Quick question about herbs as I near my EDD

[sattygirl99]

I'm dealing with some elevated BP (much lower now that I'm not working but we still get close to the 140/90... Averaging 135's/70's and low 80's) and I'm trying to come up with some herbal remedies that can help lower it...

I'm drinnking a pregnancy tea blend that has a few herbs in it that help (and seem to be helping if I drink enough of the tea)... RRL, Alfalfa and peppermint. I've also read that garlic helps but I thought I saw something about not taking garlic supps within 4 weeks of EDD because it thins the blood? I tried celery seed extract but it did nothing... I get more effect drinking several strong cups of pregnancy tea (I'm making it using 2tbsp of herbs per cup) during the day. I had nearly 2 cups of the tea this AM and was shocked to get a BP of 120/73! Just yesterday it was 141/85.. That's a big drop!!

I'm just days shy of 38 weeks and while I started to dabble a bit in natural induction (I did one half a$$ed round of blue/black cohosh), I really want to just let it go and let the baby decide. But I'm a VBA2C and high BP could potentionally be a risk out for me if I'm not careful. I went 11 days post date with DD so I do expect to do the same this go around honestly.

Anyway... Is there any information that garlic supplements are bad to take so close to an EDD? I know garlic is excellent at lowering BP but I can't find anything helpful to me on taking it now...

Thanks ladies! I would much rather just take some herbs if it's working to lower BP (what I was taking before wasn't... Passionflower and celery seed) than mess around with trying to encourage the baby if he/she isn't ready.

[karen1968]

I don't know anything about garlic.

BUT, I had pre-e with my DS (BP was 130/90 at 25 weeks, 150/100 by the time of induction). I've been doing what I can to prevent having it again, so have been taking extra folate, a cal/mag supplement, and stretching every day. It's probably too late for you to try any of that, though.

My mw also put me on dandelion root capsules at 24 weeks because of PUPPs. The PUPPs has totally resolved, but they think I should keep taking the dandelion root because it can help with BP. So, that is maybe something you can add to your regimen, or talk to your mw about.

My mw also told me about a client who had high BP and she ate an insane amount of protein over a couple of days (like, an entire rotisserie chicken and a dozen eggs!) and her BP dropped considerably. I personally don't put much stock in the Brewer Diet (which encourages 100+ grams of protein per day to prevent pre-e), but I don't see that it would hurt!

ETA: FWIW, my BP at my last appt was 118/68, compared to 135/95 at the same point in my previous pregnancy.

[sattygirl99]

My last visit my BP was 137/73, which is higher but not over the limit... yet. Dandelion is going into my next batch of herbal tea. My MW doesn't seem overly concerned now (she was when it was 150/100 though) but I'm just concerned about going post date. I guess I just have to take it as it comes though... I can't *make* the baby come out now so I just have to focus on what I can, which is the BP. The strong tea seems to work... If I can manage to drink it that strong throughout the day, maybe I can at least keep myself reasonably level.. 120/73 isn't bad so if I could keep it right around the 120's/70's, I'd feel better.

I do take a cal/mag supplement... I've been taking it for a while for muscle cramping. I'm about to try increasing it a bit and seeing if it helps. I'm also taking 10,000iu of vitamin D3 (partially to prevent PPD but it's supposed to help BP too).

Thanks mama... I hope your BP stays well this time!!! This is the FIRST time I've had BP issues and I can't figure out why... It's weird, as this is my third and never did I have elevated BP. Luckily, I'm close to my EDD at this point and hopefully can do enough natural encouraging to get the baby to come just before or at EDD and not late. Late is where the concern sets in mostly...

[karen1968]

I hope that tea continues to work for you! your BP stays down and baby comes soon.

I forgot to mention that I drink preg tea, too, but not as often as I should. Your success with it makes me think I should make sure to drink it every day. I use Aviva Jill Romm's "recipe", which has nettles, RRL, red clover, alfalfa, oat straw, rose hips, spearmint. My herbs are getting old (I bought them when I got preg last year and ended up miscarrying), so I do 1/3 cup to 1 quart boiling water and let it steep several hours, often overnight.

