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?

They ask about the father because it is unusual to develop PE in a second pregnancy if the father is the same but more common if second pregnancy is with a new partner.

My consultant said that whilst they still don't fully understand the reasons for PE there is a theory that it is some sort of immune response to paternal DNA in the placenta and that chances of developing PE in a second or subsequent pregnancy with the same father are lower because the body recognises the paternal DNA second time around and doesn't respond in the same way.

Good news about the protein OP, hopefully they can just keep a close eye on you and BP will stay under control.

Have had some meds and my blood pressure has come down ‘beautifully’ so I’m just waiting to be discharged.

They said all of my bloods have come back normal which means that my BP hasn’t been elevated for long. I’m going in for a growth scan next week to check on baby.

Excellent! Have they started you on labetalol?

Yes, that’s the one! BP was 160/80 when I got to the hospital and at last check it was 125/75 so much better.

Excellent news op