Hi, all! I'm 24F at 16w3d with consistently, and sometimes concerningly high BP (I've had it 200/120 before), especially under stress. I was told it's not much of an issue until preeclampsia becomes a possibility, I'm just worried. I've been under massive amounts of stress the last few weeks and can usually tell when my BP gets considerably high. My question is: Do I actually worry about this now or not? Due to scheduling at work and the doctors' office, I haven't been able to see my OB for my 14-week appointment so I'm pretty behind. I planned to ask them then but no luck with appointment being scheduled anytime soon lol Any advice greatly appreciated! đđ»
Whoa - who told you this isnât an issue?! Unfortunately, theyâre wrong.
Blood pressures like 200/120 are a medical emergency in any adult, pregnant or not. That isnât something thatâs ânot an issue until preeclampsia.â What youâre describing fits chronic hypertension, which matters now.
Uncontrolled high BP increases risk of stroke, placental issues, growth restriction, abruption, and kidney/heart strain, even early in pregnancy.
If you are actually seeing readings â„160/110 at home, thatâs considered severe-range and should be evaluated promptly.
This is manageable and many people with chronic hypertension have healthy pregnancies!! But itâs not something to wait on until the third trimester (or at all).
Best of luck.
It was an ER doctor when I went to the ER for high BP after getting a high reading at work. It was during a panic attack at around 12 weeks :( They did test me there and, fortunately, I have no organ damage and baby was doing very well via ultrasound, but I still can't shake that something's not right. Any amount of stress, especially a lot, gives me moderate, period-like cramping. I feel it's connected to BP and it's concerning. I keep getting brushed off, though đą Not sure what to do
I would make an appt with your PCP and OB ASAP. If youâre able to check your BP randomly throughout the day and keep a log of the readings, and the dates/times the readings occurred, that will be helpful for your PCP to determine if itâs a chronic hypertension vs episodic. Granted 200/120 is a hypertensive crisis whether youâre at rest or just stressed.
Whoa, 200/120 is nuts! Who told you that it's not much of an issue until preeclampsia becomes a possibility? I feel like it's concerning whether or not you are pregnant. I had gestational hypertension/potential developing preeclampsia with our first (and my BP was going up again with our second but we delivered early for other reasons).
Are you able to call your OB and take regular BP readings (maybe every hour for several hours, or several times throughout the day)? Even without an appointment, my OB will definitely want me to at least call about something like that.
It was an ER doctor when I went for getting a high reading at work, as instructed to go by my OB and midwife. I was about 12 weeks at the time. Getting in touch with my OB/midwife has been almost impossible lately, at I'm experiencing excessive hold times (when I called about my BP, I was on hold almost 40 minutes) and no return calls. I work the days they're open so I usually can't wait long periods of time lest I get in trouble/am late for work :(
That's so tough, I'm sorry. Is it possible to switch to a different OB/midwife practice, even if it's a little farther away? That's what I ended up doing.
I just got out on BP medication two weeks ago at 10 weeks because my reading came back at 159. You should be on medication. I would try to get into a doctor or urgent care asap that will prescribe if your OB wonât.
This is not okay at all! It definitely needs to be treated asap