high b/p and homebirth

[DragonflyMom]

I'm a plus size momma and recently despite exercise and diet have had issues with my BP

Im hypertensive and worried that this will stop me from being able to have a natural birth.

Has anyone done it successfully?

Any tips?

[HeatherB]

Are you currently pregnant? Most MWs will have some sort of cut-off for what they can safely deal with at home. I believe our state has a limit that it puts on MWs for when they need to transfer care, though there may be a little wiggle room in that. Thankfully, with careful monitoring and natural interventions, we were able to avoid any significant issues in all 3 of my homebirths, despite my blood pressure increasing a bit towards the end. (It usually goes higher after the birth, actually.)

Things that might help:

- passionflower tincture (this is my MW's favorite remedy for either chronic or acute issues)
- soaking in water, up to your chest, for at least 20 minutes (some say even getting *just* your chest covered can help)
- increase protein intake (some say large amounts of protein in a short period can do the trick quickly)
- drinking a combination of cream of tartar and lemon juice (google for specifics)
- ensure you're getting sufficient quantities of salt, i.e., do not restrict
- stretching, at least 15 minutes a day

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting at the moment (I'm up in the middle of the night with a sick 3yo), but there will be other input in the Homebirth forum, as well. If you haven't posted there, I'd recommend it.

Hope you are able to have the birth you want!