Hello, I'm new!

[clevah girl]

I've been lurking here for ages, but since I am expecting and planning a home birth, I decided to join in.

I am so excited about having a homebirth! My first son was born in a hospital, and it was a miserable experience. My second son was born at a freestanding birth center with a group of wonderful CNMs. It was wonderful! I would have felt very comfortable going back there, but they are not covered on our current insurance plan (they don't cover midwifery at all : ) and their rates are a little pricey to pay out-of-pocket. It actually is just as well, since I really would like a homebirth anyway.

I have just been going to my family doc for prenatal care at first (figured why not let my insurance pick up the tab for the lab work, etc.) and was afraid that I would risk out for homebirth, as he discovered my BP was high. It continued to measure high, so he put me on medication, which has kept my readings great. I finally decided to at least ask the midwife I wanted to use if she could accept me as a patient, and she said, "No problem, as long as your BP stays normal." My first appt. with her is on Monday!

[indigolilybear]

just for the record, HBP shouldn't be a huge risk factor. i had HBP w/dd (a homebirth) and they just had me lying on my left side.

also, you may want to consider that your BP may be up from teh stress of appt.s etc. w/ds, we didn't do prenatal care and when i checked my BP on my own, it wasn't high at all. sometimes just getting to the appts., etc can be enough for you to register high. just a thought....
also there are herbs that can help though i know you said you're on meds.

good luck on your birthing journey and congratulations!!!

[Chloe]

Clevah girl- drink lots of water, and try to do relaxation breathing... it could help. Good luck to you!

[cottonwood]

right right right! -- white coat syndrome! you may not need medication at all.

Congratulations on your plans to homebirth! I hope you get on well with the midwife! (But if you don't, don't feel discouraged -- just keep looking!)

[SerenityScott]

Hi! I'm planning a home birth too, after having my daughter at 34.5 weeks by cesarean the first time. I am SOOOOO excited to have this baby at home without the rules and policies that go along with hospital births. As for BP, I remember that the Wise Woman's Guide to Herbal for the Childbearing Year has a lot of great info on normalizing BP. One of the biggest suggestions was exercise, in addition to the water guzzling already suggested. I would check the rest of the suggestions for you but my copy is on loan to a friend... Good luck with everything!

I think that white coat anxiety is a pretty good possibility, too, good thinkiing indigolilybear!

[kama'aina mama]

You might also want to take a good look at the Brewer Diet if you aren't already following it. And don't be afraid of salt.

Good luck on your water birth. It is awesome and I am really excited for you!

[clevah girl]

Thanks for everyone's replies! Unfortunately, I think my hypertension is for real. I've had problems with "white coat" hypertension since I was a teen, but now it's elevated even when I take it myself. It's not too high, though, and it's been fine since I started the meds. The midwife I'm seeing on Monday said we would talk about some dietary things and herbs, but also said that as long as the BP didn't get higher, we'd be fine for home birth!