nervous too. Not helped by the fact I go there on foot for 20 minutes, uphill practically from home, with the killer that the ob's surgery is up a flight of stairs... Then you can be called into the lab as soon as you arrive if there are no patients waiting.

My blood pressure takes quite long to normalise as well. I had it checked at the GP who also lives at the top of a hill haha and I sat there for half an hour in his waiting room before it was checked again and diastolic was still 85. Though it had come down by 5 points by that time, I think. Doctor wasn't concerned, but offered 24-hour monitoring if I wanted it. Which I declined as I was going to try for a baby, so it was going to be monitored anyway. Obviously that 30 minutes is way longer than the 10 minutes it says online...

Under no circumstances would I accept medication without 24-hour monitoring, though.

Pre-eclampsia would also need to include protein in your urine, but in all likelihood they would be on the lookout for it if your blood pressure is elevated (which would stress you more and send your blood pressure soaring in turn lol).

My ob did allow for a bit of a higher BP after I told him that I come on foot (many heavily pregnant women wouldn't even be able to manage at 40 weeks+) and we have no car, so it's not an option. Though I think he did get concerned the very last time at 40+7 when it was 180/100 and I had 2 +s protein. Though my midwife measured two days later and then it was 140/90 (in another place on a comfortable sofa 😊).

In your place I'd self-monitor at home so you have something to show if they are barking up the wrong tree. I intend to do that this pregnancy. It'll also calm me down.

Ohh the waiting is vile! Then I also think I’m not going to find the right room then the worry that they’re going to tell me I’m dying... haha. But I’m hoping it settles, I just know the scan will be horrific because there’s genuine cause for worry there.

I feel like I dodged a bullet doing the home monitoring early but I guess further along the line that can be disregarded.

I was quite surprised it was so high with the midwife, I was at home so I expected something highish but not over 140 given how I felt. It was only filling in forms, I even dodged the blood test.

Knowing my luck I’ll be confident with appointments but then panic that I’ll have high blood pressure haha. The joys.

I've had pre eclampsia in both pregnancies - well the second was after baby was born ' so am very familiar with the whole blood pressure scenarios!

You are unlikely to be prescribed any medication from one off readings. And the threshold for medication is actually quite high, so try not to worry. Pre eclampsia comes with a whole host of other symptoms. And a few one off readings of high BP isn't a clinical reason for an elcs - blood pressure can rise in labour but they can usually treat it really effectively. Besides it tends to make you labour quite quickly and efficiently so that's one plus point!