BP questions

[lisad123]

I had high BP in last pregnancy, although my booking in BP was high at 120/80, this time its been fairly ok at bottom number being between 65-79.

However its been going up slowly the last few days (I have a monitor at home due to problems last time).

I have read somewhere its not always to do with number but more on the increase. It hit the 107 mark yesterday while i was away but after an hour it had gone down to 89. I rang midwife this afternoon as it was 157/90 and been told if its high again today i have to call back.

So do i only worry when it hits the 90 mark? That the point they started my meds last time, or is it to do with raise in numbers? Does that make sense???

TIA

lisa

anyone?? or did it read so badly no one knows what im asking?

Hi Lisa
TBH I don;t really know much about the BP numbers, but if you are worried I would insist that they monitor you. You sound clued up on BP so you know when you feel something isn't quite right. Get them to check you for your own peace of mind. I bet there is nothing wrong but worrying about it might make it worse IYSWIM. xxx

No idea but hopefully someone will come along who does!

Lisa - sorry I have no idea about BP numbers. Keep bumping your post though as am sure someone who can help will come along.

BP of 120/80 is "normal"

anything over 140/90 is classed as "high"

they normally get excited if your BP goes over 140/90 on more than one occasion
OR
if there is an increase of 20 or more in either number from your booking BP - particularly if the bottom number is increasing.
I think there is a "magic" number when if it goes over that they get excited straight away, but I'm not sure what it is, just that I was over it (at 185/120 ) when I went into labour last time.

They use your booking BP as the reference point as it's fairly normal for your BP to go down a bit mid pregnancy due to your hormones - and start to creep up again from about 30wks.

I think it's quite normal for the m/w to want to know it's been up a bit for two consecutive days before getting too concerned, as it's very common to get a one-off high reading, only for it to settle down again (as you found yourself with the 107 to 89 readings)

I'm not medically qualified BTW, just started out at 135/90 at booking last pregnancy, so they were keeping an eagle eye on me throughout my pregnancy

Hi Lisad123

Most places take an increase of 20 from booking as significant, with more importance on the lower number (diastolic), while other places will start investigating at 140/90.

If your diastolic is /107, then you really need to see your GP or preferably the hospital, where they will check other things like urine for protein, oedema and do some bloods to see if there is a change which could signify the start of pre-eclampsia. They will probably also do a series of BPs, while you wait for the results of the blood tests.

Even 157/90 is a little high, unless you have normally high BP (essential hypertension.)

I would phone the labour ward tomorrow if the BP is still up and ask them for their advice, but also make an appt at the clinic or day assessment unit on Monday for a check.
How many weeks are you?

HTH

how many weeks are you????. i just had 2nd baby thursday, i was induced again at 40 weeks as bp got to 159/95.

bp was better in this pg until last few days as i was on asprin and calcium. they both helped alot.

i was told to go to hospiteal if bottom number went higher than 90 or top was higher than 150. it didn't matter if only one was high, as they can both be bad, but usually the bottom is slightly more important.

good luck

Thanks for the answers. Im 33 weeks, and have been on asprin to help control BP after last pregnancy but have been told to stop now, as im also on blood thinner injections.
I have taken it again this morning and its still high for me at 137/85, so will keep an eye out for any jumps up to 90 I was also told 90 was the point they start to worry, but my booking in during this pregnancy my BP has beena lot lower than with dd. The night after she was born was 177/112!!
I will keep an eye on it and it and if it jumps again i will ring up, but if not im seeing my consultant on weds so will mention it then
Thanks girls

L

hiya Lisa

when i had dd, i started off with quite low blood pressure and it rose a lot near the end (can't remember the exact numbers) thats why they induced me, so i think it is the increase that they worry about, make sure you keep an eye on it

i got sent to the hospital to be checked out when the bottom number was 95 but time i got the and sat for a while being monitors it went down