Lowering blood pressure success stories?

[Izzymay]

Hi ladies,

I’m in my second tri with second baby, and have been having high blood pressure (132/80 midwife is aware, isn’t worried but has spoken about ways to reduce it). I am currently trying to take healthy steps to lower it ( exercise, less salt). And wanted to know if anyone has ever been on the same boat and succeeded. It would be so encouraging and give me hope that the things I’m doing do help, so please share your stories.

Is that classed as high? That is around my blood pressure readings and my midwife has never expressed that she is concerned, I have a few risk factors for pre eclampsia so I take aspirin daily but other than that I have carried on doing as I normally would, sounds as though you're being sensible about diet etc so don't stress is probably the main thing..

Hi @HeyDW96, how far along are you? Because I was worried if I’m at 132 now what might happen in 3rd trimester when the body is under even more pressure.

I don’t believe it’s ‘high’ in the clinical definition of hypertension. But it is elevated. And if someone has elevated blood pressure they’re more likely to develop actual hypertension. ( it’s a bit like the pre diabetes status if you know of that - not yet the clinical disease but at risk of becoming if something doesn’t change).

But I have also read that higher blood pressure happens in pregnancy, so I honestly don’t know if the boundaries for normal shift slightly. Nonetheless for me, I have a very high bmi ( almost obese) so I figured it can only be a good thing to exercise and eat healthier.