Essential hypertension

[inky]

I'm sure there must be a few of us with this! It's a family trait of ours...ive had high bp since I was 18, and ended up on meds in my last pregnancy when it went up to 196/117 (!) it was a real struggle to bring it down, and with the ever present threat of pre-eclampsia I ended up visiting hospital as an outpatient every other day.

So far everything seems ok this time, in fact when it was taken at my booking in app it was 103/63. I have been referred back to the hospital to work out a course of action and will be consultant led from here.

 

[Rhino Horn]

I've had diagnosed hypertension since my early 20s. In my first pregnancy I ended up being induced at 40 weeks dead as they didn't want to increase my methlydopa any higher.

I imagine the same is going to happen again this time, I have to go to the hospital every couple of weeks to be checked but I am going to refuse to be admitted this time if they try and keep me in. I find staying in the ward really stressful, they induce women there and kept waking me up to take my BP so I actually left the hospital shattered. Not an experience I want to repeat!!

I felt fine throughout my first pregnancy, in fact I didn't feel any different to when I wasn't pregnant apart from having a big belly! So far this time round, I've felt exactly the same

 

[inky]

I wa on methyldopa last time too, but they switched it to labetalol when I got to the hospital. I've stayed on labetalol ever since, I think it works better too as my bp was never below 140/90 on methyldopa, no matter ow much I took! Currently on labetalol it's low if anything

 

[Rhino Horn]

That's interesting, I may well ask about Labetalol instead of Methlydopa.

When I had Seren I was immediately taken off Methlydopa (apparently can cause post-natal depression) and moved onto Labetalol. Then my BP went crazy when I got home and got re-admitted when she was 1 week old as it went so high they thought I was going to have a stroke! I ended up taking a combo of Labetalol and Enalapril (high doses) which over the course of a few weeks they reduced right down until I was just on Enalapril.

Got my 2nd consultant appointment tomorrow, will ask some questions and see how I get on.

 

[Amyrose]

My bp is being monitored every 2 weeks as I have a history of high bp I'm only on aspirin at the mo. My bp at my last check was 160/85 so is starting to creep up but is good for me with my history.
I have always had a number of stays I. Hospital with each pregnancy and been bought for induction due to bp on my last 2 pregnancies. I am hoping it will stay under control this time x

 

[inky]

Just thought I'd bring this thread back to life in case it's relevant to anyone, I'm still on labetalol and had my first consultant app last week. Gold star for my bp lol, 112/70 I don't have to go back until October!

 

[Amyrose]

Mines 160/90 last appointment do you think that's high inky? I'm still just on aspirin but been told to keep an eye and look out for swelling ect apparently GD increases your chances of pre eclampsia.

 

[inky]

It does sound a little on the high side, but it's the bottom figure they worry about most, I was told that as long as that's less than 100 then they won't intervene. The highest mine got to before being medicated was 196/117. I think as long as you're being monitored well (and it sounds like you are!) then ithey should be able to kep it under control, and you already know what to look out for re preeclampsia warning signs. Interesting about GD affecting bp, I'll have the GTT at 26 weeks too x

These babies are such a bloody worry eh! Xx

 

[Rachel1509]

Can I ask a question. I've had 1 baby and was induced with him at 35+5 due to sudden hypertension. I was in hospital for 9 days after giving birth and it took about 6 of those days for my blood pressure to return to normal. Does this mean that in future pregnancies I may be classed as 'high risk'?

 

[linxminx21]

hiya girls i got put on labetalol in my last pregnancy at 34 weeks and was in and out of hospital. lacie is nearly 9 months old and im still on them, there just lowering the dose and next week will be my first week without them in early a year! there testing to see if i now have high bp or i just worry when i go to docs and it shoots up!
my mum has high bp so its not looking good. i also have to loose weight as that is making it creep up!
good luck girls x

 

[inky]

Can I ask a question. I've had 1 baby and was induced with him at 35+5 due to sudden hypertension. I was in hospital for 9 days after giving birth and it took about 6 of those days for my blood pressure to return to normal. Does this mean that in future pregnancies I may be classed as 'high risk'?

I would imagine you would be classed as high risk, I wouldn't worry though, it means you will be getting the extra monitoring and care that you need, which is good!

 

[inky]

hiya girls i got put on labetalol in my last pregnancy at 34 weeks and was in and out of hospital. lacie is nearly 9 months old and im still on them, there just lowering the dose and next week will be my first week without them in early a year! there testing to see if i now have high bp or i just worry when i go to docs and it shoots up!
my mum has high bp so its not looking good. i also have to loose weight as that is making it creep up!
good luck girls x

Good luck coming off the meds x