Tell Me About BP Meds During Pregnancy, Please

[trimestersdoula]

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant and my blood pressure has been going up since 17 weeks. I had to do a week long at-home blood pressure check and write down my results and take them back to her. They are at the high end of normal and right now I am the low blood pressure part of the pregnancy. I am fully expecting it to go up and up....and up. It did last pregnancy except it started around 25 weeks. I ended up with a failed induction and a c/s at 39w4d due to pre-e. Anyways, she told me that she is going to see me in three weeks and if it is still going up she will put me on blood pressure meds. Im scared. I dont want to go on meds but I have tried to bring it down nothing is working. I dont want to go on meds. I dont like them for myself, let alone my unborn child.

Do any of you have any experience with this? How harmful are the meds? My doctor told me she doesnt like keeping baby in any longer than needed when she puts mom on meds so my baby will likely be born at 36 weeks.

[MaerynPearl]

Lets put it this way... if you cannot control your blood pressure without the medication... any risk from taking them is WAY outweighed by the risk of allowing high blood pressure to continue without being taken care of.

[briome]

Have you tried other things to help?
Diet, accupucture, herbals? I know it does not help everyone but if you have not it is worth a try.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

Lets put it this way... if you cannot control your blood pressure without the medication... any risk from taking them is WAY outweighed by the risk of allowing high blood pressure to continue without being taken care of.

I was put on Labetalol at 29 weeks and delivered at 34. My baby has had no effects from that med.

[MacKinnon]

That's got to be scary mama! But uncontrolled high blood pressure, will lead to a very early delivery. And at this point, you can't run that risk. I would be OK taking the meds to keep baby baking inside, safe and sound! Best of luck Mama!

[Kidzaplenty]

I spent most of my pgcy on meds because nothing natural I tried helped. I took METHYLDOPA (Aldomet). It was the only thing that helped control my b/p. And it did not harm my baby at all. I was able to carry him full term, which without it would not have been possible. And I had no side effects at all. There is a lot of info out there about it, anf from what I have read, it is an excellent choice in pgcy.

I hope you are able to get it under control. Give the meds a try. I was totally opposed to drugs at first, too. But my b/p got so high I had no choice. It may have saved my babies life.

[MommyNicoleTX]

Originally Posted by briome

Have you tried other things to help?
Diet, accupucture, herbals? I know it does not help everyone but if you have not it is worth a try.

By going up what do u mean-how much above your baseline? How much above average? You should try checking it at home, where it may average less. But I Agree if it's truly high-try these other methods! Also try strict low sodium diet--no cheating. I was on toprol xl with my 1st & 2nd pregnancies because I got preeclamptic with my 1st. I took it for yrs after my 2nd was born. Stopped meds one day & Changed my lifestyle & eating habits (way more fruits & veggies) & my bp has been great ever since. Thank God I had it when I needed it, and if you need it, you need it. Feel free to PM me. Been there done that, got the tshirt twice. Best wishes.

[trimestersdoula]

Thanks girls. At one point during the week long, at-home checks it was completely normal. 110/70. I just checked it now and it is up to 140ish/80ish. I'm wondering if I should keep checking it for a bit or if I should go back to my OB tomorrow.