Any ideas on keeping Blood pressure down?

[addictedtoharibo]

Last pregnancy I had normal blood pressure until 35 weeks when it decided to play up and go all over the place - sometimes normal and sometimes up to 150/100 meaning I was in and out of hospital like a yo yo.

Is there anything I can do to reduce the chances of this happening again or will it just happen if its going to? I really want a home birth for loads of reasons not least awful hospital experience last time and the fact established labour was only 1.5 hours long and the hospital is at least 30 minutes away (and much longer in holiday traffic - end of august baby traffic nightmare).

Will try pretty much anything - although know worrying about this is not going to help things!

Thanks
xx

I've had high BP problems (similar to yours by the sounds of it) during this pregnancy. I asked about it on my antenatal thread and someone kindly recommended lots of rest and baths with lavender, ylang ylang and marjoram essential oils. Put a couple of drops of each in a cup of full fat milk and pour into a warm bath just before you get in. I haven't tried it yet but it sounds worth doing, if only for the relaxation

I've also started going to antenatal appointments early so I can have some time to sit and relax before they take my BP. This seems to help.

Just said on TV that eating oats is good for reducing bp. No idea how long term a plan this is!

Bikerunski - oats? Oh no!! Thats not good. I got it into my head when breastfeeding DS that oats are good for breastmilk production (they are) but I interpreted oats as full fat butter flapjacks and put on two stone in the 6 weeks after birth!

Am since on the oats wagon and can not be tempted off lol.

Heffagooday - thanks for tip. I have noticed if I am calm and relaxed I can bring my bp down a bit - so early appointments, getting there before etc I will try and do.

Thanks both xx

Hypnotherapy CDs - seriously. I had PET last time and had high blood pressure from about 20 weeks, this time I've been doing 30 minutes natal hypnotherapy and I'm so chilled out and my blood pressure is completely normal.

WMC, which particular CD, if you don't mind my asking?

hoping to keep it in check myself this time round.

Well I'm doing the natal hypnotherapy VBAC CDs - set of 2 - first one is letting go of the first birth, the second is preparing for the next one. But there is a generic one. Someone was selling one on the for sale boards the other day here actually.

i'm cruising through a supply of Tension Tamer tea my mother brought me when last they were here.

i think i've got enough to last till they're here again next month, but would give a CD a go definitely.

i had high BP through all my pregnanies - nothing I did make any difference. It did mean I didn't get my homebirth though , so fingers crossed you will.

You know BP monitoring is completely optional in pregnancy care though - much as you can refuse to be weighed (I always refuse the scales - makes you feel like a heifer at the cattle market). They can't refuse you a homebirth on the basis of not having information - or indeed having high BP, they can say it's a bad idea but if you insist they do have to attend.

I had high bp with both of mine too, so i know what you are going through. I had refloxology weekly towards the end which was fantasttically relaxing.

Rest, rest, and more rest. Easier said than done if you have any other dcs, I know.

I had high bp in both pregnancies, but particularly in the last one (from about 28 weeks onwards). MW kept telling me to rest, and I ignored her, until the point where she said if I didn't she'd admit me to hospital (think that was at 36 weeks).

From then on I did the absolute minimum at home, stopped walking unless absolutely necessary, stopped vacuuming, stopped lifting or carrying ds1, all on her advice, and bp came right down to acceptable levels.

I had high bp in my last preg so was hospitalised for the last month before the birth. I kinda agree with cazzybabes, that nothing I did made a difference. In saying that, at the start, I found it hard to relax and not think of the million and one things that needed to be done. Try and tune out the brain by watching lots of jeremy klye and reading chick lit - the more you worry about your bp, the higher it will get. Rest as much as poss. Good luck x

drink plenty of water.

i had pre-eclampsia in my first pregnancy,and high BP in the next 3(all fromabout 34 weeks) and did the in and out of hospital thing.

one MW mentioned something about high BP beinf linked to dehydration when i was execting ds2 but i didnt really take any notice.however,i drank loads more water when pregnant with dc5 and my BP never went anywhere near as high as with the others.

Lack of sleep raises blood pressure.

I agree with LeoniD. A bigger cuff is needed if you are a bigger lady!!! Hospitals will have one but you have to ask for it and be politely insistant!!!

I had high BP with DD1 from 35 weeks and spent 5 weeks in hosp on and off. Was worried about same thing happening a 2nd time. Got an excellent GP and they sent me for 24 BP monitoring by the hospital and diagnosed white coat syndrome. Basically a fear of having my BP done!!!!

So with DD2 got a home BP kit and kept meticulous records. Midwife happy to take my home readings within reason and I only spent 1 night in hospital before having her at 41 weeks.

Speak with a really understanding GP they may do everything they can to help you.