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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

5 weeks pregnant midwife has scared the life out of me

7 replies

fernie3 · 04/12/2009 15:46

I already have three children the youngest is only 9 months and I have found myself pregnant again. With my first I had high blood pressure, my second preeclampsia and was induced at 36 weeks the third preeclampsia induced at 37 weeks.

I had my first midwife appointment today and she did my blood pressure which was 158/80. I DO get higher readings at the surgery than i do at home I always have. While she was doing it she was making faces and saying "oh dear", which I am sure didnt help.

The funny thing is that I think this is probably the lowest my blood pressure has been at a first apppointment (I cannot remember the other two but with my second I remember the bottom number was 95 at 6 weeks!).

Anyway I also had a trace of protein, which I am assuming is because I have not been drinking much today as I have been runnning around busy (I had dry lips etc by that point so ran to buy a drink straught after!).

When i read it back I am thinking that this appointment wasnt too bad. The top number goes up very easily when I am anxious and I am always anxious at the doctors surgery, the bottom numebr was 80 which I know isnt too bad especially as my blood pressure is normally like that.

BUT the midwife has scared the life out of me and has said she will be coming every week until the baby is born (August!) or everyday if it goes up any higher. She was also talking about premature baby which is odd because all three of my children so far have been bprn after 35/36 weeks perfectly fine and come straight home with me.

Please someone reassure me here! I feel like crying! I was so excited before and now I feel like I am doomed and like I have put my life in danger by choosing to continue this pregnancy (which is what the midwife obviously though).

thanks

OP posts:
RnB · 04/12/2009 15:50

you poor thing

I think she is only looking after your best interests here though, isn't she? Especially given your history.

My mum had 'white coat syndrome' where her blood pressure raises in the surgery too.

Really hope all is ok. And Congratulations!!

StealthPolarBear · 04/12/2009 15:51

congratulations on your pregnancy
Sorry, but i don't think anyone can or should be reassuring you - on the whoile we're not midwives, and we don't know you or your history. Did you ask why she was so worried? Sounds like she didn't explain herself well! Can you ask at your next appointment to go through it?
i assume the worry is eclampsia - do symptoms even show up this early?
is she the same MW as you saw last time?

fernie3 · 04/12/2009 15:58

hi she is a new midwife. symptoms of pre eclampsia cannot show up this early. I dont know why she was so worried although I have had pre eclampsia in my previous pregnancies I have be FINE up until about 35 weeks so I cant see why she was so worried. Also I have anxiety attacks at the doctors which I told her!. I have had much much higher readings than that there (as in around 160/115) but had a 24 hour monitor on at home twice which has shown totally normal blood pressures when I actually relax a bit!.

I think i will just have to tr and forget about it - at least until tuesday which is when I have to have my blood pressure checked again!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 04/12/2009 16:00

get her to go through it with you - she may assume you had the same treatment last time so know it all!
It sounds as though if there are risks they will be well managed

threeplusone · 04/12/2009 16:28

fernie.. will the mw not so home visits to do the BP checks if you explain everything to her....

heth1980 · 04/12/2009 17:06

Just wanted to add that the bottom number on my bp has been 95 each time I've had it taken with this pregnancy (now 27 weeks). The midwife didn't seem unduly concerned and I don't have to have any extra monitoring or anything.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 04/12/2009 17:09

Sounds like the midwife was being cautious as high BP, pre-eclampsia and prem deliveries are all serious.

Agree that you should ask her to explain her thinking to you and maybe offer to have a 24hr BP monitor again to put her mind at rest.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and hope everything goes smoothly.

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