Raised blood pressure, no preeclampsia

My BP has been raised...but it's been raised at home as well. I feel fine generally but will be getting induced in the next couple of days (39 weeks). Message me and I'll let you know how it goes. 😊

@Ruth what have your readings been? And are you taking any medication for it?

I forgot to say also, that I'm 38 weeks

No medication, only really got picked up last week (as it was taking longer to come down at home so I called for advice). Readings from 140-160+/90-100.

I was given medication for raised blood pressure but was exactly the same as you! Kept getting really high readings at hospital, sent to triage which made it worse, measured at home and it was normal! I was induced at 38+4 and my little one was healthy 6lb 8!x

You clearly know your own body, have they said why they’re disregarding your at home readings and pushing for induction?

At my hospital they said I could bring in my BP monitor to make sure it was calibrated properly and I could do them at home too - can you ask for this? I’ve also gotten into a good routine with triage where they know to do a series of readings over half an hour, leave me alone while they do it/ go out of the room and they make me a cuppa before 😊 it brings it down to “within range” - however I am on medication for it so who know what it really is normally! It is really stressful and it’s a catch 22 with blood pressure but see if they can work with you. Let me know if you’d like me to say why they advised for me to have an induction at 39 weeks, if that would be helpful xx Also I know it’s not very nice going into hospital etc but the one benefit I found of going in for BP checks was that they’ve been checking me twice a week for pre-eclampsia and also monitoring baby which is reassuring. However my sister had pre-eclampsia so I was always at a higher risk but don’t have it thankfully

I went in for my 40 weeks appointment and was sent to day assessment unit instead of the usual midwife chat (and potentially a sweep) for some admin error reason - was so confused and obviously the readings went high…Then they sent me to triage and it was even higher so they said they recommend to induce me. I tried to explain to them that it’s all because of the initial stress on the day but they said that because the bp was only going up it was better to stay in the hospital and be induced. I cried so much because it wasn’t how I wanted to go in to labour so I totally understand you. One of the doctors I insisted on talking to actually said that it didn’t really matter if my bp was an isolated incident - just the fact that it goes up quite high is something they would want to monitor and that reassured me that perhaps being monitored and induced was the best course of action x

my bp has always been raised at every midwife appointment and then when I check it at home it’s normal. I told this to my midwife so every midwife appointment I have to check my bp beforehand at home and she usually writes down my bp I’ve taken on my records and not the one she gets. She’s documented on my notes that I’ve got white coat syndrome. She’s also referred me to give birth at the birth centre which is where the water births happen as that’s my preference. Surely your midwife should this into consideration like mine and not make you be induced especially if your bp is normal at home? I’ve just been advised to take my own monitor in when in labour and to check it every so often on my own with no one else around..

@Ruth that's around what my readings have been too. Sometimes slightly higher. At this point I just don't know what to do for the best.

@Sophie how long did you take the medication for? I had one dose when I was in triage/day unit because my levels just wouldn't come down. The doctor did recommend induction within 24-48hrs but I declined and self discharged because I really felt like the stress being there was making things worse. My levels at home have been fluctuating. Had decent readings last night but this morning back up again. I am considering whether I agree to being induced or not

If my readings were normal at home I'd have been reluctant to do anything but that's my personal view. I felt that with having high readings at home I'd be more anxious waiting. But it is a big decision to make. 😊

@Gaby just because of the constant high readings when I am at my appointments. Up until a few weeks ago, they were ok with my recording my home ones, but I think because I've had a couple higher than usual ones when at the apps, they're now a bit concerned. My readings in triage the other day were really high, between 170/100-190/100. I agreed to one dose of medication & it came down to 160/100. It was still raised at home the next day but I expected that because of my anxiety and stress. When I checked again last night, they had stabled out and was getting more 140/80+90, I even got a 137/87, however, they have gone up high again this morning while doing my home reading. 170/100, so they are fluctuating massively. and I can't quite pinpoint why, because there's no signs of preeclampsia, baby was monitored and seemed fine. And my readings have been stable at home pretty much all pregnancy up until the last couple of weeks

@Julia I have been thinking to myself something similar to what you said, is that whether it's an isolated incident or not it is still high, most times as of recent so maybe I should consider their advice. I just don't know at this point

@Jasmine the midwife's were doing something similar with me too. I was tracking my BP and they were looking at those, but because of the more higher than usual ones as of recent I think that's why they're becoming more concerned. I am now getting higher readings at home, although, last night I had a set of readings that were more stable, between 140/90, even 137/87, but this morning they are back up between 150-170 over 90/100. So it seems that they are starting to fluctuate a bit more than usual when at home

@Ruth that's exactly my thoughts too. However, this morning they are high again, so it's really making me question what I should do for the best. Since yesterday I have been getting period type aches and pains in my lower back and today they have starting in my lower tummy, and yesterday having a pressure feeling in my bum so I'm hoping time is near

I was treated with one tablet at about 32 weeks with twice weekly monitoring which consistently stayed borderline! Some midwives sent me to triage some sent me home because they said it’s my normal and I was taking it at home and it was fine! Then at about 36 weeks it just went wild one day so they put me on tablets and I was induced 2 weeks later! I had the most positive induction so I’m glad I did, but it’s scary x

Saying this mines also started to fluctuate today. 148/94 which is high compared to what it’s usually been so I think I’ll be making a call to the triage phone soon😭

@Jasmine oh bless you. Mine has come down since my first set of readings this morning. still elevated but not as high. I'm getting 150s/90s. At the moment I'm happy to stay home because I just know going into triage will rise it significantly. I really think this is my bodies way of dealing with labour approaching. I'm going to continue keeping an eye on it at home for now and make a decision if it gets any higher and if it stays like that. Good luck 🤞🏻

@Jasmine how did you get on with your readings?

@Ruth how are you getting on. Are you still going ahead with the induction?

Induction started Thursday, baby arrived yesterday morning. Super speedy delivery. Message if you want more details!! Slightly high BP since delivery but going home today with medication, home monitoring and hypertension clinic in a couple of weeks.

@Ruth have messaged you :)

I had a bath and it went down to 128/84 so I think I was just a bit stressed 🤣

I also had a super speedy induction - started yesterday at 1pm and he was here by 7.30pm! Only had the pessary for a few hours. They’ve lowered my BP medication from 4 x a day to 2 x a day as it’s started decreasing now the baby is here 😊 he was born 7 pounds 11 and his blood sugars were perfect x