Pre-existing high blood pressure

[SW100]

My blood pressure is usually around the high end of normal. I’ve previously had higher blood pressure taking the pill but that was solved by switching to the mini pill. At my booking appointment it was 140/100 so was referred to a consultant and have now been put on labetalol and aspirin. I’ve been booked in for growth scans later on and few other tests and scans to check my uterine arteries and my kidneys.

I just wanted wondering what other people’s experiences have been with pre existing blood pressure issues, how often did you see the consultant and did you experience any complications later or develop preeclampsia?

I'm 20 weeks with chronic hypertension, I have had one phonecall with the consultant and have to go to the hospital every week to have my blood pressure and urine done (pain in the arse). My BP seems well controlled on labetalol though so nothing further has come of it yet.

@SW100 I am on a TTC journey with high BP as well. I have nothing to add but wish you all the best with your appointments. Please keep us posted as there isn't much on here about this xx

@BebeBelle I’ve been struggling to find info too. Everything I read about BP is related to women who develop it late in pregnancy. I guess it’s generally unusual for younger women to have BP issues anyway outside pregnancy. For me it just seems to be genetic.

I seem to have a very thorough consultant. I’ve been for a renal scan and that was all good. I’ve also had my uterine arteries scanned at 16 weeks, which even the sonographer thought was unusual to do so early. That showed high resistance but apparently that can change later on, which is why it’s not usually checked so early, and just confirms I need to be taking aspirin.

How far along are you both?
I'm another with bad genes and extensive family history but I haven't had any scans from obstetrics, only the routine ones from the hypertension clinic.

I’m 17 weeks now. I do think my consultant is being very thorough and I haven’t come across anyone else who has had so many tests. I saw her at 14 weeks after being referred at my booking appointment and she put everything else in place.

@SW100 - congratulations on the 17 weeks. That sounds amazing how your doc has been so supportive. @PineappleSunI am still TTC so not there yet. It's good to hear your journey though, it gives me so much hope. I had a one of the normal scan (over the belly one) and a trans vaginal one. That one said all was ok except for fibroids. I was then bleeding heavily for almost two months. It was such a pain cause you could not TTC properly.

Were you on any BP meds before? I was on Amlodipine and I have done so much to try and come off it but nothing. I had cardiology appointments to look at why it was so high but they could not find anything except either pain i was going through with coil and heavy periods or genetics.
I am a bit symptom spotting this cycle and i hope it will be one with good news for me. I got a BFN over the weekend so i will wait till the weekend again. AF is still not here.

Both your journeys gives me so much hope. Thank you ladies. I will keep following your updates

Hi ladies, I hope you are well. I am getting notifications that there has been post on this thread but for some reason I am not seeing them. Do you know why that is?

@BebeBelle I haven’t seen any updates since your last post.

I wasn’t on any medication beforehand as my BP has always been borderline high so not needed medicating.

Good luck with your journey and I will keep you updated

I have chronic high blood pressure and previous to pregnancy, my blood pressure was well controlled by Lisinopril. I switched to Methyldopa during pregnancy as it is one of the safe BP drugs to use when pregnant which kept my BP at a good level throughout (though I wasn't fond of the side effects of dry mouth and insomniacs!). I saw the consultant quite frequently (but also had GD so that may have been a factor) and had my BP checked at every appointment. No pre-eclampsia or issues with delivery. Dropped the Methyldopa the day after birth and now back onto Lisinopril. No issues and BP back to normal.

And yes, I was also on aspirin from 8 weeks.

Also, congratulations on the pregnancy!

@Waitwhat23 glad to hear you didn’t have any complications, that certainly gives me some hope!

Forgot to mention that I had an elective c-section but the consultants were a bit sniffy about this and were quite keen for me to do it vaginally so I don't think the BP would have been an issue in that respect.

An update for those with similar problems.

My blood pressure remained stable for most of my pregnancy. I had growth scans every 4 weeks and consultant appointments. Up to 36 weeks my growth scans showed a baby growing around 50th%. My blood pressure started climbing around that time but remained within the range they’re happy with. At 38+5 my home readings shot up to around 150/100 so I went in to be assessed, they decided it was best to start the induction process and my tiny boy was born 2 days later via c-section measuring on the 2nd%!

Although my blood pressure was high I had no other signs of preeclampsia. Two weeks post birth my blood pressure is still high and I am on a lot of medication that I will hopefully be able to start reducing soon.