Blood pressure

[ExpectingatChristmas]

Background: I had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. However, I naturally have low blood pressure. My blood pressure gradually got higher but was still technically in the normal range. As soon as it was officially classed as high (140/90) I had severe placental abbruption. I also had protein in my wee throughout this and before any of this started I had one urine test showing there was glucose.

Fast forward to this pregnancy:
My midwife has just taken my blood pressure and it has risen from 80/50 to 110/65. I also had glucose in my wee but no protien (yet). Of course my blood pressure is now technically in the normal range.

Would this concern you? I spent a long time in and out of hospital in my previous pregnancy with hospital staff disagreeing if I was a big enough cause for concern. I can't help but feel that if they would have taken it more seriously I wouldn't have had the placental abbruption because they could have delivered my baby earlier.

I don't want the same thing happening again.

Any advice on how to approach the situation is much appreciated.

Hi @ExpectingatChristmas I'm sorry I don't have any experience with this but I wonder if you could get a home BP monitor. With the glucose in your we have they tested you for gestational diabetes?
I'm sorry that your going through this, have you tried looking up the NICE or RCOG guidelines on pre-eclampsia they would be what the midwives would be following.
I don't know enough about Pre-eclampsia but I work as a nurse and some other high BP guidelines don't always take into consideration your normal low BP so it may not be so worrying if it's now normal. I would share your concerns with the midwife/ GP though. Hope it gets sorted x

Thank you. I will have a look at the guidelines. I would worry about the home blood pressure monitor in case it was me not taking the reading right.

Thanks for your help. I did mention it to my midwife although it is difficult trusting their judgement after last time.

Have you been referred to a consultant? If not, I would request a referral.

I am not quite in the same boat (first pregnancy, but I have pre-existing high blood pressure) and I have to have more frequent blood pressure checks with the practice nurse between midwife appointments and I have a consultant because I am at a higher risk of pre-eclampsia whilst being harder to diagnose as I am already medically and was already high beforehand.

I know on the form they filled in for me that there were various criteria that get the hypertension referral and high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy would definitely get that referral on the form.

I saw a consultant at my first scan. They booked me in for a c-section at 38 weeks but other than that they let me go. My other children came as emergencies at 37 weeks.

They said the midwife can refer me back if any problems arise again. I don't have any extra midwife appointments.

The trouble is because my blood pressure isn't technically high that I worry I won't be refered back as urgently as needed. Or if I am then they won't take me seriously if I do end up back at the hospital.

Surely different levels of blood pressure impact everyone differently. There are billions of people in the world. I doubt everybody reacts the way. It's so frustrating.

I am glad they are keeping a close eye on you. Please look after yourself.

You're clearly worried, and you know more about your medical history than the midwives you've sees - so if I were you I'd try to raise this as an urgent issue and request an appointment with a consultant ASAP, as well as regular follow ups with the midwife. Have they not classed you as high risk in this pregnancy, based on your history? Unfortunately I found that for so many things we really have to stand up for ourselves and be prepared to be a nuisance.... Good luck

My usual BP is 80/50 and they worried when the bottom number hit 70 regardless of whether that was normal for others.

With your history, I'd definitely want some more monitoring.

My consultant said they would act on an increase because of my naturally low BP, and would act before it got to 140. I’m under consultant for other reasons but asked as my sister had preeclampsia.

If you give you midwife a call and let her know your concerned and ask for it to be monitored.

Equally you could get a BP machine for home to keep an eye on, or most GP surgery’s have one in the waiting room. Sometimes it’s just an odd result, so would want to know it’s high for more than one reading.

Thanks, it is reassuring to hear that I am not being overly dramatic. I think I will have a call to the doctors surgery and see if I can at least get my blood pressure monitored more. Even if it is just by a nurse.

I don’t think you are being dramatic at all, you know yourself better than the hospital staff and I do think if you usually have low blood pressure it is relevant when that increases even if it is in the normal range! I have pre eclampsia myself which is thankfully controlled by medication, but have also had protein in my urine and glucose though no diabetes came up in my test. I know they told me that even if my blood pressure is not “high”, if I have the symptoms I had pre medication (although at that point it was indeed very high) it would be treated as serious. The symptoms I had were the typical ones, hands and feet swelled excessively, headache and dots in my vision! They also said the same applies with or without protein in the urine as it’s not always present, which I was surprised at because I thought it was one of the main criteria for pre eclampsia! So it does just go to show you! Sorry for the essay! I do think you are right to be cautious though, and you should be getting a closer eye kept on you with your history!!! I hope your pregnancy goes much smoother this time though and the fact you are aware of it will help a lot!

@ExpectingatChristmas I had severe preeclampsia in my second pregnancy, diagnosed at 31+3 weeks, delivered at 32 weeks.

In my third pregnancy I got extra visits with midwife to monitor BP and proteine. From 28 weeks I was seen weekly for this reason.
Didn't get it my third pregnancy.

Now expecting number 4, I'm on aspirin 150 mg. I would expect the same amount of care. I have a BP monitor and I occasionally check it.

I have all my children with the same husband, I think they take in account that, don't know really why.

Thanks for your replies. I only had mild swelling with my previous preeclampsia. I had headaches and blurred horrible vision, as I do now but I regularly get migraines anyway. It is difficult to tell the difference. I don't have much swelling at all at the moment and no diabetes either.

I do find it strange given my previous history that they haven't even suggested extra midwife appointments at least. It does seem that other people's experiences on here suggest extra appointments are normal.

Yes, they say if you change partner your risk of preeclampsia increases but mine all have the same dad. I have heard it is more common with girls too.

How many weeks are you now op?

I had pre-eclampsia in both my pregnancies, I was monitored much more closely second time around. I have a home bp monitor and it's very easy to use. Without it I think I'd have got really ill in my first pregnancy, my BP went up to 240/120

I am 31 and a half weeks now. I think my preeclampsia started around 28 weeks last time but I can't 100% remember.

I asked for my c section to be arranged for 37 weeks which is when the others came. They said the closest they can do is 38 weeks.

Wow, that is really high :o Hope all ended up ok in the end.

Don't know what the smiley face is about?! Sorry I tried to put a shocked face.

Honestly, I'd push for a consultant review... With the consultant not just someone that works for them... And again if your headaches don't go with normal pain killers or swelling.
Good luck