HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND JUST HAD POSITIVE PREGGERS TEST ARE THERE DRUGS TO HELP WITH BP???

[RTKangaMummy]

My best friend has high Blood Pressure and has just had a POSITIVE preggers test after IVF

Are there any drugs she can take?

Do you have any tips for trying to keep BP down?

She is 4.5 weeks preggers, ie tested 4 days ago.

Please help

TIA

Is she already on any BP meds, as some shouldn't be taken in preg (off top of my head ACE inhibitors ie anything that ends in --pril aren't good)? of course a lot of the other BP drugs, esp the older ones can be used safely.

she needs to see her GP this week, and prob be referred to a joint med/obs clinic soon.

reassure her, lots of women with pre-existing high BP have normal pregnancies and babies. they just might need a bit more medical intervention and care.

And congratulations to her!!Cass

yep, no problem. they'll take her off what she's on asap and get her onto the ancient and venerable beta-blocker labetalol. been around since the 20s, no damage to baby ever found.

Thanks

I don't think she is on any tablets atm

So I will suggest she goes to see GP to ask for labetalol

yes I tool labetalol from week 17 of pregnancy with no problems although I did have to be induced yuk yuk yuk at the end as my bp was starting to go up
mine was an ivf pregnancy she may find that once she stops all the hormonal support that her bp may settle

Am currently on labetalol and 28 weeks pregnant as have had high bp since pre-eclampsia with my ds1. I was referred at the very beginning to a consultant specialising in bp/heart stuff and have been seeing him monthly since. She could ask her GP for a referral? My bp is currently normal on a relatively low dose of labetalol so it can be managed very easily. The other thing they tell you is to watch your weight gain as it can cause further bp increases.

I was on both lebetalol and methyldopa when pregnant with DD- neither of which cause harm to the baby (and you can breastfeed with these too). However my BP was normal to start with so it was only when i developed pregnancy-induced-hypertension (PIH, often a precursor to pre-eclampsia) that I was put on these under close medical supervision (I'd had severe PE with baby #1).

If she already has high BP she should see her GP and discuss it asap, and like others have said ask to be put under consultant-led obstetric care at the hospital. Not to scare her but there is significant evidence that mothers with chronic hypertension are at a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia so she will require extra monitoring. (for more info on PE see: www.preeclampsia.org/about.asp)

Although there's no scientific evidence that relaxation techniques help some ladies swear that tai chi, yoga etc. (or even just daily walks) and meditation have helped control BP, and also lowering salt and cholesterol intake (although still maintaining a well balanced nutritionally rich diet).

Hope everything goes well for your friend! xx

Thanks guys

I have sent her an email with a link to this thread so she can read your advice & experiences