My blood pressure is normal today...

[timneh_mom]

I'm 31 weeks pregnant today, and it was exactly 31 weeks in my last pregnancy when my blood pressure had gotten to the point where I needed medication for it. I'd also developed supraventricular tachycardia, which is a sudden, unexplained (IE, it would happen when I was just sitting there not doing anything) too-fast heart rate. I had to see a cardiologist and get an echocardiogram (ultrasound of my heart) to be sure it wasn't enlarged. Thankfully that all checked out fine and the medication did its job, kept my blood pressure and pulse down fairly well. Interestingly enough, although it continued to creep up even with the meds, it was completely fine throughout my whole 50 hour miserable induction (that I refuse to do again unless someone is going to die!) even though I didn't take medication while in labor.

So as you can imagine, I am so very happy and relieved that today, my blood pressure and heart rate are totally normal. I don't know what will happen from now until the big day, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to ride out the rest of this in peace.

[Mama2E&O]

YAY!
I am 30 weeks plus a few days~ I have a history of pregnancy induced hypertension as well. So far mine has been in the upper 130s/80s which is actually good for me while pregnant- so I know how happy you feel to have normal blood pressure!
Here's to good b/p for the last few weeks that we've got!

[raeinparis]

great news liz! and only 9 weeks til you meet your daughter! wow.

[yonit]

Great news, Liz!! I am also having a week like that. 30 weeks is when things went to "h*ll in a hand basket" very quickly in my pregnancy with my 7yo. I was completely fine, but she was having a ton of problems in utero due to an up til then unknown congenital kidney abnormality which quickly made my home birth a very high risk hospital birth with me on bed rest from 30-38 weeks (when I was induced).

Thank G-d, she is completely fine now (she had surgery to correct it when she was 1yo), but because it is congenital there is a 25% chance of a sibling having the same issue. So, even if nothing develops during the pregnancy we will have to do testing for kidney function after the birth.

I had my 30 week appointment yesterday as well, and everything seems to be completely fine, which was such a huge relief, and we had none of the signs that there was any problem. So, so far so good. Baby is head down in a nice LOA position (but could still move around from there I know). Fluid levels seem normal, all seems good....

On the bp front, I have been taking a high dose magnesium supplement for a completely different reason, and it suddenly occured to me a few days ago that that would keep my bp down and it really should not be a concern. Sure enough my bp yesterday was 100/68 which is below my normal pre-pregnancy bp, so I don't think I will have any problem there.

[MCKMN]

That is wonderful news.. What are you doing, if anything this time ( different ) as oppsed too your last pregnancy. There are so many days, I want too just stop my meds.. I hate taking meds, even my thyroid meds.. Just wondering if you are doing anything this time too help control it.. Eithway,l that is wonderful news, and I am very HAPPY for you

[timneh_mom]

Originally Posted by MCKMN

That is wonderful news.. What are you doing, if anything this time ( different ) as oppsed too your last pregnancy. There are so many days, I want too just stop my meds.. I hate taking meds, even my thyroid meds.. Just wondering if you are doing anything this time too help control it.. Eithway,l that is wonderful news, and I am very HAPPY for you

Well, I'm not really doing anything that different. I think we're eating better, I don't think we ate BAD before, but now that I've got a 2 year old who wants whatever I'm eating, I have tried to clean things up a little. I'm also on the Brewer diet, the one recommended at my Bradley class. I am not following it exactly as they say (no way can I possibly eat that much in one day) but I'm at least trying for the 80-100 grams of protein per day. That would probably be my only change. I am still avoiding caffiene like I did the last time.

I just think this pregnancy has been easier on my body in general, I have felt better, not as sore, not as tired, I actually felt GOOD during my second trimester this time. Also, my mom had been sick when I was pg with DS and was in the hospital 3 weeks, it was really hard (and a long story). Nothing that stressful has happened this time around although DS doesn't sleep well and that has made me crazy at times.

So I'm not sure what part is different, I'm thinking it's because it's a different pregnancy, and maybe my chemistry is meshing better with the baby's this time. Either way I'm happy and still hoping to keep the BP down til the end!

[kaybee]

Hi Liz,

That's great news! I had to deal with high BP last pregnancy. It shot up around 13 weeks (so they couldn't officially call it PIH). This time around, it's been fine, but I remember as the second trimester started, I was checking my BP every few days just to make sure it was ok. You must be so relieved to make it this far with the BP under control.

Glad things are going so well for you!