Blood pressure RISING a week after the birth?

[amydidit]

A week ago I gave birth. The labor was sporadic and LONG, but ended well. Baby fine, mama fine, aside from feeling beat up. Well today I did a blood pressure check as a follow up on myself and was SHOCKED to find it was VERY high. I rested a while and it was still high, not coming down at all. I already have an appointment with my PCP on Thursday morning for a med check (thyroid) and to get on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds again. I tried to get in to see someone sooner based on the BP readings, but they couldn't get me in sooner. Tonight I took another reading tonight and it was even higher.

Needless to say I'm a bit concerned. But can't see anyone until Thursday.

I feel confident that at least part of this is due to stress. I know I have PPD. My DD2 is driving me crazy and isn't listening to a thing we say. DH doesn't understand that I NEED more support than I'm getting. Etc. I've always have stress-related hypertension, but never this high. So I'm thinking there are other reasons as well.

Is a rise in blood pressure AFTER birth normal? Possible causes? Anything I can do tonight and tomorrow (aside from relax - NOT possible in this house) to help lower the blood pressure?

[Full Heart]

It could be pp pre e. If you develop a headache or blurry vision get yourself to the er. Its not something to wait around for as its just as serious pp as it is in pg. Otherwise I would say rest rest rest. Make sure you are getting plenty of fluids.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by Full Heart

It could be pp pre e. If you develop a headache or blurry vision get yourself to the er. Its not something to wait around for as its just as serious pp as it is in pg. Otherwise I would say rest rest rest. Make sure you are getting plenty of fluids.

: Keep an eye on your bp if you have a monitor at home. Hopefully it's nothing, but you'll want to get seen ASAP if you get other symptoms or it stays high.

[amydidit]

Hmm... I'm having a hard time finding a lot of info about postpartum pre-e. I'm assuming the symptoms would be the same as prenatal? All swelling I had with late pregnancy has gone away (and even before it was only my feet and ankles). I do have a headache but I'm 97% positive it's due to a toothache (it gets worse if I drink anything cold, etc. And I know I have a bad cavity ). Haven't had any vision changes, etc. I haven't checked my protein levels, but I will next time I have to pee.

Rest rest rest. I wish I was that easy. ~sighs~ But I'll try.

[amydidit]

Okay. Protein is showing between trace and 30. Higher than I ever showed during pregnancy (only showed trace like once). So now I'm worried. The BP just won't come down, even with laying down and resting. So I'm heading to the ER. ~sighs~ Wish me luck. I've NEVER been treated decently in an ER.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by amydidit

Okay. Protein is showing between trace and 30. Higher than I ever showed during pregnancy (only showed trace like once). So now I'm worried. The BP just won't come down, even with laying down and resting. So I'm heading to the ER. ~sighs~ Wish me luck. I've NEVER been treated decently in an ER.

I hope it goes well.

[boscopup]

A friend of mine had postpartum pre-e. I'm glad you are going in. That's not something to mess around with!!!

[soxthecatrules]

Hope everything is okay.

I really don't have anything to add other than I had a similar situation after I had DD. Don't know if it was pp PE or a reaction to some herbal tea I was drinking to help stimulate milk production. I immediately stopped drinking the tea and the doc adjusted my BP meds. It took a couple of days for everything to return to normal. My BP was 180/120. Not good.

[Thystle]

You got mail.

[amydidit]

Well I was in the ER until 4:30am and the good news is NO PP pre-e. Other than wonky BP they said everything looked great. No protein showing, kidneys functioning fine, etc. It's suspected that my thyroid levels went crazy after the birth (my levels go whacky if I breathe wrong, I swear it) and that can cause a BP spike. So looks like on Thursday my PCP will be adjusting my synthroid levels again. Until then they gave me a med for the BP last night (since it was SO high) and a temporary presciption to take today.

[soxthecatrules]

Great to hear from you. Glad everything is getting taken care of. :

[Veritaserum]

Glad it's not pre-e!