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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

high blood pressure at 38 weeks ....advice please

40 replies

kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 14:12

hi for the past week my blood pressure has gone up
today it was 130/90
dos anyone have any experience of this

when do they start thinking of admitting you to hospital ?
or giving you medication to lower bp ?
or inducing you ?
will i still be able to have a water birth?

im having it checked again 1st thing tomorrow last week it was 130/86

OP posts:
LieselVentouse · 25/06/2007 14:16

Thats really not that high when youre that far on. I would get it checked out though

LucyK1978 · 25/06/2007 14:21

I can understnad why you are worried it that is a high blood pressure reading comapred to pre-pregnancy, and you're absolutely right to get it checked again but if it's any comfort it doesn't sound very high to me. My last blood pressure reading was at 16 week scan and was 144/97 and they didn't seem too worried.

peggotty · 25/06/2007 14:27

I'm assuming you've not also got other symptoms of pre-eclampsia then? If not, I had high blood pressure when I was about 38/39 weeks with my dd - the midwife picked up on it at routine appt. She also noticed I was looking 'puffy' i.e retaining fluid. But had no protein in urine or anything. She sent me to hospital that day to be monitored, and I went in the next day as well. They just hooked me up to monitor baby's heart rate. Anyway, the second day of this I had a show in the morning before I went to hospital, and was having twinges as I left the hospital. My dd was born later that day! My midwife explained it as the baby being ready to be born can sometimes raise the blood pressure. Of course, this doesn't mean you're necessarily ready to pop, this is just my experience of it!!

I'm sorry I can't remember what my blood pressure had gone up to, but it was pretty high.

divastrop · 25/06/2007 14:31

hi.i had high bp in all my pregnancies.they just keep an eye on you if it goes up a bit,but usually will admit you if the bottom number goes to 100 or above(depending what your normal bp is).mine started creeping up at 37 weeks,i was admitted and put on medication at 38 weeks and was induced at 39+4 when bp shot up to 170/115 with my first baby.

i think you will just be monitored for now,it could well have just been a normal fluctuation,its only if it keeps going up that they will think about intervening.

divastrop · 25/06/2007 14:33

oh yes,i forgot to mention that high bp alone can just mean you are going to have the baby soon.

i also had protein in my wee,and swelling of the hands+face,when i was admitted to hospital.

Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 14:39

oh thanks for the fast replies everyone xx
i really appricate it x

babys head is now 3/5
and i have swollen feet/ankles and hands
although my face isnt swollen
also my urin is fine xx

OP posts:
cupcake78 · 25/06/2007 14:41

It is high but not abnormally high and would be classed as boarder line HBP.

I have had readings the same as yours and nobody seems to see it as a cause for concern unless it goes up suddenly or you have other symptoms.

Just be aware of what you do and try not to do things that could increase it.

cupcake78 · 25/06/2007 14:41

It is high but not abnormally high and would be classed as boarder line HBP.

I have had readings the same as yours and nobody seems to see it as a cause for concern unless it goes up suddenly or you have other symptoms.

Just be aware of what you do and try not to do things that could increase it.

cupcakesgalore · 25/06/2007 14:47

Mine went up to 140/95 with my 1st, v. suddenly after routinely being 110/60. Because it didn't go down they admitted me and refused to let me home until I delivered - was just 3 days before my due date. In the end I was induced the day after my due date. This was in NELondon - I guess all areas have diff. policies. good luck - hope all goes well!

divastrop · 25/06/2007 14:55

usually the hospital will admit you if your bp goes above 140/100 ish but thats based on the 'average' of 120/80.if the bottom number goes up by 10 they monitor you,if it goes up by 20 or more they admit you,depending on other symptoms etc.

Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 16:19

thanks 4 your help and advice girls x

so should i still be able to have a water birth then xxx

OP posts:
fairyjay · 25/06/2007 16:28

I was admitted for the final six weeks of my second pregnancy, when my bp went between 95 ish and 105 ish. They checked continually, and also monitored for headaches, swelling and protein.

