Can anyone share hypertension stories around 3rd trimester?

[Orlahoping]

I'm 35+3 with high BP since 21 weeks (probably pre-existing but never diagnosed). Meds have mostly kept it below 140/90, but I have spiked to 170/100 ish a few times and been kept in while they adjust my meds. Currently an occasional trace of protein but no Pre-eclampsia signs or symptoms otherwise.

Baby doing well and growing on 82nd percentile at 32 week scan.

I've not got a clear picture of how things could pan out for delivery. I'm tentatively booked in for an induction when I get to 38 weeks. Apparently if I do develop PE it will be 37 weeks. I am on twice weekly BP checks and blood tests at MAU now. I have severe health anxiety so try not to check my BP at home more than every other day.

I know what happens from now until delivery isn't too predictable and will be different for everyone, but I would appreciate hearing some stories from anyone further along right now.

Hi OP,
I'm not sure how much this will help you but didn't want to read and run. In my first pregnancy I had borderline high blood pressure, every appointment they would take my BP around three times and wait for it to come down to 'OK' levels. It always did until I got to 40 weeks, and I was very swollen also but no protein in my urine, headaches etc. They then started to send me to triage for blood tests and urine checks etc at the bigger hospital, that happened for three days in a row until I went into labour, they tested me again and said all was fine so I was allowed to birth naturally. I'm currently pregnant with my second and they have put me on aspirin this time to prevent PE, but nothing else has come of it.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you 💗

Hi I had preeclampsia which signs started at 20 weeks, protein in urine at 28 weeks . Had my dds at just under 32 weeks and they are fine (24 years later!). I understand it’s hard with health anxiety but if you want to check your blood pressure at home just do it. Also I would get some urine dipsticks from the chemist so you can check for protein in your urine once a day. That’s what my consultant said I would have to do with future pregnancies. If you do that along with the hospital checks you’ll pick up you have developed quickly and then can go to the hospital. Good luck with it all 💐

Thanks for sharing your experience. I've been on aspirin since the beginning of this pregnancy, so hopefully that will work in my favour.

Thanks. Glad all was well with your DDs.

I do have urine dipsticks at home, so will start checking. I'll also try to do a daily BP check, just so I can catch it early (only issue is it can be hard to know what is anxiety and what is real, but I guess I can't really risk it at this stage)

I had it in all 3 pregnancies and just basically limped on like you’re doing with 2-3 weekly checks at the day assessment unit or with the midwife or GP. First time round I did have protein in the in the urine and they said it was pre eclampsia but it never really developed.

with her I had a couple of antenatal hospital admissions when the BP peaked and they thought they might have to deliver early but the meds managed to bring it under control.

my babies were all on the small side, particularly the first one but they picked this up on a scan and induced me at 39 wks (but actually she came naturally day before induction). She was 5.5lbs at full term but was fine as is a lovely 16yo now.

I needed BP meds for a few weeks after delivery until it settled.

With the others just had loads of monitoring.

never went to 40 weeks with any of them, all came naturally 38-39 wks and later stages of labour were fast with each which apparently can be a thing with high BP.

epidural can lower BP so you might be encouraged to have one if you deliver naturally

Thanks @User364837. I think limping on is what I need to do. I had already heard that about labours potentially being faster with high BP. I guess they monitor you super regularly once you are in labour?