The beginnings of high blood pressure. . . alternatives to medical intervention?

[PieKat]

I had HBP with DD1. Never any real complications other than feeling like crap. Blood work I had done always came back fine.As long as I was resting, the BP came down. . . didn't start until I was 34-35ish weeks.

Fast forward 2 years and I'm 15 weeks pregnant and experiencing dizziness and funkiness with a blood pressure in the 140/85-ish range. I'm seeing an OB and went in to have blood work done and make sure there's nothing "fundamentally wrong" at this point.

So. . . .I'm looking for ways to decrease BP. Anyone had successes with accupuncture/homeopathy, etc for this problem? I'm seeing a massage therapist once a month and may increase that frequency. I don't have a lot of $$ to spend on this stuff, but will do it if it means avoiding the problems that can come from preeclampsia, etc.

[sanguine_speed]

I think the surer bet than homeopathy or other HCP medicine might be diet and lifestyle from what my midwife has told me. EFA's, well-balanced diet, exercise, rest...

[chellebee]

I have had great success with starting acupuncture early on and going every 2-3 weeks. In my case it's not so much a diet/exercise problem as it is that my body needs extra support (w/ energy conversion) during pregnancy.

[ItsyBitsyBean]

My BP was climbing, too, and spiking to 150/100 several times from weeks 11-15, until I realized 2 things -- I absolutely must get enough good sleep at night, napping and laying around are not substitutes for 6+ hours of uninterrupted sleep in a roww, plus 3-5 additional hours as needed. If my nose is stuffy and I can't sleep because of that, I take a benadryl. For me personally, I feel it is better to take benadryl than to have a stroke or premature birth. I swear, this one thing (good night's sleep) will drop my BP to NORMAL over night. If I fail to get enough sleep and have high BP, magnesium brings it right down. I have tried this over and over again, not getting enough sleep for various reasons, exhausted the next day, high BP. Then, the next night, make sleep a priority, sleep well, and wake up with a normal BP.

Magnesium -- brand name Natural Calm -- buffered powder -- dissolves in water and is very well absorbed. I take 1 teaspoon dissolved in 1 liter of water -- drink it throughout the day. Too much at once can give you diarrhea which will actually make your body lose even more magnesium.

I can't swear this will work for you, but maybe it's worth a try. Best wishes.

[livinzoo]

I second the magnessium. Most people in the US are defficient. And it is very important in several processes iun your body. I just take cheap magnessium Oxide that you can find at the drug store. Supposedlly mag citrate is more absorbable, but I don't notice a difference. But I do notice when I haven't taken it in a few days, so I know both work. I have bad TMJ pain that goes away with magnesium.

Good luck

[iowaorganic]

How much protien do you eat? When my bp started going up with my last baby I had to eat pretty much only protien to keep it down. That and rest.

[jecombs]

I had the beginnings of HBP early in this pregnancy. I changed a couple of things and here I am, 37 weeks pregnant, and my last BP reading was 122/70! First, I really increased the amount of protein I was eating. I now eat protein with almost every meal and snack. Second, I started drinking a ton of water; at least 80-100 oz per day. Third, I started doing some light walking every day. And last, I started doing Hypnobabies (but I think any type of meditation would work).

I'm still working full-time, at a fairly stressful job, and taking care of my 2 y.o. and have had no further problems with my BP.

[CherryBomb]

I'm worried about this, too. I'm only 15w2d and checked my bp today and it was 141/89 :/ I already take cal-mag every day and eat a good amount of protein, drink lots of water. I need to start walking more, though. I've never, ever had my bp go over 120/80, even at the end of my last three pregnancies. My bp is normally 110/70, so it's freaking me out.