High Blood Pressure in Your Last Tri?

Hi M.,
I also had high blood pressure in my last few weeks of being pregnant. I agree with the last 2 posts-you need to be proactive and take this seriously. My high blood pressure sent me into h.e.l.p syndrome (awful) and caused me to have an emergency c-section. Not fun! I don't mean to scare you, just want to get the point across. Hopefully it will not go up to high (rest now while you still can) and you'll be able to have a normal delivery. Best of luck to you for a safe and healthy delivery!

My blook pressure was high in the last trimester for both of my girls. My doctor actually said I did not have to cut back on sodium, because she said it was more about the pressure that the baby was having on my body than what I was eating. She did have me try to stay off of my feet as much as possible for a couple weeks, and after that didn't help a whole lot, I was on full bed rest for the last week for both of my girls. My first was induced (and we ended up having to have a c-section), and then my second was a c-section. My first had to come a week early and my second two weeks early, but they were both big babies and very healthy.

One of the best things I was told was to lie on your side, and I think one side is better than the other, but I can't remember which. I bet if you do a search on the internet you might find the answer. Even if they haven't put you on bedrest yet, it will help if you still try to take it easy and lay down on your side whenever possible.

Regardless of what all of us say, just follow what your doctor says, and don't worry too much...that will just make it go up more. :) Also, I do remember being told that at that point in your pregnancy it won't hurt the baby, but it is just your health that might suffer. So take care of yourself, relax, and be glad you are so far along. HTH.

you have probably been told this already, but don't put salt on anything, and if you buy canned food, you can get the kind that says on the label salt free. If you are this close to giving birth, it won't be that hard to give up salt completely for that long.

That is a pretty significant jump, however that one reading really doesnt't give enough information. Your BP can change based on your emotions, stress or even just a hectic morning. Was that taken at the end or beginning of your appointment? Did they take it again after you were able to have some quiet time? Assuming you gave a urine sample, they would be able to tell if you are spilling protein which is another piece of the puzzle. Finally you may want to assess yourself for swelling, especially swelling that comes on suddenly. Same with headaches or dizziness.

As for some ideas for easy things you can do at home to keep blood pressure in check, you can eat garlic, take tub baths or sit in a pool. Some people have found taking cream of tartar to be very helpful as well. Try to relax as much as possible and hopefully the high reading was just a one time thing!

M.
greatexpectationsdoulaservices.webs.com

140 is not high... my blood pressure in my 1st pregnancy was 140/80 the entire time... its really the bottom number that is the most important not JUST the top number alone but both together.

just take it easy but its normal for it to go up you just dont want the botom number over 90 and the top number over 150 (from what I understand when I was preggers with number 1) I would drastically reduce my sodium intake and drink lots of water.

hth
A. J

I did not read all your responses so I apologize if I repeat anything. With both my girls my blood pressure went up in the last trimester. I was actually on bed rest for weeks before both of them were taken with a scheduled c-section. Both my girls were taken 3 weeks early. It is not uncommon for blood pressure to go up some as your body is pumping more due to the extra weight you are carrying.

Youll be OK and so will the baby. But now is the time to baby yourself. Whenever possible sit with your feet above your heart. This makes the the body not work as hard pumping blood. Eat as little sodium as you can and lay on your left side as well. Theses were a few of the thing the doc had me doing and they really do help,

And if you do get put on bed rest for a few weeks enjoy the resting while you can because once that baby arrives your rest is out the door for a while. Bed rest isnt really that bad if you only have to go a few weeks. I can see see how longer would get boring. Sad to say but I looked forward to it with my second.

Good luck and many blessing to your family and new baby.

hi M.
i can tell you from experience that high blood prease IS an issue but since you're already so far along that that its not too detrimental but you really do need to cut back on Sodium. My baby was 8 weeks early b/c i had pre-eclampsia....i was a very severe case as i was going into renal failure! It was scary, so listen to your Dr's!!! :)
good luck and enjoy the birth of your new baby!!
S.

Take this VERY seriously. That was my first sign of preeclampsia that developed into full blown eclampsia with siezures and a nice week in the ICU. You need to be monitoring your blood pressure several times a day and you need to go to the ER if it gets too high. I had a new OB that didn't take my case seriously and it was almost fatal. I am assuming they checked your urine for protein. Don't count on your dr. Take steps if there are warning signs. I had bad headaches which was a serious warning sign with my high blood pressure. You mentioned what the nurse said, but did you talk to your doctor about it? If not, you need to pick uo the phone right now and call. The mismanagemnet of my preeclampisa almosted resulted in my death. I am not trying to scare you but you need to be proactive with this and not let yourself get sick as I did.

