What can you do about high BP once it's actually high?

[MamaGoblin]

IYSWIM? I'm asking for a friend, but with a personal interest myself, as we both had high BP during the latter parts of our pregnancies last time. Both of us ended up in hospital being induced. She two weeks early, me on my due date. I don't think either of us were ever told definitively that we had milk pre-eclampsia, although they were testing like mad for it.

Anyway, she is now pregnant again, has just hit 30 weeks and her bp is high already. Can she do anything positive at all to mitigate this or even bring it down a bit? I've suggested swimming and as much relaxation as she can fit in (not easy with a toddler) but what about diet? Anything else? I really understand her despair - both of us hated the downward spiral towards a medicalised birth last time, as much because of the stress and faffing that went on, as because we had something wrong with us.

Hoping someone has some good and hope-inspiring tips!

And that'll be 'mild pre-eclampsia', not Milk Pre-Eclampsia, whatever that is!

I don't think diet would make the blindest bit of difference once your bp is up. Erm...medication?

Im currently 24 weeks pregnant and been getting high BP readings since 18 weeks with this my second. I have an 18mth old DD.

I too had high Bp towards the end of my pregnancy. I was induced but not because of that, because i was 2 weeks overdue!

Im due to see a consultant next week and have been told that i may be put on medication to lower it.
I dont think theres much you can do really. Rest and try to avoid stressful situations ( not easy with a toddler!)
I have read that limiting salty foods can help but dont for sure.

I can totally understand her anxiety as I too am wondering what it means for the birth.

I was taken into hospital for bed rest from 32 weeks because of high BP, so I wouldn't have thought exercise was a very good idea!
I managed to get to 38 weeks before I was induced.

I don't think there's anything you can do about it once it is high apart from take the medication and try to relax as much as possible. I know it spikes after big meals so smaller snacks, more often seems sensible - but it's not going to change the upward trajectory. It also tends to be higher in the evening. Relaxation or meditation CDs can't do any harm. I think it is pretty much to do with your placenta so until you've given birth the best you can hope for is for the drugs to keep it stabilised and under control.

relax / bedrest.... not easy when its number 2 though.

stay hydrated and relaxed. Mild exercise can lower bp but obviously if you need to rest under medical advise REST even if it means you need to get a relative to come and look afte ryour first child.

Thanks for all the advice. She knows about what to do to avoid getting it, was just wondering if there was anything to be done once it had landed!

I hope it goes well for her - I can't see how on earth it's going to work if she has to be taken in early, what with her toddler, but I know she's also worried about going round the bend if stuck in hospital for weeks on end!

I dont think there is anything you can do other than take medication really. I was told that too much caffeine would raise blood pressure once and as a precaution cut it out for my third pregnancy. I did get a fewmore weeks into pregnancy than i had on my first two without problems but this could well have been a coincidence