High Blood Pressure?

[robyn]

I went in for my weekly dr. appointment (I go weekly due to GD), and my blood pressure was 130/90. I'm usually around 112/70. The nurse had me lay on my side for a couple of minutes and then she re-checked me and it had gone back down to my normal. I talked to the doctor about it and she said it could be just a random thing, or it could be something that will come back later on. I'm freaking out about pre-e, especially as I've had some swelling in my feet the last couple of weeks, and because GD is a risk factor to pre-e. Any thoughts, advice, anything? I'm not sure what to do with this. I've never had any sort of blood pressure issue previously.

[blushing]

I had pregnancy induced hypertension in my first pregnancy, that is why I am high risk this pregnancy (well, one of 3 reasons). I never developed pre-e. I never had to go on any medication. They just monitored me closely. I have heard that they have started putting pregnant mums with high BP on baby aspirin, but unless you doc advises that I would not do anything. Stressing about it will just make it worse, if you do have PIH you might just have to accept it.

[narockshard]

Almost every appointment I've had mine has been high, although normal for me is always under 120/80. I've checked it after the appointments and it's been completely normal again. I think for me it's that I was really nervous/anxious before each appointment, on top of sort of being rushed--like I pee, go sit back down, then get called immediately, then get weighed and it all kind of flusters me a bit. I don't have any other risk factors and the doctors never mentioned it being an issue so I haven't been too worried about it. My last appointment at 30 weeks it was finally below the 120/80 threshold for the first time!

If your bp has been normal otherwise at various different readings and your docs haven't said anything, I would try not to worry about it--I would only be concerned if it seems consistently high with several different readings.

[robyn]

Thanks ladies I appreciate the information and reassurances. We will see what next week brings!

[smock]

Mine is also high at the doctor's office--I get nervous, and just like narockshard the whole jumping up when they call your name, getting weighed, peeing, etc. routine right before they check bp tends to amp me up a bit more. I also don't have any other risk factors, but my doctor asked me to check it at home and bring in the numbers. Today it was 101/72, so . . . I'm not worried!

It sounds like in your case it was probably just a fluke!

[shelbyann]

My BP runs a tad on the higher side anyway, and it went up more during my last trimester of pregnancy...and then would be even higher at the doctor's office. 140/90 would be pretty typical for me at my appointments, but at home I would get more normal readings, usually 120s over 70s or 80s. I kept a daily log of my pressures and emailed it to my midwife before appointments, which helped them not freak out so much at the higher readings I'd get at their office. Still, I was constantly on pre-eclampsia watch for the last few months and had to do the pee jug several times. (It always came back normal.)

Do you have a cuff at home? If not it might be a good thing to buy, and monitor your BP daily so you will know right away if you're starting to creep up. Doing that gave me a lot of piece of mind near the end, knowing that if I were to develop pre-e I'd be in the best position possible to get treatment since I'd know right away.