in April 2025 Babies 🇬🇧

Hypertension

Hi guys, so these past few weeks I’ve had to be having my blood pressure checked twice a week, which then lands me going up the hospital for hours on end for ctg and monitoring as my blood pressure is always borderline! Ends up coming down and I get discharged. Now I’ve had a blood test for further testing for preeclampsia and blood test was fine and also there’s never any protein in my urine either! I’ve had a doctor tell me ‘tell them to use the large red cuff’ whilst checking my bp, and then one said I could go on a small dose of labetalol but I would have to be induced at 39 weeks and then it could effect babies blood sugar levels once born and also in future pregnancies I guess I would be considered more high risk and need more monitoring from 12 weeks onward. The thing is I do also get some rib pain too and my feet and hands get pretty swollen aswell! I’m not too sure on what to do? Whether to go on the medication or not? My next appointment is Tuesday so I’m hoping my blood pressure will read fine but I’m expecting another trip the MAU! Just wondering on what I can ask/see what other options there are?

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I’m in the same position as you however they said they don’t want to offer me medication YET but we’re continuing with the twice weekly monitoring for now. Which will result me in going to triage and then them sending me home as I’m board line too 😅 it’s like being on a hamster wheel. Did you ask them to use the larger cuff? I’ve got to ask them on tues to use a different cuff as I got the same advice! I’ve been thinking about what I’d say if they’ll recommend medication to me and my thought process is: ask all the questions, what does this mean for my pregnancy, what are the pros, what are the risks (as in actual risks with stats), what are the side effects, how will this impact me, how will this impact baby. I am also planning to ask is there a stage inbetween this eg would finishing work earlier help, any changes in diet or exercise etc. Also have you been admitted to hospital? Only asking as they were thinking about admitting me on Monday to monitor blood pressure for a longer

Period of time but didn’t. If you haven’t already had this, you could ask them if it’s an option so they can get a good clear pic of your BP?

Have you tested your BP at home at all? Just to see if it is always high or if it's raised at appointments?

I’m on labetalol and was with my first. I took 200mg twice a day with my first from 16 weeks. He had to be monitored for 24 hours after birth to make sure his blood sugar was fine which it was. I don’t think it affects many babies blood sugar, especially if it’s just a low dose. This time round I’m now on double the dose I was then so I will see if it’s had an impact.

Also have you checked your blood pressure when you’re at home? You may find it’s much lower than the readings you get in hospital

I am in the same boat. They have given me the stat dose of labetalol twice and made me come back the next day and then it's normal. I've been in every day since Thursday and they want to see me again tomorrow. Think it's going to turn into a daily thing. I'm 38+3 and both times I've felt awful on the medication so would rather go for daily monitoring than medication. I've also heard they induce you at 39 weeks if of the meds so I don't see what good me taking them now is, I'd rather they just induced

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