Blood pressure slightly elevated in late pregnancy - any success stories?

[Anonymous]

I just went to my 34 week appointment and had a blood pressure reading of 130/80 (after a first reading of 135/85). Still waiting for urine test results, but my doctor was not particularly concerned. Said we'd keep an eye on it, but it was nothing to worry about as long as the numbers don't go too much higher.

I should probably just listen to my doctor and relax, but I can't help being a little concerned. My baseline pre-pregnancy blood pressure isn't exactly super-low -- usually low 120s over low 80s -- so these numbers are pretty comparable. I've been around 110/70 through most of this pregnancy. Has anyone else had BP readings creep into the "pre-hypertension" range and come out without a pre-eclampsia diagnosis? Can blood pressure meds help at all with this sort of thing?

[Anonymous]

did they try taking it while you were lying down?

[Anonymous]

I was 130-140/90's about 36 weeks. Cut down to half-time at work and did fine. Baby at term, actually a few days late, and no problems.

[Anonymous]

I think your urine results will give you more info. I had elevated bp readings that were addressed with bed rest and went to 39 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I had high readings in all 3 pregnancies (maxed out around 150/90 but typically a few points lower). They monitored me closely (never had any protein in urine) thru all 3 pregnancies. Induced at 37w b/c of BP with #1 (perfect, no NICU). #2 came spontaneously at 37w (perfect no NICU). #3 they stripped membranes at 39w b/c of BP to see if labor would start (it did), perfect baby no NICU. All vaginal no drug births. They put me on anti hypertensives after 3rd baby as pressure remained high & they were concerned. FWIW high BP totally runs in my family. As long as they are on top of it & you take it easy & are on the lookout for any symptoms you & baby should be fine. I had 24hr urine tests, non-stress tests, etc.

Drink a lot of water & try to rest on your left as often as you can. Take it easy, stay calm. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had high readings in all 3 pregnancies (maxed out around 150/90 but typically a few points lower). They monitored me closely (never had any protein in urine) thru all 3 pregnancies. Induced at 37w b/c of BP with #1 (perfect, no NICU). #2 came spontaneously at 37w (perfect no NICU). #3 they stripped membranes at 39w b/c of BP to see if labor would start (it did), perfect baby no NICU. All vaginal no drug births. They put me on anti hypertensives after 3rd baby as pressure remained high & they were concerned. FWIW high BP totally runs in my family. As long as they are on top of it & you take it easy & are on the lookout for any symptoms you & baby should be fine. I had 24hr urine tests, non-stress tests, etc.

Drink a lot of water & try to rest on your left as often as you can. Take it easy, stay calm. Good luck!

Lots of "perfect" babies end up in the NICU, PP. Please remember that there are women on this board, myself included, who've had babies end up in the NICU for all sorts of health issues, not imperfection issues - whatever those are.

[Anonymous]

I developed severe pre-e, but I agree with the pp that your urine test (and a pre-e blood panel) will give a lot more information. It's my understanding that PIH can often be well controlled with BP meds, and some women get pre-e, but it progresses very slowly.

[Anonymous]

OP, I had a "pre" pre-e scare in my 36th week. Blood pressure had been about 117/70s the whole pregnancy, and then in one week shot up to 120s/80s and I gained 5 lbs. OB said my ankles were puffy too (I take her word for it). Anyway, they put me on bed rest until my next scheduled appointment and it all resolved itself. I delivered a few days before my due date, no pre-e or other complications.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:did they try taking it while you were lying down?

What's the point of that? You shouldn't be doing tricks to get a lower reading if it mask what's going on under ordinary circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Same thing happened to me. The slightly elevated blood pressure started in the third trimester. The urine tests were fine. I was induced at 40 weeks. Until then, I had to measure my blood pressure twice a day and report any significant changes. This is in addition to the weekly check-in with my Ob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:did they try taking it while you were lying down?

What's the point of that? You shouldn't be doing tricks to get a lower reading if it mask what's going on under ordinary circumstances.

Have you dealt with this? New poster here. Second pregnancy with these types of elevations. I have white coat hypertension and with my first I didn't think much about the circumstances under which they were taking my blood pressure and would often arrive at the doctor's appointment after trying to make it across town, running a bit late, etc. The readings would be elevated like OPs. OB would always have me lie back and take it again. He said that what they're looking for with that is that it comes right down. If it does, no worries. There is a LOT of literature (medical literature) on the right way to take BP readings. Clinical settings are notoriously bad places to get readings because exercise (a pregnant lady huffing down a hallway counts!) will raise your pressure. If you run low, then it will be no big deal. If you run toward the high end of normal or even into pre-hypertensive land, then it makes a big difference. Anyway, OP, my urine was squeaky clean throughout my first pregnancy and I had my baby naturally at 41 weeks - no word of induction ever raised, though my BP did continue to fluctuate throughout pregnancy (itself a source of stress, that probably led to higher BP readings!)