I just had my little girl in January and I had high blood pressure as well. Most of the things, for me, didn't work to lower it, and I was put on bed rest 6 weeks before she was due. The doctor actually put me in the hospital for observations then and said if it didn't go down on bed rest, she would have to induce then...6 weeks early! Well, the bed rest actually helped considerably, but only on my side. When I was laying down on my back, it was elevated again. I was hospitalized again the week later, and then was able to maintain at home. She did end up inducing 2 weeks early. I did not respond to the meds that they used to get me to dilate and after 27 hours of the inducing process and nothing happening, we all decided on a c section. I would definately take everything they say to heart when it comes to BP! A little background on me as well, I am a very active woman who exercises about 5 days a week pretty strenuously and maintained a good portion of my workout schedule throughout pregnancy. Sometimes that high BP just happens! Good luck!

Well 1st of all don't stress about it, that will only make it worse. Practice relaxing, I have proven that just doing that alone can bring your BP down a lot. Also, you are in the safety zone now anyway. My 1st came WAY too early because of my blood pressure.(8 weeks early!) I am now at 34 1/2 weeks and that was our goal this time. Docs say everything after that is gravy. Chances are that unless there is some other kind of health problem your baby has, they will be perfectly fine if born now. They are planning on taking mine at 36 weeks. Lay down on your left side to help.

It is normal for BP to increase a little bit during latter pregnancy, but not as much as yours has increased. If it remains high, you will go on bed rest. If it still remains high, you will be induced early. Good thing is that you are already at 37 weeks, so inducing should not be a problem for baby. Good luck.

I had my son at 37 weeks by an emergency c-section because of my BP. The good thing is you are 37 weeks and when I delivered my BP was 160/110. I am assuming the numbers you mentioned are only the top numbers (systolic). What is your diastolic? While your BP is high it is not to a dangerous zone yet. Take it easy. Reduce your salt intake. Drink alot of water. He may want to induce within a week or two. Have faith in your dr.

Try and get lots of rest if you can! That will help the most! I had no problems with my son, and then with my daughter I had lots of swelling and one day I started getting flush and light headed. I went by one of those places at the store and took my BP and it was high. I called my doc and he told me to go to the hosp just to get checked out. I was about 2-3 weeks away from my due date. I ended up getting admitted that day because my BP was 180/110. I am normally 110/70 everytime I go in. I was put on strict bed rest in the hospital..no showers, no walking around, nothing for a week. They finally induced a week early because they thought she wasn't gaining any weight. She actually ended up being 7 lbs and was perfectly fine! So long story.. get lots of rest and that should help, other wise you will get put in the hospital and it is NO fun! Plus you need all the rest you can get now while you can!!! Congrats on your new baby and good luck!!!!

Blood pressure does go up somewhat during the last trimester in some women. the top number isn't necessarily the one you have to worry about it's the bottom. Did it go up significantly as well? The top usually responds to stress whereas the bottom is more indicative of a problem. anyway you really don't have much to worry about as you're already at term (37-40 weeks). Your baby will be just fine if you deliver today. HOpe this helps!

Yes, they will absolutely induce and they could well do so within the next week or so if it does not go down. That's what happened to me and you want to avoid that if at all possible. An induction can be awful - I got no breaks between contractions and since I was not at all effaced when they started I have a very, very, very long labor. So, I honestly would do whatever you can to get the BP down and push to delay the induction as much as possible. Although, it's very much a catch 22 situation as activity can really, really help with labor.

I would also STRONGLY recommend you get tested for low thyroid function. There is a definite correlation in the medical research. They MUST measure Free T3, Free T4 and antibodies (TPO and anti-thyroglobulin) along with TSH. Even if TSH is "normal" if the FRee values (and they must be the "frees" and not "totals") are on the lower end you may well benefit from replacement thyroid hormone. This is so very important as low thyroid function can impact your milk supply. I wasn't diagnosed until years later and suffered unnecessarily because so few doctors know about this correlation - but again it is documented in the medical research.

i am usually about 100/110 over 70 as a rule, even during most of my pregnancy. so during my last pregnancy when it shot up to about what yours is, my doctor noticed too. fortunately i was able to go full term with minimal issues. you might too!