quite high blood pressure - is there anything I can do about it?

[olivo]

went for a check today and mw mentioned that my blood pressure is quite high, although it is a bit lower today than it has been at previous appts. is there anything much i can do about it? I really dont want it to become a problem (obviously!)

Did they check your urine for protein aswell?

I was given medication (and had to stay in hospital for a week before they induced me). No...I don't think there is anything you can do.

I had nothing else wrong just very high BP.

My sister had an emergency c-section at 33 weeks because her BP was too high. She was given medication to try and bring it down but it only worked a little bit. He's a healthy little 2 year old. They won't let it go above a certain amount as it's dangerous. The best you can do is rest.

yes, they did check my urine, it was fine. i'm only 16 weeks so was quite surprised. I have been trying to take it eas ywhen i can but my job can be quite stressful and i have add aged 2 to run around after!

Hello, I am not a medical expert at all but I had this in my first pg and ended up on medication. Unfortunately from what I was told, there's not much you can do. Rest will improve it for as long as you are lying down and it can't hurt to put your feet up but won't do anything long-term.

Depending on what's causing the high bp you may find avoiding excess salt helps a bit but don't cut it down drastically as that is not a good idea in pregnancy - just eat healthily (as I'm sure you woudl anyway).

FWIW although I ended up on meds I had an otherwise perfectly healthy pg, a problem-free labour and a very healthy baby boy so it doesn't necessarily mean doom and gloom. And it didn't recur in my second pregnancy.

Just make sure they keep a close eye on your urine for protein - they may want to perform extra scans and blood tests too.

My sister was signed off sick at 22 weeks, she went back after a couple of months and was signed off again. She didn't have pre eclampsia, she has fibroids that were being pushed into her kidneys and raising her blood pressure. IIRC, the highest was 190 over something.

All you can do is rest. Take time off work if you need to, if they give you medication then take it.

My BP has been high since booking in at 7weeks. It's always around 140/90 give or take. They haven't given me any meds as yet but i have to go to practice nurse every 2 weeks to keep an eye on it. No other probs though. I'm 22weeks tomorrow. I had high BP all through my last pg too and again had no meds.

thank you, i will definitely get them to keep an eye on it, and now i am being sick less, i will sort out my diet.

Maybe yours is naturally quite high. If it was high when you were booked in and high before then this could just be you IYSWIM. For it to go slightly higher probably wouldn't indicate that there's a problem so they will probably just monitor you. Do talk to them if you are worried

I have naturally high BP, but this was thought to be a contributing factor to both my dcs being IUGR, so they may want to monitor you for that reason too. And I did end up with pre-eclampsia in my second pregnancy. Spent time in hospital on and off during both pregnancies, was induced slightly early, but both children fine in the end, though quite small.

Try to rest as much as you can.

I had high blood pressure with all my three pregnancies. I was monitored carefully with numbers 1 and 2 and had some meds to bring it down. Was signed off work at 22 weeks with DD1.

I worked on looking after myself as much as possible - lots of rest and cut down on salt. (Difficult when you have pregnancy cravings for cheese sandwiches).

Bought myself a home blood pressure monitor to keep an eye on it.

Everything fine with all three pregnancies, but still on meds (blood pressure 190 / 140 without meds and 130 / 90 with meds)

Olivo - it is possible that your blood pressure goes up when you go to your MW appointments. I always get comments about this, although my BP is actually around 130/70 (which is what it was measured at at booking). Due to the 'thumping heart' I have when entering the doctors surgery it always is measured at around 150/77. It has been measured as high as 162/90 during my pregnancy - the MW measured it again half an hour later and it was 137/83 because by then I had relaxed a bit.

It even has a name, it's called 'white coat syndrome'

a high dose fish oil and calcium / magnesium / vit D combo tablets are often used to bring down BP nutritionally. Both are completely safe in pregnancy and actually incredibly beneficial.

I have a friend who had a CS with her 1st pregnancy due to pre-eclampia and is high risk with this her 2nd pg - she is doing the above and so far (32 wks) no probs at all, scheduled for VBAC.

Just a thought !!

Obviously diet as well - avoiding refined carbs and coffee etc, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and wholegrains... sensible stuff realy !

That's useful puffy - I will try that after pg. I would love to have 120/60 - type bp and that sounds like it is worth a go (bit late to worry in pg now!)

its never too late brettgirl - lots of bone growth & brain development in the 3rd trimester, so both supps brilliant for fetus too [amile]

sorry, just got back online. brettgirl, my gp mantioned whitecoat syndrome, its a possibilty. will ge them to do my bp last of all next time around. my bp is normally on the low side of normal so i think that's why i was surprised.thank you for all your advice everyone, i will give some of these ideas a try.

I was in hosp with high BP (160/110 the highest) for DD1 for 5 weeks give or take a day off for good behaviour!!
Towards the end of the 5 weeks a different MW said had I heard of white coat syndrome as it fluctuated if I knew they were coming to take my BP rather than if they surprised me and did it quickly.
Anyway I asked and was given a 24 hr BP monitor which showed I had white coat syndrome. Didn't help for rest of preg with DD1 as still had to stay in hosp due to protein!!
However with DD2 used a BP monitor at home and my MW was willing to take those as an indication as well as her own and I only ended up in hosp for 1 night not 5 weeks again.
Somes docs thought white coat was silly but others were very supportve.
As you are only 16 weeks it could be worth considering.