Very high blood pressure at 23+2. Absolutely terrified.

[Iswallowtoothpaste]

I was due I go in for my whooping cough vaccination today but thanks to a persistent but mild headache and dizziness I asked her to check my BP before she did the vaccine.

I have been known to suffer from whitecoat syndrome in the past but with only slightly elevated BP. On her first check my BP was 190/100!! My pulse was also racing at 120 BPM.

She left me 5 minutes, told me to relax and took my BP again. This time it was 180/90. I’m going back tomorrow for an appointment with the doctor and another BP check but I’m absolutely terrified now. Very worried about developing pre eclampsia and having to deliver early and the baby not surviving. We had 2 MC’s before falling pregnant with this little one. She was measuring fine at the anomaly scan 3 weeks ago and everything seemed ok.

Has anyone had any experience of this?

I'm very very surprised she sent you home to come back tomorrow with a BP that high. With my DD I went to my booking appointment and my BP was 200/100 and I was sent straight to hospital and ended up staying in for 4 days until they got it under control.

I think I would ring the EPU and ask for their advice. That's scarily high BP to just be waiting for tomorrow with

Don't stress about pre-eclampsia they'll most likely just put you on a blood pressure pill for now

Yes there is medication for it. Don’t panic yet. Be prepared to be admitted though and back a hospital bag with a change of clothes, phone and tablet charger, books, toiletries, slippers etc.

Sorry I meant PAU not EPU

I had severe pre-eclampsia but I'm not a medic so please don't take this as gospel. I'm guessing that because your BP dropped between readings the doctor thought it best to check again tomorrow. I was told it's the second number that really counts so 180/90 is not so terrible if normal is XXX/80.

Don't have any caffeine before your next BP test, with me anyway it sends my readings sky high.

I think the diagnostic for pre-eclampsia also involves protein in wee. Did you give them a sample? If they didn't pick up protein that is another good sign.

Anything over 150-160 systolic (top number) and over 100 diastolic (bottom number) warrants obstetrician review in pregnancy not just a repeat BP on another day. I would have thought with the readings you had, based on the high systolic they would have admitted you for observation unless you are a known hypertensive, or have 'white coat syndrome' although this is unlikely as the diastolic was high also. It's often controlled with medication but if pregnancy induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia develops this early you usually just buy time with the medications
If you have any headaches/visual disturbances or sever pain under your right side I would suggest you ring your triage dept and ask to get checked, don't leave it.
Hope it settles though

Who did you have this appointment with today? It sounds like it might have been at a GP surgery. If so I would do as PP suggest. If those were your only 2 blood pressure readings then you need to see an obstetrician rather than practice nurse or GP ASAP for further investigations.

On re reading your original post it sounds like you saw the practice nurse?
They are not used to seeing pregnant women and don't necessarily know the threshold for BP readings is very different for pregnancy,
Please ring your maternity unit/triage and get checked over properly

Try not to panic. I had PE in my first pregnancy and was put on BP medication in this pregnancy at 20 weeks with a BP of 158/90.

I have been kept a very close eye on and monitored regularly. My BP actually dropped at about 24/25 weeks and I was able to stop the tablets although dr anticipates I will need to go back on them as the pregnancy progresses (I'm now 27 weeks).

There is a lot they can do to keep hypertension and/or PE under control. Whilst waiting to go back tomorrow have a low bar for seeking help if you have any further symptoms (headaches, visual disturbance, upper abdominal pain). Good luck!

agree with pp.
go to your maternity unit now.
take a book, phone charger, snack&drink.

good luck

The nurse did ring my MW whilst I was at the surgery and she explained my BP. My MW booked me an appointment for Monday for urine and BP check.

If I’ll just be buying time with meds then I expect that this baby will be arriving very early.

I’m waiting for OH to come in from work, I’ve got DD here too then will get myself over to the hospital.

I’m in absolute bits. I can’t believer this is happening.

@Iswallowtoothpaste your panicking unnecessarily. As I said my BP was higher than yours. It was brought under control with meds' safe to take in pregnancy and my DD was born at term.

High BP does not mean pre-eclampsia or an early baby please try and calm down

Sending hugs, the only advice I can give is to make sure you are taking 100% of the recommended daily dose of magnesium. It is a very common defficiency and can lead to high blood pressure. In fact, if they are going to do blood work anyway, ask if they would test your levels as if you are v low, they might want you to take more than the recommended dose

@WakeUpFromYourDreamAndScream

That’s very reassuring to know, thank you. I know panicking really isn’t going to help at all.

@Iswallowtoothpaste good luck OP, take care and please let us know how you get on

I was further on than you - 27 weeks- but I was diagnosed with preeclampsia with 3+proteins in my urine and blood pressure at similar numbers to what you describe.
Despite looking initially like they would have to deliver immediately, and there being no suitable preemie cots free in my country - I was terrified- they got everything under control with blood pressure pills and I didn’t need induced until 36 weeks. Even then I could have fought to wait longer as my symptoms hadn’t worsened.
Even if you are diagnosed with the ‘worst’, it doesn’t mean your prognosis is the worst. Look after yourself, and if you’re worried about pre-eclampsia symptoms like headaches or visual disturbances, don’t hesitate to call maternity assessment.

At PAU. BP back down to 140/80. WTF? They’ve said they’re happy to send me home but want me to wait another couple of hours to have BP rechecked.

ah good that you got checked out and that you are probably fine.
but I read your op about dizzyness, headache and high bp, which makes alarm bells ring.
good luck

I had PE in both pregnancies , what are you worried about the most ? I spent one week and one month in bed rest in hospital respectively and had dc at 37 and 33 weeks .. do you have much swelling ? My blood pressure was very high ( higher than yours ) they have me meds and bed rest was enough to get me nearer my due date . I recovered very quickly after my first but it took longer with my second but we are ok .

@gubbsywubbsy very little swelling, just a little in my fingers when I’m warm but other than that no swelling anywhere else. I’m worried about delivering early. Especially as I’m only 23+2.

They will no doubt put you on bed rest , are you seeing a consultant regarding your blood pressure ?

I would imagine that I’m seeing a consultant about it from now onwards, it’s never been a problem until now nornwas it a problem in my previous pregnancy

Unless your BP is exceptionally high and can't be controlled with medication it's unlikely they'll admit you for long periods in my experience. 140/80 is high but not too terrible. When I had PE I was at 200/120 and that was with medication!

I know it feels frightening when you're so early on but there are lots of treatment options and it really doesn't mean that the baby will be necessarily need to be delivered early. It also might not be PE but pregnancy hypertension which is really common. Have they taken bloods to check your kidney and liver function?

I hope they have reassured you at the hospital and you have a plan in place for going forward.

Is it the same father ? They asked me this and I'm not sure why it's relevant but it seems it is . My dc are with the same father and I got it with both and worse the second time . Weight also makes a difference so if you are heavier you are more likely to have high blood pressure etc .
Mine was very high ,it was 8 years ago so I can't remember what but similar to above with medication on bed rest . I was very swollen too from 25 weeks .

@gubbsywubbsy yes, same father, I didn’t have any sort of problems like this with DD, however I was slimmer then and she’s turning 6 this year so I’ve had a gap between her and this little one.

Had BP measured again and it’s still high. No protein in wee though which is a positive thing.