High blood pressure early pregnancy

[Sapphire387]

I've had problems with my blood pressure being borderline / too high for years, really.

At my booking appointment yesterday, it was so high that they sent me to get checked in A&E downstairs (about 150/100). I am about 7-8 weeks pregnant.

The A&E doctor did a few tests, said they couldn't see any signs of blood pressure damage and said BP was a bit too high but not dangerously so. They have written to my GP with a recommendation for a 24h blood pressure monitor and have told me to call GP to check this has been received. I do have extreme health anxiety and my blood pressure does go up, I think, in medical settings. He did say that they are likely to want to start blood pressure medication.

Has anyone got any experience? And also any tips for anything I can do to lower my blood pressure naturally? I have been told to reduce salt, increase exercise a bit and also the midwife recommended beetroot juice. I am a little overweight, BMI 26 and I will try to gently lose some / not gain much during pregnancy.

I was the same as you, my blood pressure could be up a bit sometimes and it was during midwife appointments but they didn't seem overly concerned. I ended up with pre eclampsia so actually they should have been concerned! So definitely make sure it's kept an eye on. Do you have your own BP monitor? Might be worth getting one.

Thanks @Cakecakecheese yeah I will definitely go for the 24 hour monitor as they suggested. I have had pre-eclampsia in my two previous pregnancies, just didn't expect the blood pressure thing to start so early. So yes, will definitely make sure it's kept an eye on, thank you!