Gestational hypertension

[Laylaxo]

Hi everyone I recently got diagnosed with gestational hypertension at 26weeks. I’ve been having a rough time at work that pushed me over the edge with stress and anxiety and I am generally anxious as it seems to have been one thing after another this pregnancy including a cancer scare. But prior to pregnancy haven’t ever really experienced stress and anxiety.

I’ve been signed off work till the end of my pregnancy. But I just feel so stressed in general and quite lonely. I was wondering if anyone else who experienced this condition could share what it was like for them. How did you reduce stress? And in general share your experience.

Hi, I'm currently pregnant and I'm 23+5, I've been diagnosed with gestational hypertension, I'm on 200mg labetalol 3x a day and have to go to pregnancy assesment once a week for a blood pressure profile and my bloods taken. I've a history of preeclampsia in my first pregnancy which resulted in my son being delivered at 27 weeks, I had gestational hypertension during my second pregnancy and my daughter made it to 38 weeks before my waters went naturally, this time it's been picked up earlier hoping to go as long as possible and hoping it doesn't evolve into preeclampsia. Hope you're doing ok, are you being closely monitored?

@caitlinn Hi thanks for replying I'm glad you were able to get to 38 weeks last time the first time must've been so stressful! Im on the same amount of meds as you. I'm doing ok I'm just worried quite a bit which probably doesn't help. I am monitored weekly though and the team I'm with are excellent. Are you still working during this time?

No, I'm not currently working now, you'll have to let me know How your appointments go, I'm back in on Thursday, they're good where I am too in all honesty, hopefully we'll have nice straightforwardish pregnancies from here!

@caitlinn thank you. you too I in on Friday. I hope your pregnancy goes well too

Thank you, have the hospital given you a monitor to keep an eye on your blood pressure at home? Hope you're feeling well today

Hello, I was diagnosed with gestation hypertension at 34 weeks with my DD in 2020. I'm now pregnant again (20weeks) and being monitored in case the same happens again.

With DD I ended up with an induction at 39 weeks after being in and out of day assessment for blood pressure checks over the last weeks of pregnancy. At its highest, my BP was 160/110 I think. Having read some other threads on here of other people's experiences, that possibly isn't that high (though obviously not good) but it had been increasing steadily and the hospital kind of said enough is enough. They started me on labetalol once I was admitted to hospital, though I think I had done well to avoid it before then. I remained on the meds for a couple of weeks after the birth. The hospital recommended I go weekly to the doctors to get my blood pressure checked for the 6 weeks post partum, but my doctors surgery wouldn't see me past the first week due to COVID and just told me to monitor it at home.

If you can, I would strongly recommend getting your own blood pressure monitor if you don't have one already. Mine was £20 from boots (just their own brand one.) it was very reassuring to have and I felt less nervous taking the BP at home. This might help you to feel less stressed knowing you have a check on it yourself? My consultant is currently having me check mine once a week. I had it drummed into me last time that the reason it can be dangerous is because it doesn't give you any symptoms. If you have anything symptoms like headaches, flashing lights in your vision or swelling make sure you contact someone as those are the indicators for pre-eclampsia. (Sorry if you already know this!)

I totally get the isolating feeling, i had no idea it was a 'thing' until I got it, and I didn't meet any of the risk criteria for it. If you have any more questions please feel free. Xx

Hope everything is going well so far in your pregnancy!

Hey I have a monitor at home now. It found the same as th hospital my BP fluctuates massively so I'm on monitoring 2x per week now as they were concerned it fluctuates too much but they seem to have found the right dose. How are you getting on ? @caitlinn

Hey @rosie561

My highest has been 155. I had a similar pattern of it rising mine rose from 20 weeks. I'm currently 32 weeks atm Im feeling Irish at the moment. funnily I have the headache and vision problems when my BP goes over 145. But haven't had other markers for pre eclampsia. Im now being seen 2 times a week. My hospital see you every week till the six weeks If I remember correctly they also do babies 6 week check up.

How are you getting on so far in this pregnancy ?

@Laylaxo I've been admitted a few times due to low lying placenta and bleeding, so they've been keeping an eye on my blood pressure in hospital. It got really bad a few days ago, 166/97, they're going to do a medication review about it before I go home, possibly getting me to take labetalol 4x a day instead of the 3 currently, just over 26 weeks, hoping things get slightly easier, how are you getting on?

I started suffering with hypertension from week 36ish. It was high enough for my midwife to send me to triage but not high enough for them to worry or put me on meds. At this point it was 140/90something.
I was checked a week later and it was vaguely the same but wasnt sent back to hospital then at 38 weeks it went up to 160/90 something.
I went back to triage at this point and was basically told i had pre-eclampsia and i wouldnt be going home until baby was born. I had a trace of protein in my urine but no other stmptoms at all.
If anything, I actually felt ok.
Baby was born 9days ago after being induced.

I had been monitoring my BP at home on the advice if a midwife so knew when I should attend triage.
Nothing reduced my blood pressue though. When i was medicated on the ward it remained high, despite the use of 2 different drugs.
I think the best thing to do is listen to the medical staff and take on board their opinions.
I was adament that i didnt want to be hospitalised. But the risk to both baby and I were so big i would have been an idiot to have gone home.
Everyone is different though and hopefully medication will keep your BP controlled.
If you develop any symptoms, get to triage asap to be examined!

I had hypertension with DD1 and it was made worse by hospital appointments as I knew I'd be in for ages every time because I would panic and it would go even higher 🙈 I got to 39 weeks before they induced me and was on labetrol and nifedipine. Xx

Thanks for your responses ladies! @Flutterby8 How are you and baby doing now?

@caitlinn Oh thats still a long way to go I hope they manage to get your BP under control. I went for my check up this week and he's not grown as much as he should have he's still within normal but has massively fallen behind his pattern so far. I've got an appointment tomorrow if blood flow to him is ok then I will be allowed to go on a bit further till we do a grown scan a few days later. But they've told me if either of these appointments aren't as they should be then I will be induced. I'm hoping to get to the appointment on the 20th as thats 35weeks so not too early to be induced. But all my things are packed incase they say tomorrow is the day.

@Daisysandviolets You were good to get to 39weeks! How was everything after she was born did it return to normal quite quickly?

Mine went down within 4 weeks of giving birth xx