White coat syndrome

[Sheisfee]

Hiya, I have white coat syndrome, cptsd & generalised anxiety disorder… good mix!

Bp at home 99/58 pulse 80
bp at midwife 140/80 pulse 140

Im 35 weeks and due to go and see my midwife in a couple of hours and I just can’t relax. I had this when I was pregnant years ago and I think im traumatised by it as I was induced due to high bp but think it was just anxiety and I had a bad experience with induction.

Midwife knows all about my bp and im with perinatal mental health team but still I just can’t relax. Im so scared that my bp will be higher and I’ll have to be induced again - im not against induction but I just don’t want it to be because im ill and im so tired of having to explain my conditions to every medical person I meet.

Anyone else in this situation? Any tips?

Can you get her to do best of 3? Take your BP, then give you a few mins in between and take it twice more, take the best result? I have ptsd and white cost syndrome after a similar experience to you, I have my own midwife this time and she does this for me, and uses the manual one instead of the automatic as the auto one's noises triggers my panic hugely. I had to explain it to everyone in my second pregnancy and they never cared, it was soul destroying, stressful and traumatic in itself.

It is so stressful isn’t it? I’ve told people I have white coat syndrome and that my bp will be high to be me with ‘well that’s strange!’ - very helpful. I was on so many bp meds last time that I’m so glad I’ve gotten to 35 weeks without any but I’m terrified that meds are just around the corner and people will stop believe me again. That’s the ptsd though and I wish I had more of a hold on it. I’ll see what my midwife says about the 3 attempts - I do with that it’ll just raise with each one though!

Do you get the same with GP? I was able to use them for my BP readings. I did have my own monitor and one of the midwives would accept my readings.
Also, are you on aspirin? I was put on it in part due to previous PIH and got through my second fine.

@Bert2020 hey, I’m the same in any medical setting unfortunately and I am on aspirin. I do the odd reading at home but have been advised not too as they wouldn’t be able to accept the readings anyway. Midwife says that as long as my bp stays similar to the readings she’s been getting from me then she’s happy but I feel so much pressure now I’m later in pregnancy. It’s harder to stay calm as it’s all heading to the final stint which I’m excited about but also terrified of!