[EllyMayMomma]

FWIW, DH, 60, has had high BP for about 10 yrs. He controls it completely with Dandelion Root tea. When he does not take it it runs really high - a couple of weeks ago we ran out for about a week and it went up to 200 over 110. When he drinks 2 -3 cups a day it runs 125 over 70. His highest reading is in the mornings before tea. I think this morning it was 132 over 82 before tea. Tonight it was 125 over 70.

[sattygirl99]

Karen - Nettle, vitamin C, vitamin D3 and evening primrose (taken orally) are supposed to help with BP. We'll see if the vit C and EPO help, I took some last night . I'm out of tea until the store reopens on Tuesday so hopefully these help!!

[ShwarmaQueen]

Hibiscus is used in the middle east for safely lowering BP. There are also many other benefits (urinary tract I believe). I used it my entire pregnancy with DS- I just stewed it (a handful or two) along with my other herbs- alfalfa, RRL, nettle, etc. It's actually delicious!

[sattygirl99]

I've been using that... Doesn't seem to help... Works well to hide the grassy taste of the RRL though, lol.

Thanks ladies! I'm just hoping this baby decides to come sooner rather than after my EDD. My EDD is accurate based on conception as well as early US (not using LMP, which would have me a week further along than I am) so I'm hopeful I won't go late...!

[Sijae]

You could try taking a decent calcium supplement. Calcium is tightly linked with high blood pressure and most American women eat a low calcium diet.

[sattygirl99]

I've been taking a calcium supplement since I was around 20 weeks. The calcium/magnesium helps with the charlie horses.

I think that's where I'm baffled.. I take calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3, EPO, plus the herbs in my pregnancy tea (which are all BP lowering herbs) and my BP is still evelated. It's better but 125/82 (todays reading) is high for me when I run 110/115/70... I'm not sure what else to add in, I feel like I'm taking so many various things already!

Thanks everyone... I've got 2 weeks until my EDD and 2-3 weeks I am willing to go past that so as long as I can keep it together for another 5 weeks at most, I'll make it. I'd LOVE to get the BP down to normal but I don't think it'll happen. I'm almost concerned about how it's gonna drop after birth because it's high, lol. But really, 5 weeks isn't that long and it's going to fly by... right?

[MsBlack]

You know, some women just run a higher b/p than others as pregnancy comes near the end. As long as it's not scary high--not higher than 140/90 or so--and if you have no other symptoms/signs of pre-e--then it's not something you need to worry about. Do take the herbs and such that seem to be helping keep your b/p rise more moderate, just saying there is no need to work toward a 'perfectly normal' b/p at this point. A somewhat elevated b/p may be normal for you, if there is nothing else going on that is concerning.

Does your mw test for protein in the urine? Has she mentioned any blood tests to check out your liver function? Those things can help you both figure out if this is 'normal pregnancy hypertension' or 'pre-e in the making'. Are you having any signs/symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, visual disturbance (spots or anything else that doesn't belong in your field of vision), nausea, abdominal pain, swelling that does not reduce when you rest/sleep or exercise?

Some other things that can help: eating enough in general--high protein may help, but just getting plenty of healthy calories in general is also important. Are you getting enough sleep/rest? Fatique can cause problems of various sorts. What about stress? Just dealing with a potential problem like this can be a stress factor! But I mean, apart from your b/p, are you under higher-than-usual stress lately--money, relationship (including extended fam issues), kids, work, housing...anything? When pregnant, we tend to be more prone to the ill effects of stress than when not pregnant. So you might want to think about these things; even if there is no real way to eliminate a stressor, we can always shift our responses to those stressors so that even if the circumstances don't change, we don't react as hard to them. Also with respect to stress, things like massage and practicing deep relaxation methods can really help a lot.

good luck!

[SilverLace]

In Susun Weed's Herbal for The Childbearing Year she has several remedies for bringing down blood pressure. The one with cream of tartar works the best (sorry I don't remember the details right now). Also, eating lots of celery and cucumbers is one her list.

If you can't find the book PM me and I will dig out my copy of the book for you.

[sattygirl99]

Thanks Mrs. Black...

I think I'm the most concerned, because I didn't do shadow care and I'm a VBA2C which puts me at an automatic c-section if I risk out of HB.

