White coat hypertension

[anxiousannie465]

Hey all,

Does any one else suffer bad white coat hypertension?
I was admitted to hosp at 8 weeks with a high reading. Home 24 hour blood pressure monitor done which all came back fine.

However now my fear of being admitted again has led me to refuse having my blood pressure done at the midwife/hospital but I monitor it myself at home.

the midwives have however said to me today that I need it done by professionals.

it seems that they don’t want to accept my home readings but they are the most reliable they can get as even when admitted it still came out high at the hosp which they then sent me for the home 24 hour one.

Im now aware that at every appointment il be admitted to hosp again and I really don’t wNt that as I’m petrified of the places.

can anyone help at all or been in the same situation?

currently 25+4

thank you

At my booking appointment my BP was 140/100 so got referred to consultant. I do have a history of high BP taking the contraceptive pill and my usual readings are always the higher end of normal.

The consultant told me to take aspirin daily and put me on labetalol. Im told to take my blood pressure twice daily in the morning and evening as they know it’s always higher when they take it and that I have white coat hypertension. At each of my appointments they take my blood pressure which is always higher but they are happy with the readings I take at home, although it is really starting to creep up now I’m over 30 weeks.

I definitely wouldn’t be refusing to have my blood pressure taken. If you have a tendency to higher blood pressure then you are high risk for preeclampsia and that is not something you want to risk. I was worried about being admitted to hospital but now between the consultant, midwives and taking it at home it has become more routine.

OP you could be me!! In my first pregnancy I had ‘high’ blood pressure, BUT only when in the hospital. When my midwife came out to me at home I was fine. When they took it in hospital ( e.g. before a scan or a consultant app- so more stressful than a routine app with midwife) it shot up. So much so that one morning it was 130 something over 70 something with the midwife at home and something crazy like 170/100 at the hospital after a scary lecture about induction and risks. They kept telling me I couldn’t move the bottom number but I clearly could. When I started on the meds, it brought my BP down to under my booking blood pressure. I maintain I didn’t need it and just have white coat syndrome.
With second baby, cos I was aware of it I would get EVEN more stressed out about it cos I knew if it was high again I would be taken in, monitored, and started on meds which would affect my births choices. To cut a long story short, I ended up buying a BP machine and doing my own. I have to say that no one liked me doing this, but It gave me reassurance that I was fine. And I repeated that for the next two pregnancies. All that said, I did view doing my own BP as part of a wider health identity- in that I’m not overweight, very active and have never suffered from high BP. And I was very alert to the signs of pre eclampsia, to the point where if I got a tiny headache I’d do my BP and monitor just in case. It’s a tough call cos you want to do everything to look after yourself and the baby, but for me personally I deemed getting involved with having my BP done in a hospital setting was far more invasive/ damaging than me doing it at home.
It’s a massively personal decision, as I have to say the hospital ( 4 pregnancies in) have never, ever been ok with me self monitoring but over the years I’ve gained more confidence in my decision but everyone is different, everyone’s risks etc. So I think all I can do is send you a big hug and tell you that it is a rock and a hard place situation for sure. Best of luck with it all, whatever you decide to do. X

Please update how your pregnancy went. I suffer terrible from white coat, Im in the state of panic whent bp is taken with a heart rate of 150. I decided to refuse and monitor at home and finding a dr that understand. Im confident about my blood pressure becouse its actually 110/70 when relaxed and not panicking.

@Rainyday33 I’m not the op but did comment before. I seemed to have a different experience to the others on here. My midwives were really understanding, consultant and midwives were happy for me to monitor at home and when they did take it they would allow me plenty of time to relax and take it several times as it would go down each time they took it. I wound up with very high blood pressure at the end and got induced at 38+5 with a C-section at 39 weeks.

@Rainyday33

Hello,

I am the OP but this is a new account.

Other than the BP issue my pregnancy wasn't too bad. My midwives weren't understanding about my BP and caused me to panic more.
At 35 weeks I developed pre eclampsia and had to be induced.

My little one is nearly 2 now and we're TTC another.

But this time if I get preg I am taking my BP into my own hands as this issue made me pregnancy horrible and stressful.

Try to relax as much as possible and take readings to your appointments ❤️

The midwives have a duty of care but also you know your own body and you know your bp is fine at home. Just make sure if it does go up at home to let your midwife know asap. Good luck!!