White coat syndrome during pregnancy

[Misha93]

Hiya,
Sorry for this long winded post but I’m looking to see if anyone has been through having white coat syndrome during pregnancy? I am currently pregnant with my 3rd and have huge anxiety of having my blood pressure taken. It all started during my 2nd pregnancy as I was so fearful to develop pre eclampsia again as I was told so many times I was at risk which I understand but it just fuelled a lot of anxiety (i developed severe pre eclampsia during my first pregnancy at 35 weeks when I was 17) so every time a midwife or my consultant checked it was always elevated which would then cause them to be concerned and i would get sent for emergency blood tests all the time but they always came back normal and I actually never did develop it again but it took over my whole pregnancy and really put a huge downer on the whole experience and I really don’t want this to happen again as even now 3 years on I still have the anxiety of having my blood pressure taken that I now have to take it from home which always show my readings to be completely normal.
I spoke to a midwife and explained my situation and asked if it would be a possibility to show my own readings as well as letting them do it as I get so worked up by having it done by someone else but she disagreed and said it would only make the problem worse which left me really confused as the only way it will make it worse Is if they just go by their readings as I feel im always going to be anxious when they check.
I’m hoping someone can share some advice on what they did to get through it if they’ve had something similar?. I know it sounds mad as it’s only blood pressure check but I’d rather have a blood test done everyday then listen and feel that blood pressure cuff! Right now I just want to refuse all blood pressure checks but I know this will probably only making things stressful with dealing with the consultants and midwifes
Thank you in advance! X

No advice OP, but my sympathy and bumping as I'm going through exactly the same.

I've had 5 miscarriages and was under consultant review. The consultant asked if my mother had ever had preeclampsia, which she did in her first pregnancy with me.
They told me that the fact that my mother had it, combined with my race and history makes me more likely to get it so to take aspirin. Problem being that I'd been advised by a previous consultant that my blood clotting strength means that low dose aspirin is a no no for me in pregnancy.
Then began the white coat syndrome. Every single time I've had my BP checked by a midwife/GP, it's been very high, with no protein in the urine. When I check at home, I get nice, normal readings.
I'm now just rolling with it, but would be interested to see the responses to this...

In the same circumstances I had to have a 24 hour blood pressure monitor attached so they could see what readings were at home rather than in clinical situations. Mine were normal according to that but elevated whenever it was taken by anyone else

I am the same. I take mine at home and it is normal, raised whenever a GP/nurse/midwife takes it. If you are pregnant and they get a high reading they really should act on it for your safety and that of your baby. But there is a few things you can do...

1. Ask them to take it with a manual machine...more accurate than electronic.
2. Ask them not to talk to you during...if you talk, your BP goes up.
3. Get them to do it when you have been in the appointment a while and not just through the door.
4. Take a note of all of your readings and if they are wanting any interventions, show them yours so they can be taken in to consideration.
5. Take your BP often at home so you get used to the sensation etc and this could help reduce anxiety when someone else is doing it.

www.nhs.uk/news/medical-practice/24-hour-blood-pressure-monitoring-better-one-clinic-checks/

I am in a similar position, terrified of BP checks in my second pregnancy now even though I know it's ridiculous. I had raised BP after giving birth that took a few weeks to come down but I wasn't allowed home till it did (it only came down when I was finally allowed home and check myself!)

Maybe try and learn some grounding and distraction techniques, and practice practice practice, it only makes it worse if you avoid. It will be important to have it done and picking it up early is better than missing it.
How far along are you now? Good luck!

Watching with interest as I also have white coat syndrome, this predates my pregnancy and I also had a 24 hour BP monitor a couple of years ago. It's in my notes and GP and midwife are aware but I've still spent the morning in triage after my last 2 midwife appointments for 3 hour BP monitoring and blood tests! Always fine but they really don't like to take any risks. I've got my 31 week appt next week, this time I'm going to it expecting to go to triage and well prepared with a book, drink and snacks!

Ah sorry to hear you ladies are going/been through the same! It’s so frustrating isn’t it I’m only currently 9 weeks so very early still but I know my booking in appointment is just round the corner and the checks will all begin! I’m interested to know how high all your readings go when being checked? Mine typically hit the 147,’s/90’s mark but at home they are always around 110/70.
Thank you for all your advice, I think I’m also going to look into maybe trying some hypnobirthing classes and maybe take my own blood pressure monitor along with me to the appointments so it can be compared with theirs and hopefully try and get them to believe me lol.
Il keep you all updated when I have my booking appointment and good luck to you all also X