[ItTakesTwo]

Hi ladies. I don't often post here, but I do lurk. I'm hoping you can give me some advice.<br><br>
At my doc appointment yesterday, I'm at 37 weeks, my blood pressure was up to 144/80. The doc's not all that concerned as my urine checked out fine, I'm not having any severe swellings or vision problems and I did have a similar reading in my first month ??/82.<br><br>
I want to avoid complications such as preclampsia and do not want to have an emergency c-section. I've been paying extra attention to how often my baby moves, which isn't as much as before as she/he is running out of room in there! LOL<br><br>
Is there anything you ladies might suggest to help me bring down my BP naturally?<br><br>
Thanks!

 

[ItTakesTwo]

No one has had elevated BP and brought it back down on their own? My diet is OK to good, I've slacked off the last month or so.

 

[Therese's Mommy]

Well, I recently saw that dark chocolate works as well as bp meds in bringing down the pressures. I would try resting some time each day on your left side. It could have just been a weird reading. About a month ago I had a reading of 150/84 and my readings since then have been 140/80, 130/76, and 130/74 (can you tell that I am obsessed with my bp! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> ). We attributed the 150/84 to the fact that I was rushing to get to the dr that day and even the 140/80 I attributed that to the fact that I was worried it would be high again and my dr would prescribe meds or something. When I saw that my dr was relaxed about it, I relaxed too and my pressures have been better. You don't have much more time, just try and get some rest, and drink alot of water. At the end (39wks) of my last pregnancy my pressure went up to 140/90, but just a little resting brought it right back down to below 120/80. The best thing to do is to not worry about it...leave that to the dr. You need to be very grateful that you seem to have a dr who is not a spaz...with my first my dr freaked out when my bp went up to 140/90 and I was induced a week later, even though my pressures looked good (with a little resting) and my 24 urine checked out ok (even though they told me it didn't I have since learned that I was in the clear). You will be fine!!<br><br>
Good luck!<br><br>
Beth

 

[momto l&a]

B-6 is wonderful

 

[tofutti]

blue ribbon / brewer diet? i have been on that and have low BP, but not sure if thats why.<br><br>
i agree that resting 5 minutes before they take your bp, trying to relax, deep breaths, etc can make a MAJOR diff. in your readings. it works with my DH for sure.

 

[smudge]

DO NOT sit on the exam table when you go to the Dr. Sit in a chair for your BP. Sitting on the exam table can jack up your reading by as much as 20 points. Always be sure to use the same size cuff. If your arms are a little bigger you may want to go with the large cuff. Always sit and do some deep breathing to relax a bit before the BP is done.

 

[Therese's Mommy]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>smudge</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7985037"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">DO NOT sit on the exam table when you go to the Dr. Sit in a chair for your BP. Sitting on the exam table can jack up your reading by as much as 20 points. Always be sure to use the same size cuff. If your arms are a little bigger you may want to go with the large cuff. Always sit and do some deep breathing to relax a bit before the BP is done.</div>
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These are great suggestions. My regular dr said that the larger cuff will not give a false low read but that a small cuff can give a false high. I always ask for a larger cuff now. Also, my bp is better in a chair than on the exam table. The difference I think is that your feet are on the ground and your arm is supported by the arm of the chair, two things that I have read are important to get an accurate bp.

 

[ItTakesTwo]

Thanks ladies. I bring my almost 2 year old with me and he was being a stinker in the waiting room and I was having a hot flash when the nurse took my BP. The nurse was all concerned but the doc said it was fine and not to worry about it. I do like my doc very much.

 

[thorn]

you could try a calcium/magnesium supplement. I take a 500/250 supplement 2x per day b/c I read that the body can't absorb more than 600mg of calcium at once. The one I take has vitamin D to help the calcium absorb too, and phytonutrients.<br><br>
also you can take epsom salt baths - 2 cups (it's a lot, buy a few boxes!) of epsom salt for a full deep bathtub full, and soak up to your neck for 30 minutes.<br><br>
try to avoid overly processed sodium-filled foods, but salt your normal food to taste and make sure you're drinking lots of water. also getting 30 minutes of moderate paced walking a day will help (and may help you bring on labor too <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">)

 

[sapphire_chan]

Sorry, my first thought was "you really shouldn't watch those baby shows on T.V." and my second was, "any chance your arm got larger and you need the next cuff size?"<br><br>
Glad to see you've gotten good advice.

 

[GinaRae]

Celery and garlic are natural BP reducers. Eat them daily or take a supplement.

 

[HeatherB]

The upper number will fluctuate with things like emotional state, standing vs. sitting, etc., and 140 is just 'borderline.' So I wouldn't be too worried about it! The lower number is the one that can indicate a 'disease' type cause and is of much more concern. Since yours was pretty much normal, I can see why your doc is not concerned! I recently visited the back-up OB and the nurse read my BP as around 140/72, I think it was. She said the 140 was just 'cause I was there, and I knew she was right! I was trying to be relaxed and not anxious, but it didn't work too well! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
If it does continue to creep up, my MW recommends Passionflower tincture. Mine has been really good since taking that, though it was coming out as borderline before that (though the cuff was too small, for sure).