Good luck tomorrow - but try not to worry, or it'll go up higher!!

skyatnight · 25/06/2007 16:50

My experience was very similar to cupcakesgalore. Around 38 weeks, I got swollen feet and ankles, felt ill, bloodpressure suddenly high. I also got a urine infection/protein in my urine (bladder wasn't emptying properly due to the weight of the baby and the water retention) so I was admitted and they wouldn't let me go home. A couple of days later I was induced - fast and furious - but everything was fine. I don't know about a water birth - if you do end up with pre-eclampsia, they may want to induce you as you are nearly full-term. Being induced might be an impediment to having a water-birth.

Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 17:33

i really hope that ill still be allowed a water birth

i think i may of read somewhere that if your induced water births are off limits why is this?
because thy giv you drugs to induce you ?

OP posts:
lisad123 · 25/06/2007 17:39

My BP started going up very early about 27 weeks, so spent a lot of time in hospital. It could be just a one off high reading so thats why they will check again tomorrow. If the bottom number is higher that 90 they normally will take some action (well they do here) this could just be admitted for bedrest and monitoring, meds (but as your so far gone might not do it), and may decide its better to induce you.
I really wouldnt worry too much, my BP was 144/100 the other week, so kept me in, by next morning it had gone back down to 86 so let me go
Let us know how it goes and try and take it easy and drink lots
Hugs

skyatnight · 25/06/2007 18:49

I'm not a professional kittenbaby - hopefully there will be midwife mumsnetter along to advise you. I think that the reason you might not be able to have a water birth if you are induced would be that it is not a 'natural' birth so-to-speak, you are being given hormones to start contractions to give birth earlier than you would do otherwise. As such, the midwife might want to keep a closer eye on you, which is easier if you are on a bed than in the water. But you would only be induced if you had pre-eclampsia and there was a definite risk to you or the baby. As you will have read on the other posts on this thread, the high blood pressure might be only temporary or not serious or it might just mean that you are getting close to going into labour naturally. Don't worry, put your feet up and relax.

Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 19:47

thanks for the advice

is bp only a problem if you protein in the urine too?

xx

OP posts:
lisad123 · 25/06/2007 19:51

No BP problems on their own can cause problems too although only long term high bp or very high bp is my understanding. Good luck tomorrow.
Lisa

BetsyBoop · 25/06/2007 20:30

I think they don't normally allow water birth with induction as they monitor you more closely, usually with CFM, which is obviously not possible in the pool.

Our local hospital also has a policy of not allowing women with high BP (even if it's only borderline high) to use the pool either so I'd check with your m/w

It's not the level as such that matters (although they will always worry at anything 150/100 or more) but what your BP was at booking - any increase of 20 or more in either number gets them worried - raised BP can cause problems with the efficiency of the placenta, even if there are no signs of it being PE.

Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 20:36

thank you all so much for your kind wishes and telling me your stories its really helping me xx
esp as im a 1st timer
when i started out i was 110/70
so now its 130/90

i take it a home would not b recommended either

those where my first two choices
water birth at home
or water birth in hosp

OP posts:
Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 21:17

ps ill let u all know how i get on in the am xxxx

OP posts:
SanetJvv · 25/06/2007 21:32

I also had swolen hands, feet and ankles, my BP was the same as yours. My urine was always fine. Had a natural waterbirth at hospital. Hope all your wishes come true. Go for relaxing walks and take it easy. Good luck

lisad123 · 25/06/2007 21:35

Dont panic just yet, it could have been a one off reading, so you will know more tomorrow. My high BP did effect placenta and so dd was only 5lb at birth but ok. Hope you get the birth you want. Let us know how it goes.
Hugs

Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 21:36

sanet that makes me feel so much better what did they do with you ? keep checking it everyday ?

OP posts:
Original poster
kittenbaby · 25/06/2007 21:42

thanks for the good wishes lisa
my bp was high last week too
130/86
xx
really badly want a waterbirth
im sure id get a lot of pain relief from it as when i feel poorly or achey a nice bath normally sorts me out xxxx

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