[cyrusmama]

Uggg! So I had an appt today with my OB. My blood pressure was high according to both the reading that he and his nurse took. Hers was 150/116. His was lower but still high. Honestly I wasn't suprised. Last appt they said that it was high. So, I figured the stress of thinking about it would make this one high too, but not that high. Oh, and they used a normal cuff instead of the big one that I need.

Anyway, he sent me over to the hospital to have a NST done and some blood drawn. I was there for four hours. I had no contractions, the baby is moving like mad crazy, and my blood pressure steadily dropped the entire time until it was back to normal.

So, now I go back to the OB friday for him to check it again (never mind the fact that I have a machine at home and check it here and it is normal), and I go again next friday, if not before. The thought of it stresses me more.

Dh recommended that I take a dose of rescue remedy before I go and I am seriously considering it.

Is anyone else having bp issues? Any suggestions on how to lower it prior to the appointments with the OB?

 

[javilu]

I don't have any real tips (besides maybe looking up some relaxing breathing techniques), but I definitely get different readings if the cuff is too small. That can make a big difference, so definitely ask for a bigger one next time. Plus, it's not comfortable with a too-small cuff!

 

[DomerJen]

can you get there early and do some yogic breathing?

 

[Carhootel]

I would definitely recommend the rescue remedy

 

[K&JsMaMa]

A proper sized cuff is the key. A too small cuff can give a false high*er* reading. But that bp is pretty high.

I would practice some relaxation and deep breating before you go. It is what it is. The more you relax, the better it will be.

 

[pumpkin]

I'm having similar issues.

I have chronic hypertension and white coat hypertension.
I take blood pressure medication for the chronic hypertension and did agree to increase my dosage during pregnancy when it started trending upward.

I would just start taking your blood pressure at home every day. Then bring in the numbers at each visit. If you get a high reading then call the office. My office asked that I call immediately (day or night) if either number was above 150/90. Hasn't happened yet because my readings at home are always perfect.

We came up with this plan because they wanted me to come in every other day for checks and that just wasn't going to happen. 1) I have a full time job and can't miss that much work. 2) going into the office stresses me out and just makes it worse. 3) the readings in office are not representative of my real readings, I get panic attacks just stepping foot in the hospital.

I've been doing my blood pressure at home since my second appt. They were freaked out the first week, but now that I have days and days of consistently good readings, they stopped even writing down the readings when I bring them in. They just glance at my notebook and see that everything is fine.

I did agree to do more than one ultrasound during the pregnancy because of this. We will probably have 3 total. I also did a 24 hour urine collection and will probably do that one more time. I insisted that be done on a weekend so that it didn't interfere with work and they worked out a way for me to do a weekend drop off.

 

[G&B'sMama]

I had an issue with this during my first pregnancy. Having the right size cuff is key, so make sure you ask for it and insist on it. I would get to the office 20 minutes before my appointment and sit in the quietest corner and do some deep breathing and relaxation exercises (good to practice in preparation for labor too!). This would help a lot, and when I was able to do it, I got much lower readings than when I was not. Rescue remedy is safe to use, and should help with your anxiety about having your blood pressure taken.

Also, this isn't meant to challenge your choices at all, but just to share my experience. My first pregnancy I had a midwife who practiced in a regular medical office with OBs. I had borderline high blood pressure the whole time. With my second, I started with a midwife who was in the same situation and in the beginning of the pregnancy I had borderline high blood pressure again. In the middle of the pregnancy I switched providers (because the midwife retired) to the only other midwife in the town that I lived in at the time. She was a solo practicioner with an office in her home. I never once had a high or borderline blood pressure reading with her. With this pregnancy I am with another solo practicioner, with another homelike office- and no high blood pressure this time either. I have read that some people get higher blood pressure just being in a medical office, and I think I am one of them- its called something like the white coat effect. For me it is the same visiting a regular doctor vs. my naturopath.

 

[cyrusmama]

I went out and bought a new monitor tonight and it is running higher than normal, but not scary high.

Anyway, I am taking the rescue remedy, and found a couple acupressure points that I am going to try. And tomorrow I am going to start on garlic and magnesium supplements. I already eat a banana for breakfast. I also read that epsom salt baths can help.

I wish I could switch OBs. Unfortunately, we are getting state medical and there is only one other doc and no midwives locally who will take a patient on it, and he is BAD. Before our move a couple months ago, I was seeing a MW and my BP was perfect. I do think that the switch has had something to do with the rise in it.

 

[cyrusmama]

Just a quick update before bed.

I went back in today to see the OB. It was actually higher today 163/95. So he went ahead and put me on meds. I was actually pretty relieved with this as a next step. I feel like I can do something that will lower the BP before talks of induction are necessary.