AHA practice guidelines for measuring blood pressure:

"The position of the patient can have a sizable impact on blood pressure measurements. For the most accurate measurement, the AHA recommends that the patient be relaxed and seated with legs uncrossed and back and arm supported. Children should have their feet on the floor rather than dangling above it. If possible, the patient should be seated five minutes before the reading. All clothing covering the cuff location should be removed (rolled-up sleeves, if tight, may create a tourniquet effect above the cuff).

The middle of the cuff on the upper arm should be level with the right atrium, at the midpoint of the sternum. If the upper arm is below the level of the right atrium, the readings will be too high; if the upper arm is above heart level, the readings will be too low In the supine position, the arm should be supported on a pillow to raise it above the level of the heart, which is situated about halfway between the bed and the sternum. In women who are pregnant, the left lateral recumbency position can be used, with measurement on the left arm."

source: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/1001/p1391.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:did they try taking it while you were lying down?

What's the point of that? You shouldn't be doing tricks to get a lower reading if it mask what's going on under ordinary circumstances.

Have you dealt with this? New poster here. Second pregnancy with these types of elevations. I have white coat hypertension and with my first I didn't think much about the circumstances under which they were taking my blood pressure and would often arrive at the doctor's appointment after trying to make it across town, running a bit late, etc. The readings would be elevated like OPs. OB would always have me lie back and take it again. He said that what they're looking for with that is that it comes right down. If it does, no worries. There is a LOT of literature (medical literature) on the right way to take BP readings. Clinical settings are notoriously bad places to get readings because exercise (a pregnant lady huffing down a hallway counts!) will raise your pressure. If you run low, then it will be no big deal. If you run toward the high end of normal or even into pre-hypertensive land, then it makes a big difference. Anyway, OP, my urine was squeaky clean throughout my first pregnancy and I had my baby naturally at 41 weeks - no word of induction ever raised, though my BP did continue to fluctuate throughout pregnancy (itself a source of stress, that probably led to higher BP readings!)

AHA practice guidelines for measuring blood pressure:

"The position of the patient can have a sizable impact on blood pressure measurements. For the most accurate measurement, the AHA recommends that the patient be relaxed and seated with legs uncrossed and back and arm supported. Children should have their feet on the floor rather than dangling above it. If possible, the patient should be seated five minutes before the reading. All clothing covering the cuff location should be removed (rolled-up sleeves, if tight, may create a tourniquet effect above the cuff).

The middle of the cuff on the upper arm should be level with the right atrium, at the midpoint of the sternum. If the upper arm is below the level of the right atrium, the readings will be too high; if the upper arm is above heart level, the readings will be too low In the supine position, the arm should be supported on a pillow to raise it above the level of the heart, which is situated about halfway between the bed and the sternum. In women who are pregnant, the left lateral recumbency position can be used, with measurement on the left arm."

source: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/1001/p1391.html

Thanks, PP. I'm the one who posted about taking it lying down. It's not a "trick", it's what my OB does and it's based on, you know, science.

[Anonymous]

I had that issue with both pregnancy, though like a PP I also have white coat hypertension in pregnancy (I know what they're looking for which makes me anxious / raises BP in a nasty feedback loop).

Anyway, definitely had high readings - think it was even in the 140s/? a few times, but never developed any complications and had both kids spontaneously at 40w and 40w6days - no issues with either baby.

I will say that one thing I did was to take my BP at home / at the drop in spot in the CVS, where it was always in the normal range, which eased my concerns about the high readings at the Dr's office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had that issue with both pregnancy, though like a PP I also have white coat hypertension in pregnancy (I know what they're looking for which makes me anxious / raises BP in a nasty feedback loop).

Anyway, definitely had high readings - think it was even in the 140s/? a few times, but never developed any complications and had both kids spontaneously at 40w and 40w6days - no issues with either baby.

I will say that one thing I did was to take my BP at home / at the drop in spot in the CVS, where it was always in the normal range, which eased my concerns about the high readings at the Dr's office.

I had a similar experience -- elevated bps in the 3rd tri with 1st 2 pregnancies. Also have white coat hypertension. My ob was fine with readings on my own several times a week (all normal outside of the dr's office) given that my urine was always perfect and no swelling, headaches, or vision changes. Delivered after natural labor started after my due date. FWIW my bp was perfect in the hospital while I was preoccupied with unmediated contractions going on to distract me.

[Anonymous]

Had the same issue. White coat hypertension, healthy baby at term.