Newly pregnant and hypertensive episodes: WWYD?

[Anonymous]

For the past two years, my blood pressure has hovered at around 130/80. Recently I was very anxious and during a doctor's visit it shot up to 170/100. And then on another visit it went back down to 120/70. The doctor therefore did not wish to medicate me, because it was "just anixety". Now I'm newly pregnant. The problem is that I get frequently anxious, and every time I'm anxious, I feel my blood pressure might be really high! Anxiety meds I've tried in the past have not worked for me (they gave me panic attacks), so now I have nothing, and I wonder what to about my blood pressure.

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I would take up a meditation practice and do biofeedback plus CBT or DBT to learn tools to self regulate.

[Anonymous]

There is safe blood pressure medication during pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Yoga
Medication
Exercise
You need to figure out how not to get anxious

[Anonymous]

Tell ob about anxiety and you will be put on Labetalol

[Anonymous]

Get a bp cuff for home use so at least you will know if it is real hypertension or white coat hypertension.

[Anonymous]

Talk to your doctor about your blood pressure. Labetalol is safe during pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

You should also be taking your blood pressure at home several times a day.

[Anonymous]

I think regular daily exercise would help you, as well as breathing exercises, meditation, the Calm app, yoga, etc. You need to develop a “thing” you do when you get stressed.

[Anonymous]

I’d recommend seeing a reproductive psychiatrist. I had the same issue with anxiety meds and panic attacks and she immediately switched me to something that helped so much. Especially with your underlying anxiety, you may be more at risk for PPA so it will be good to have someone in your corner to support you through pregnancy and post partum. Other coping techniques could help too inconjunction.