Higher blood pressure

I had slightly raised blood pressure at my booking appointment but I can’t remember what it was - although it was fine at 14 weeks when I got checked by the obstetrician I was still put on aspirin to prevent pre-eclampsia as I was considered a higher risk with having twins and having a higher booking BP. So they may want to put you on aspirin if you haven’t already been put on that? X

Mine was a bit high at my booking in appointment, so I was put on aspirin and referred to the blood pressure clinic. I just have to take my blood pressure regularly at home and submit the readings on an app. Of it ever goes over 140/90 I have to contact triage. This has happened once and they just got me to come in and was monitored for half an hour, in which time it went back down. They also checked my urine which was fortunately fine. They said if it hadn't have gone down they would have put me on some blood pressure meds, which they may have admitted me to do as they like to keep an eye on you when you first go on them. I did also have to go for an additional scan at 23 weeks to check blood flow to my placenta and have another one at 28 weeks. If all is fine at that I'll go back to normal monitoring. If there's any concerns I'll then just have additional growth scans and blood pressure monitoring till baby is here.

I was really nervous when I first found out about all this but I've done a lot of research and I think the best thing is that they've spotted it and will now keep a closer eye on you. Doesn't mean that anything will go wrong, but atleast this way they'll spot any potential issues sooner. My mum had high blood pressure for all of her pregnancies and had 5 healthy babies with no real issues during labour or pregnancy apart from needing to be induced slightly early. I hope that helps to relieve any anxiety!

This is reassuring. I’m getting it checked again in 2 weeks and then if it’s still the same or gone up then I think blood pressure tabs or aspirin in the way forward and monitoring. It’s good they keep monitoring!

@Hannah I was put on aspirin and blood pressure medication at 13 weeks. Had another growth scan booked for 27 weeks and then 31 weeks and 35 weeks. Annoyingly they cancelled the 27 week one because they checked the flow at 20 week scan and all was well and I guess the size was good too! Bit annoyed they cancelled it because time between 20 and 31 week Is 11 weeks 🙄

I had hypertension pre pregnancy so have been closely monitored by the team since the start. I’ve been on medication and aspirin since the beginning and have no side effects and keep your blood pressure under control, so should that be a route you end up on all the medication is absolutely fine for you and baby. It also means you get more scheduled appointments and scans to keep track of baby which has been reassuring.

@Becca that's what it's been like with me but my last appointment was literally 8th of October and next one is 18th November 🙄 so much for keeping an eye on me 🤨

I can highly recommend buying yourself a home BP monitor. 🥰 they are about £25 on Amazon. Mine picked up my preeclampsia with my first child and also gave me a sense of control to be able to check when I felt a bit funny 😘

@Alina oh wow that is a while.. I seem to be there every few weeks it’s exhausting but reassuring. Although I’m only 25 weeks currently so maybe they will ease up if I stay on track 🤞🏻

We just went to our 25 week appointment this evening and my wife (who is carrying) had a slightly higher than usual BP but our midwife said they don't think much of it unless its increased by around 20bpm, which obviously yours has exactly. It's good that they have asked you back to keep an eye on it!

So update got it checked 4 hours later and went back down to 122 who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

My bp slowly kept increasing during my first pregnancy particularly around 30wks. I mentioned it at every appointment - that’s not normal for me. But each time they’d make an excuse, retake it until it was acceptable and one even joked that she shouldn’t be talking about delivery before taking bp. I was diagnosed with late onset pre eclampsia and PIH - had to be induced because of how far things had gotten. Keep advocating for yourselves and your babies xx