I do have some mild swelling that comes and goes during the day but it's just my ankles and feet. I have occasionally dizziness but it's not be linked to BP (I check when I feel off) but normally blood sugar or my ears (I have an unbalanced equilbrium). I have had the occasional headache as of late but again, not linked to BP as I've been checking. They feel like sinus headaches, stemming up from my nose into one side of my head. I think I've had 2 in the last 6-8 weeks or so which isn't excess. I do have nausea that comes and goes but I'm one who's always suffered from third trimester morning sickness, lol. Lets see... abdomnial pain... Other than what seems to be typical muscle and round ligament discomfort, nothing that I'd think to worry about. It's all low into the round ligament area or just to either side of my belly button which fades with massage. I am quite large (measuring the largest I ever have fundus wise, 7 weeks ahead of GA) so I attribute it to that.

She hasn't said anything about doing any bloodwork or anything. She had me checking my urine the first 2 weeks after she put me on modified bed rest. Occasionally there is more protein in my urine but it's connected to hydration (which I believe is normal?). 98% of the time, it's been trace or negative. Trace is normal for me in pregnancy.

I'm certainly not sleeping enough... I'm up every 45m -1h to pee and it's a 10 min ordeal to get my gaint self out of bed to waddle down the hall, lol. I try to get as much rest as I can and have been taking a nap often when DD does but that leaves my DS watching movies in his room which I hate doing. In terms of stress, there's always stress... be it money or housework (which has been a huge stressor since being put on modified bedrest but my family helped and everything I needed done pre-baby has been done). I do several times a day walk away into a dark room and sit and do relaxation breathing (I'm doing hypnobabies). I try to take a bath every night and there are times where I just lay down and listen to music on headphones and zen. When I feel a stressful situation coming, I tend to just close my eyes and breath deeply through my nose a few times and then deal with it. It seems to be helping... I think, lol.

Thanks again. I'm striving for a perfect BP which I suppose at 38 weeks pregnant, is unlikely to get, lol. Is 140/90 meaning BOTH numbers over that? I know my mom had pre-e with me (I was a 36 weeker because her BP went up to 175/200 and I've never had elevated BP until pregnancy. It made me really nervous to think that THIS might be the time I get pre-e. I probably let it get to me way more than I should of out of fear of losing my HB. You ladies have really helped me feel like my BP is maintained enough that the next 2-5 weeks will be just fine.

Thanks so much!!!

[mcimom]

Half a glass of water w/half a lemon squeezed in and 1-2 tbsp. of cream of tartar. Drink once/day for 3 days and then take a break of 2 days.

It's the potassium in the cream of tartar and the lemon juice that help lower your BP. I controlled my BP this pg for a long time w/that.

I tried garlic too, but didn't seem to have the same immediate effect as the above. I think maybe that's more of a long term solution.

My pg tea is: RRL, nettles, alfalfa, rose hips, hawthorne berry, hibiscus, dandelion - the last 3 ingredients are all supposed to help w/BP. I'm bummed b/c I ran out of all 3 of those ingredients, but I'm 36 weeks and I have resorted to meds b/c it's just kept climbing so I don't think I'm going to bother getting more of them at this point

[Phoenix~Mama]

I hope it stays down for you!

I'm fighting/being looked at more closely too because of an elevated BP last prenatal and +2 protein. I don't have any other symptoms of pre-e thus far.

But! I did up my protein and drank more of my pregnancy tea with nettles and three days later I had a doc appt and my BP was all the way down to 112/70 from 140/70!

Rest is a big one too! And I've been making myself nap on the weekends when DD is napping. And most days when we get home after work/daycare I've been trying to take it as easy as possible just lounging on the recliner and she will bring toys over to me to play with.

Good Luck!

[Engineering_Mama]

It's not an herbal remedy but I had good success when I was pg using chiropractic care to lower my bp. Its a C1 adjustment so not something they necessarily do when your chief complaint is being pg

[sattygirl99]

My chiro is aware of my elevated BP so I'm sure she's working her magic... I love my chiro, I'd be broken without her, lol.

Today my feet are swelling really bad... And I'm rocking way too close to the safe line. Sigh. 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks... It'll be over before I know it!

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by Phoenix~Mama

Rest is a big one too!

Yep! My BP came down significantly when I went out on maternity leave (38 wks). My MW even noticed what a huge difference being at home vs. work made!