High BP Issues

[Deleted]

TL;DR - I have high BP and I'm freaked out.

Pretty much since my second prenatal appointment at 12 weeks I have had high BP readings at the doctor's office in the 140/80-90 range. I haven't had a check-up in a long time since before this pregnancy, so I have no idea what my BP ranges were prior to being pregnant.

My doctors don't seem too concerned but they had me do a 24 hour urine catch to test for proteins at 16 weeks and that came back all clear. The twins are always measuring on track (Baby B is a few days ahead, but they're fraternal and they are each following their own growth curve). At my 20 week appointment on Monday my BP was in the same range and they checked it twice but I had a new doctor (I go to a practice with 10 OBs, so I get a different person at each appointment) and he seemed more concerned than the others about my BP. He wants to bring me in for bi-weekly rather than monthly prenatal appointments.

I'm not even sure what I'm looking for in this post but it's just something that has been nagging me since my appointment. I am overweight and have been my entire life pretty much but other than that I'm pretty healthy, all my bloodwork and my early GD tests came back clear. But this BP issue is really stressing me out, and so is the idea of having biweekly appointments from this point on. I know it's a good thing that my doctors are being proactive, but it's just constantly on my mind and making me more stressed out, which probably isn't helping the BP issue.

I guess what I'm looking for is just to hear your experiences if you had BP problems during your multiples pregnancy if it caused complications, or if you had to go on medication? Or just to vent. I know this is small fry stuff compared to what other twin moms have dealt with.

[ndracer]

I've been borderline high BP since 19 weeks. I know it runs in my family and I've always kept mine low with lots of exercise. But with twins they have limited how much/type of exercise I can do. So I think that's why I'm borderline high now. I did the 24 he urine catch too. So fun but they kept me on normal appointments. They do take my BP when I first get into exam room and then let me sit about 5 min and take again and it's always so much lower. I'm 29 weeks now and everything is still going fine. I am trying to walk or swim regularity to help keep it down. Try not to stress. You don't need that!

[Deleted]

Feb 19, 2015 0:30:00 GMT -5 ndracer said:

I've been borderline high BP since 19 weeks. I know it runs in my family and I've always kept mine low with lots of exercise. But with twins they have limited how much/type of exercise I can do. So I think that's why I'm borderline high now. I did the 24 he urine catch too. So fun but they kept me on normal appointments. They do take my BP when I first get into exam room and then let me sit about 5 min and take again and it's always so much lower. I'm 29 weeks now and everything is still going fine. I am trying to walk or swim regularity to help keep it down. Try not to stress. You don't need that!

[br

Glad to hear you're doing well at 29 weeks! I have barely been able to get any exercise in with the snow and ice we've been having. It sucks. I'm going to look into the possibility of swimming somewhere if I can find a place, that might be my only real option for staying active. Hopefully that will help!

I will try not to stress. It's hard though I'm sure you know .

[ndracer]

Oh yes I know. The day they had me do the urine catch I didn't understand what was happening. My doctor just looked at my BP and sent me to the hospital. I was alone and freaking out until a nurse there calmed me down and explained it's very normal for them to do that in high risk pregnancies.

Sorry you're having to deal with all that crazy cold weather. I'm out in California where it's been springlike temps but it's also kind of freaky since we need the rain so bad. Wish we could take some snow off your hands.

[quinncat]

I had pih with both my pregnancies. I was put on bp meds with each pregnancy. With the twins, I went to a mfm that specialized in pregnancy hypertension. I think I saw him a total of 3 times (which was good cuz it was. 2 hour drive). I also had to get twice weekly nsts starting around 30 weeks due to the medication I was on. I never did get put on bed rest or anything.

[breezyweezer]

Sorry I can't share experience but I totally understand how worrying that could be. Of course, you know you need to not stress so you don't raise your BP even more

Do you watch your salt intake? Maybe you could really cut back on that? Drink as much water as you can. Try some relaxation exercises..that's all I got.

Keep us posted.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2015 14:34:47 GMT -5 breezyweezer said:

Sorry I can't share experience but I totally understand how worrying that could be. Of course, you know you need to not stress so you don't raise your BP even more

Do you watch your salt intake? Maybe you could really cut back on that? Drink as much water as you can. Try some relaxation exercises..that's all I got.

Keep us posted.

Thanks. I am cutting down on the sodium, but it was difficult when I still had my severe morning sickness because at that point I was willing to eat whatever would stay down. Now that I'm finally feeling better I am focusing on cooking at home, cutting sodium as much as I can, and upping my water intake. Hoping that it helps .

[carrotcake]

I would ask if you can monitor your BP at home instead of having so many appts if it's stressful for you. You can buy an auto BP machine for $30 or so or maybe rent one?

My BP was borderline starting around 24w. I had protein in my urine from pretty early on as well. I did a 24hr catch at 24w and it came back fine.

BP crept up again at 32w and after another 24hr catch, protein was elevated. I spent a weekend in the hospital for monitoring and was dx with mild pre-e.

I bought a BP machine and self-monitored 2x a day with weekly bloodwork. End date pushed to 37w and strict instructions to go straight to the hospital if anything was off.

The pre-e never progressed and my water broke spontaneously and completely unrelated at 34w. Babies spent 13 days in the NICU.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2015 21:40:36 GMT -5 carrotcake said:

I would ask if you can monitor your BP at home instead of having so many appts if it's stressful for you. You can buy an auto BP machine for $30 or so or maybe rent one?

My BP was borderline starting around 24w. I had protein in my urine from pretty early on as well. I did a 24hr catch at 24w and it came back fine.

BP crept up again at 32w and after another 24hr catch, protein was elevated. I spent a weekend in the hospital for monitoring and was dx with mild pre-e.

I bought a BP machine and self-monitored 2x a day with weekly bloodwork. End date pushed to 37w and strict instructions to go straight to the hospital if anything was off.

The pre-e never progressed and my water broke spontaneously and completely unrelated at 34w. Babies spent 13 days in the NICU.

Thank you so much for sharing. I thought about monitoring at home and my doctor said it's not necessary yet, but I might get a machine anyway. The doctor told me to also call or come in if I ever feel "off," but I don't even know what that means. I feel totally fine but my BP is still considered high, so obviously I can't really gauge what's going on with me.

[julie216]

@sassycassieb, What carrotcake said! I monitored my BP at home with DD 1. My bp runs on the low side. So they started the 24 hour catch
at 34 weeks when it was 130/84. It was negative. I purchased one and monitored at home till I was induced at 38w4d. (due to low amniotic fluid).
Home readings were always great. 118/75 - 123/80. I would bring it with me for my appointments so my OB could see the readings. Good luck!

[Deleted]

Thanks julie216, I think you both convinced me to take it at home as well! At least if it's significantly lower at home I can tell my doctor that perhaps my readings are just higher in the office.