Safer labor for moms with high blood pressure--vaginally or c-section?

[Anonymous]

Do any of you mommies have experience with high blood pressure during pregnancy? Did you deliver vaginally or by c-section? I worry that the stress of labor and pushing combined with my blood pressure issues will pose a risk.

[Anonymous]

I would suppose it depends on how high your blood pressure is and whether you are showing signs of preeclampsia. I had preeclampsia for my first pregnancy and was induced at 39 weeks when my BP hit 150/100 and I had protein in my urine. My Dr. told me that he preferred vaginal births over c-sections for women in my case since they are safer in general and there's a chance your platelets will start dropping if the disease progresses, which would create a very dangerous situation. So, he recommended that I be induced and to get an epidural since an epidural causes most women's blood pressure to drop. However, I've heard that some women with preeclampsia have had drug-free vaginal births. Anyway, I labored over 24 hours on pitocin (w/ a break) and they just monitored my pressure the entire time. (I wore a cuff that took it every 15 minutes.) My pressure was actually normal as long as I was laying down and particularly when I laid on my right side, so that's pretty much how I stayed. Wasn't exactly the "birth experience" anyone hopes for, but then again, preeclampsia wasn't in my "birth plan" either. All worked out just fine! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP: That's very helpful! Thank you so much!