how to encourage low BP in final weeks of pg?

[tulipmama]

my friend is 37 weeks and was sent to the hospital by her midwife for a high BP (145/97). her BP has been in the 110/90 range the whole pregnancy until today. she is really committed to a natural birth (this is her first) and doesn't want to be induced.

they let her go today but are definitely keeping an eye on it.

i forget what to do about this-- help me give her some good advice, she is definitely open to doing anything she can do to keep that baby in and let it cook.

thanks!

[Family4Christ]

I heard about apple cider vinegar being good for that, but I haven't personally tried it.

[karen1968]

My midwife told me she had someone bring down her blood pressure by eating an entire roast chicken and a dozen eggs over 24 hours. Sounds awful, but

Magnesium can also help. It's what they give intravenously if you have super high BP while in labor or immediately post-partum.

I had mild pre-e with my last pregnancy, and was induced at 38 weeks (I'd been fighting them off since 35 weeks!). It took 64 hours, but I still managed to have a vaginal, pain-med free birth. Not 100% natural, and not the birth I would have chosen, but given how high my BP rose in labor (150/110), I'm glad I did it.

Have they sent her for a bio-phyisical profile yet? That helped calm my doctors and allow me to keep that baby inside a bit longer.

Is she having swelling? Severe headaches? Anything like that? I understand the commitment to a completely natural pregnancy, but if her blood pressure is high enough, she risks both her life and her child's. And things can go bad VERY quickly, so it's important she stay monitored (I did twice weekly non-stress tests) and also stay as quiet and calm as possible - lay on her left side all the time, let (or make!) someone else to errands and chores, etc.

[Carhootel]

I had high bp at the end of my pregnancy - right around the same time as your friend (~37 weeks). I did acupuncture, calcium/magnesium supplements, massage, and ultimately did a TON of 24 hour urine tests in those final weeks. I did all this while simultaneously doing everything I could to get the baby moving out - lots of EPO, told my acupuncturist to get the baby out, chiro, etc...

I ultimately did not develop pre-e but was very close, I think if I had not gone into labor at 38.5 weeks it might have turned into pre-e but while in labor my BP was monitored a LOT and it was always incredibly perfect throughout labor - which was amazing to me and my midwives. The high BP doesn't mean that she will have pre-e or end up induced! Are her midwives doing 24 hour urine tests?

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by karen1968

Magnesium can also help. It's what they give intravenously if you have super high BP while in labor or immediately post-partum.
.

Actually it's magnesium sulfate that is given intravenously, and it lowers blood pressure a little bit, but is really given to prevent seizures. Magnesium supplements are likely to have no effect on blood pressure.

OP, your friend's elevated BP is cause for concern, but if it stays around that level and she has no other symptoms, she may very well be able to have the birth she wants. But like the PPs said, high blood pressure is dangerous for mom and baby, so continued monitoring is essential. With my last pregnancy, I was given increasing doses of beta blockers to lower my blood pressure from 29 weeks until it became unmanageable at 34 weeks (190/110, on mag. sulfate, 900mg of Labetalol/day, and bedrest in the hospital), and I also had several other symptoms (severe headaches, visual disturbances, brisk reflexes, mild edema, and a history of early onset severe preeclampsia). But the baby looked good (though started lagging in growth and ended up having IUGR and was born 20% less than her u/s estimated) and my labs were always normal because I wasn't going into HELLP Syndrome, and I was only spilling a mild amount of protein.

Please let your friend know about the forums at preeclampsia.org, which are amazing and very helpful for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

[karen1968]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

Actually it's magnesium sulfate that is given intravenously, and it lowers blood pressure a little bit, but is really given to prevent seizures. Magnesium supplements are likely to have no effect on blood pressure.

Thanks for the correction. I never had it, so was going on an (obviously faulty!) memory.

I also found the preeclampsia.org forums helpful.

[NicolleLynne]

Hi Mama,

I had BP issues through out my pregnancy and saw an acupuncturist every week during the last half of my third trimester to help keep my pressure down. It really worked, my OB noted the difference! In addition I kept up moderate exercise, ate 1oz of 70% cacao dark chocolate every day, cut down on the sodium and upped my protein intake. With all this I managed to keep my BP in the safe zone until delivering at 40 weeks. I wish your friend lots of luck!

[HeatherB]

My MW has also had me take passionflower tincture (I prefer the alcohol-free for taste). Also, being in deep water will bring down blood pressure, so soaking in a pool regularly (chest deep) is very good. IIR, you need about 20 minutes in the water. Longer doesn't hurt.