Borderline blood pressure and pre eclampia advice.

[Grekkie9]

When is blood pressure a cause for concern? I'm 34 weeks, third baby.
I've had a mild to moderate headache for the past week that won't go and generally feeling rubbish. I went to a consultant appointment today where they took my blood pressure and they had a few high readings, it finally came down and settled on 147/88 (it's normally around 120/70). The consultant wasn't concerned as I've not had any blood pressure/pre eclampia problems in my other pregnancies and said he'll re check in 2 weeks, I didn't question it but I've come away feeling a bit concerned just because I feel quite unwell. I thought over 140 is on the high side? Is that a normal blood pressure reading? And is it true you can't get pre e if you've not had it in other pregnancies? thanks in advance!

2 weeks is far too long, ring maternity triage and explain the headache and recent BP, ask for a pre eclampsia screen (sFlt-1/PlGF ratio) blood test if it's not volunteered as part of your assessment.

I wouldn’t leave this, agree with pp call mat triage and say you’re not comfortable

Did they not check your urine for protein as well. How are your ankles any water around them. Is there a reason you are seeing a consultant not a midwife.

Your BP may be high because you are stressed but it's definitely on the high side and well up if it's usually 120/70.

Absolutely get this checked especially with headaches
I had pre eclampsia with my daughter and it can develop quickly
wishing you all the best

Thanks all..
I've just checked my badger notes and the consultant has noted he's only concerned if my BP goes over 150/100 as there was no protein in my urine which makes sense I guess?
My midwife is around tomorrow so I might pop and see her in the morning and get her to do blood pressure again and go from there.

Thanks for responding.
Did you have any symptoms beforehand like headaches?

I wouldn't be happy with that at all. I have chronic hypertension and am medicated (and not pregnant!) and that would be enough for my GP to change my meds up.

I actually was treated for pre-eclampsia in my first pregnancy, but no protein in my urine. The blood pressure and headaches were enough for them to take it seriously, and I was actually induced after 24 hours monitoring (as I was 38 weeks so considered term anyway).

I'm sorry you ended up with pre e! I hope you and baby were ok.
Can I ask how bad your headaches were? I've been told pre eclampsia headaches are awful and they don't go away. Mine haven't been that bad, it's just I've had them for almost a week and paracetamol doesn't seem to get rid of them.

I had no symptoms with my pre eclampsia, except for swollen feet/ankles which I didnt realise was symptom, it was picked up via urine tests and bp. I ended up being tested every couple of days, then tested at hospital and admitted ( I wasnt expecting that, didnt have bag packed) and was on ward for 2 weeks, 4 hourly bp checks then induced.

A headache that doesnt respond to paracetamol is a classic preeclampsia headache. Please dont wait until the morning - go to triage tonight and ask someone to check you again. I had high BP in my first pregnancy and preeclampsia in my second - you do not want to mess around. I'd had high BP for a couple of weeks and was on 18 diferent tablets each day to (try and) control it.The protein in the urine was actually the last sign for me - all my blood results were looking dreadful by that point.

I would demand further testing. I had multiple symptoms of pre-eclampsia. Headaches, upper right abdominal pain, visual disturbances, swollen ankles, and generally feeling like shit. I went to triage multiple times and was fobbed off as I didn't have protein in my urine and my blood pressure was stable. When I went for a routine check at 36 weeks, my BP had rocketed to 220/110. I was induced practically straight away. I then developed HELLP syndrome and AFLP. I was very very unwell. I was in high dependency and it ended up in an emergency c-section as I was showing signs of going into eclampsia. It could have all been avoided if they had taken me seriously and just done a blood test when I went to them multiple times with my symptoms.

I don't want to scare you, but pre-eclampsia is serious and you should demand further testing.

Unfortunately “demanding” anything is not how it works.
OP what you can do is have a reasonable conversation with the midwives / doctors and explain why you are concerned and ask if it is a possibility to have further investigations.

Yes but I expressed my concerns multiple times and asked for further testing, which they completely ignored. Me and my baby could have died. If I was ever in that situation again where my concerns were being ignored, I would be demanding further testing.

Demand how, exactly?
You cannot ask for a second opinion, escalate your concerns, but simply stamping your feel and “demanding” is not appropriate.

That's very strange, at my consultant appointment at 34 weeks my blood pressure was 134/90 and they wanted to start me on blood pressure medication there and then! I refused as when I do it at home it's always low so I know it's just a bit of white coat syndrome. Can you monitor yours at home? I'm checking daily now I'm 36 weeks and it's consistently fine at home. (Just done it and it's 122/70). I know when I go for my midwife appointment tomorrow it will be up again though! 🙈

Oh also on the other pregnancies thing, is this pregnancy the same dad as the others? If so then yes the risk is very low if you haven't had it before. I've got 3 children to my ex and never had it but this baby is a different dad so I'm actually at an increased risk which is why they're monitoring me so carefully

Not appropriate? If mine and my baby's life was in danger of course it would be appropriate, especially if I had been through it before. I could have put in a complaint due to their negligence but I didn't as I was so traumatised, It took a long time before I could even think about the birth of my first child. Of course you can ask for a second opinion, people do that all the time. I didn't mean demanding literally by "stamping my feet" like a child, but expressing my concerns and asking them to do a blood test to ease my worries and confirm there was no danger in ignoring clear symptoms. I think in that circumstance they would do further testing. They drum it in to you to get checked out if you experience any of those symptoms, why should they just ignore them when you do go and get checked out?

As I said before, the only "testing" they did for me was check my BP and my urine, which were clear. Yet I had every other symptom and nearly died. So asking for further testing CAN be appropriate.

Yeah, if i thought mine or my babies life was in danger, I'd take the risk of not being appropriate and damn well stamp my feet if I wanted to.

Couldn’t agree more, if mine and my baby’s health is potentially at risk I would most definitely be demanding . @Grekkie9 I did have other symptoms, I felt really unwell abit like flu symptoms and I had reduced movements
also developed HELPP and was extremely unwell.
please do get checked