Borderline hypertension at 25 weeks, feeling down about it

[rosemarycait96]

Hey,
I had my 25 week midwife appointment today and my BP registered as 138/88, which seemed to concern the midwife a bit so she took it again and it was 140/88 then 142/88 (probably because I was stressed about the first reading!) My urine was fine thankfully and no other worrying symptoms like swelling or headaches.

My BP at my last appointment (15 weeks) was 112/75 so this is a pretty big jump since then. I measured my BP at the GP surgery at 22 weeks out of curiosity and it was 133/84 so I suppose it's been climbing for a few weeks.

Not really what I'd wanted or expected of course, and I'm feeling so down about it. The midwife referred me to the consultants for another check/monitor in 48 hours' time and I'm so hoping it's lower by then, although I doubt it.

Just keep on asking myself, does this mean I might well develop pre-eclampsia? Will it just keep going up or can it just even out? I was hell-bent on a natural unmedicated birth in the birth centre, but I'm worried I'll end up induced early if it keeps going up.

Yes i know I'm a worrier and I'm terrible at coping with anything unexpected, but I guess I just want some reassurance or sympathy! Anyone else experienced this? How did things develop and how did you deal with it? <3

I had this and I was monitored then put on pills. The pills helped for a bit then it got worse and I was diagnosed with pre eclampsia. I was induced at 37+3 and it was a bit of a frantic birth due to my skyrocketing blood pressure but ultimately baby and I are fine. It doesn't mean you'll definitely have it though. The main thing is you're being monitored and hopefully they'll be able to prevent the pre eclampsia.

I had this, it was a total fucking nightmare as each check up they would send me to hospital for checking and I'd have to spend hours upon hours on the matrrnity ward. The community midwives were always really concerned but the ones at the hospital didn't seem at all phased in the slightest by my high bp. I eventually found suitable meds and mg that kept it stable and i was induced. I never developed eclampsia. However 6 years later, I still have chronic hypertension and I'm on life long meds.

Never set your mind on a certain birth experience, because pregnancy and birth is so unpredictable. Keep an open mind

Look into the Brewers diet - focus is on enough calories, high protein and salt. It specifically helps reduce risk of pre-eclampsia. It can be managed - much better to try that approach than to be forced into induction.

Thanks all, looks like things could go either way at this point, suppose I'll know more when I go in for another check tomorrow.

I know I shouldn't be dead set on a particular kind of birth, but I was really excited for my first experience giving birth and couldn't wait, now I'm just apprehensive since it may well go the complete opposite way to what I'd hoped for.

At the moment my husband is determined to make sure I relax and put my feet up so that's what I'm doing (not hard since I have PGP as well, joy of joys).

I had moderate gestational hypertension with both of my pregnancies (140s/90s) - developed around 34 weeks. Didn't go on to develop pre-eclampsia but did have obstetric cholestasis with my second (and probably the first).

Was induced both times (at 39+1 and 37+1) and honestly both times it was fine. I had forceps with my first in the end, but that was due to baby's position and a super fast natural delivery with my second (30 mins in active labour! Barely got to the delivery room). Both times my high blood pressure went away relatively soon after birth (6 weeks or so). I was on labetalol and enalapril with no side effects.

As PP said, the worst thing is the constant monitoring -- I felt like I lived at the MAU in the final weeks of both pregnancies!

I’m facing similar at the moment.

I’m 37+6 and my BP has always been around 110/65. Today my midwife took a reading of 138/86. She measured it twice as she thought I had got myself all worked up, she wasn’t too concerned. There was no protein in urine.

I do have slight swelling of hands and feet but i’m putting that down to being extremely pregnant (I’m huge and baby is measuring gigantic!). Hopefully getting a c-section next week at 39weeks.

I feel like I need to be worried and let someone know, even though my midwife isn’t that worried and hasn’t asked for it to be reviewed. Just because it is a huge jump from my normal baseline BP.

High BP can either be pregnancy induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia. You can’t prevent it turning into PET, although taking aspirin from the start of the pregnancy under the advice of a consultant has been thought to reduce the risk.
fingers crossed for you that it was a one from.
As above, the best thing you can do is go with the flow and keep and open mind about the birth, otherwise it leads to disappointment.
good luck

I am 19 weeks but at my first midwife appointment, I was prescribed aspirin because my BMI is 36 and I am at risk of developing high blood pressure. My blood pressure has so far been normal but they're keeping a close eye on me too.

Fingers crossed all will be OK for you!

@rosemarycait96 Hypertension definitely doesn't have to mean you will get pre-eclampsia, please don't worry and it's a good thing they have caught it! I have hypertension (have had this for years prior to getting pregnant) and am on meds that are safe for baby and 150mg aspirin throughout the pregnancy (I'm 18+3). Hopefully it will just mean some extra obs on you, possibly some meds but otherwise a healthy normal pregnancy 😊

Thanks everyone for being so kind, and thank you for sharing your experiences :) I went up to the hospital this morning and got checked again - it's all normal! 126/72. Bang on what I usually get.

The midwife theorised that I was stressed on Tuesday, didn't recognise the midwife taking my BP (different from my usual lady), and because I'd come on the bus and walked to the centre, I was a bit flustered on arrival which might have affected the results. I can believe that to be honest, I'm very susceptible to stress and have a bit of 'white coat syndrome'.

Today, my husband drove me to the unit and accompanied me inside, and we made sure to arrive early and take the lifts instead of the stairs and gave me plenty of time to decompress before going in.

Anyway, I've been told to try to manage my stress levels better and keep appointments etc and if it goes borderline again I'll be monitored more regularly. Otherwise nothing to worry about for now. Very relieved.

I had this from 11 weeks, absolute ball ache but was put on labetalol twice daily then increased to 3 then eventually 4 times. BP was stable from around 20 weeks right to delivery and didn't affect any other part of my pregnancy. Just meant I had more midwife checks which I didn't mind as I loved hearing baby heartbeat and loved my midwife too! I was consultant led anyway and my consultant couldn't have been less bothered once I was on the tablets 🤣🤣

I needed a semi - elective caesarean for completely unrelated reasons and it didn't affect that, but was also told that even if I had a normal labour, it wouldn't have changed my care so try not to worry too much. It's not the end of the world.

Did you have to monitor your BP at home? I had a high reading at 17+1 at rhe midwife and she wanted to send me to triage, however I had had a really stressful morning before getting to the midwife so it was put down to that, however I was told I would be put under a consultant for it and sent an app to monitor it at home.

I did have high blood pressure in both my previous pregnancies however later on. It's making me extremely anxious as worrier the readings at home will be high.

Hi, I did monitor mine at home but only because my Mum is a nurse so she checked it every few days. I didn't have to. It was always lower at home!

Thank you. My mum is a nurse so I have a machine she has given me at home, however unfortunately she doesn't live near. I think I am going to be asked to monitor mine at home and report it on an app.