Blood pressure problems

[SumnerRain]

Last night my midwife did not like my blood pressure AT ALL. I just took it again today and it is still higher than I like (128/98), where normal for me (in pregnancy) is around 120/80. My hands, feet, and face are not swollen or puffy at all, I only gained one pound this week and I think two this month. No protein in my urine, no headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, or any other symptom of Pre-E. My nausea is increased, but I have had nausea problems this entire pregnancy so it is not sudden onset, just increased.

I see my midwife again on Monday and I am worried I will be risked out if I don't get these numbers under control. Does anyone have any tried and true methods of lowering B/P that are safe in pregnancy?

[kalisage]

Here are some things you can try;

-UP UP UP your protein intake (get rid of as many sugars as possible, and remember some processed salty foods up your sugars)
- push plenty of fluids
- Epsom salt baths
- REST, if you need to be on your feet balance it with 20 min on feet, 20 min feet up.
- Most important, reduce all the stress you can!

I hope everything goes ok!

[smeisnotapirate]

I have no idea how to help, except to rest. Get your teens to keep your 3yo occupied if you can.

Good luck!

[MarchWillow]

First off (((hugs))) I have been battling this myself and I can totally relate to the frustration! Here is my massive list of things my mw's have had me do/take to get my BP down.

Protien and veggies only. Avoid carbs and sugar. Watch what you drink too....juices can be high in carbs. Table salt on veggies is okay but avoid anything with MSG like it is diseased. (it's in more than chinese food btw ) The idea here is to actually over protien...the very thing they now warn dieters not to do-but this is special circumstance. So, meat, eggs and bean it up.

Herbs they've had me take: Alfalfa, Passion Flower, Dandelion, Zinc, Nettles. There are some awesome tea's at www.westernbotanicals.com ....one of them is mother's tea, which has rrl in it too and is supposed to help with breastfeeding after as well. Many of the herbs they have me take, they order from that website, and then sell to me from their stock. At the least get some Nettle leaf and dandelion leaf capsules at your local health food store.

Other remedies: Epsom salt baths, cucumbers, caffiene (for it's diuretic properties), and of course, laying down on the left side which is the common catch all that an ob will prescribe...bedrest. I prefer to alternate that with a little activity just to keep the fluid in my legs moving....but short periods, light movement.

It's a good sign that you are not swelling-I gained 12 pounds this last week and we are pulling out all stops! As of my appt today (48 hours after the 12 pound gain) I have lost only one pound in the 48 hours but by doing all the protien and the herbs my bp dropped significantly! Enough so that my homebirth is no longer in jeapordy and we are just "holding out" watching me close. If I start to slide again, then there's nothing more we can do at home and I either need to herbally induce or transfer to my old ob's care.

SO...I will be munching eggs, steak, chicken, fish and beans right along with ya!!! Oh-there's also some good protien shake mixes that are fairly cheap at most pharmacies. Just read the labels real well and make sure they are not adding carbs to the mix too and just advertising the protien part on the front.

GL mama!!! Happy eating!

[amyaebi]

Twice a day, when my bp was up, I would have a cup of cottage cheese with a whole sliced cucumber as a snack, along with my high protein meals. Any water therapy you can do will also help -- swimming and bathing. Rest, rest, rest and relax. Avoid all stress.

Good luck! I know how stressful it can be!!!

Amy

[happyfrog]

is the blood pressure cuff being used too small? that can inflate the numbers. . .i was borderline for the larger cuff and it makes a HUgE difference for me - esp since in pg i pack on a lot of weight (genetic thing) so i end up rather fluffy. ..

bettyann

ps magnesium/calcium supplements will lower bp - 1 tablet 2x day.

also, boost your protein intake. that also will lower bp.

[RootBeerFloat]

I wanted to reiterate how important increasing your protein intake while decreasing your carb intake is for blood pressure. My midwife included some info in my prenatal nutrition stuff from Dr. Brewer (of the Brewer pregnancy diet); in it he recounted how a patient of his brought down her blood pressure late in pregnancy by eating eggs like crazy over a weekend. I can say from experience that if I eat too many carbs, especially junk, my blood pressure shoots up, and if I eat low carb/high protein, it comes back down.

Hot epsom salt baths are a traditional remedy for pre-e. 2 c epsom salt in very warm bath water, soak for at least 30 mins.

The neasuea could indicate pressure on your liver, which your blood pressure also seems to be saying. I've had luck with dandilion root and milk thistle for liver support in the past. Also avoid laying on your right side, the baby could be squishing your liver in that position.

[SumnerRain]

Wow, thank you everyone!! Great advice you have all given me!

I have upped my cal/mag from 1,000mg a day to 2,333mg a day by adding two more at breakfast and lunch instead of just the 3 pills one times daily. On the gentlebirth website it said to take between 1,000/3,000 a day, so I am kind of meeting in the middle.

I know I have better luck with big cuffs when I was seeing a CNM for a hospital birth, I will talk to my HB midwife to see if she has a large cuff we could use instead.

I am going to increase my protein intake, it has been something I have been struggling with this entire pregnancy since I am really not a big meat/egg person, I will keep trying to add more since I know I am well below where I need to be.

Good to know about the epsom salts. I have been taking baths almost daily for the last 3 months, and I have been adding epsom salt to about 10% of my baths, but with no real reason... maybe my intution was kicking into high gear, I will add them to most of my baths now!

I am also a closet Coke drinker : I am wondering if my readings are lower in the morning when I see her because that is pre-soda than they are in the evening when she checked me last night (and me tonight?) I guess I REALLY need to kick the habit now.

I have had nausea issues this entire pregnancy, the blood pressure issue just started, so I am not sure they are connected. I do notice more nausea when I have more BHs, so it could be my stomach or my liver being pressed on, who knows. I don't think I have HG, because I don't throw up, but I have to pretty much force any food I eat into myself because I always feel so sick. I also have only gained back about 8 of the 10 lbs I have lost this pregnancy (not counting the 5 lbs I lost and gained back from being pukey a few times from medications not agreeing with me).

PS. Now I am REALLY craving cucumber!

[amyaebi]

I forgot to add:

When I was searching MDC about natural ways to reduce bp there was something said about cream of tartar dissolved in water. You only do it for a couple of days, but it has amazing results. Maybe search for info about that (you could drink it the day of or before your next reading).

Amy