High Blood Pressure Question

I posted on Friday about a specialist telling me that there is a problem with the vascularization of the placenta, and that I will probably have preterm delivery due to high blood pressure, toxemia, or preeclampsia. So, I went to my original OB today and without seeing the results of the ultrasound from the specialist, my doctor said I have pre-existing chronic hypertension. However, I completely disagree. I never had problems with my blood pressure and my doctor basically ignored what I was trying to tell him the specialist said. So here is my question. The specialist said that the baby will be telling my body he needs blood and my body will have to compensate by pushing the blood harder to get it through the placenta. So, if my doctor gives me a medication to treat hypertension, that stops my body from pumping hard, if the baby says he needs blood, will my body not respond because he gave me a medication to prevent it? I am so worried about taking this medicine, and causing the baby to slow down in growth. I have to start going every week, with an ultrasound every 3 weeks. I am still really worried about taking the medication. Has anyone else dealt with high blood pressure, or anything like this? Any help would be great!

[adestar]

I have high blood pressure and I am taking the meds.  There is pretty much only one kind to take.  It's definitely better to take the meds, but having said that the specialist said that I can still develop superimposed hypertension.  I had to do a 24 hour urine test so they could get a baseline for my protein.  I believe he said sometimes the meds can cover up the preeclampsia and they wouldn't know if they didn't have the protein baseline.    Also,
I find your story interesting because my test results came back abnormal and he did say that could be an indicator that other problems may arise with the pregnancy (like preeclampsia) not that the test meant that there was actually something wrong with the baby.

[Cheyenne_08]

What drug were you prescribed? My doctor said to take Procardia XL.....

[first_time_mommy]

How far along are you?  I had pre-eclampsia too, but it was towards the end of my pregnancy.  The doctor had to induce me 2 weeks before my due date.... she was going to prescribe me a medication, but on my 2nd postpartum chec-up I was back to normal.... I don't know why I had it, but I know it is dangerous for both mother and the baby if it is not treated... good luck.

[Cheyenne_08]

I do not actually have preeclampsia......I am at super high risk for it. However, my doctor is wanting to medicate for hypertension when in fact, my blood pressure is only high when I am up moving around and out and about. When I am sitting or in bed my blood pressure is fine. So I am worried about taking this medication that will bottom out my blood pressure, when my blood pressure is only high under certain circumstances. I thought he would say bed rest, and I feel really guilty questioning my doctor's decisions....it just is not making any sense to me.

[tmv]

In all actuality, you have to move around and such. You are up more than down, right?  One of the biggest problems with pregnancy and high b/p is that it can actually cause the placenta to break loose from the uterus. I don't mean to scare you, but the dr is probably right.  When your b/p is up, your blood vessels are constricted (tight and small). Your baby is not getting the oxygen level that he/she would if your b/p was normal.This can stress the baby. When you take a b/p med, your blood vessels dilate(open up and get bigger) to lower the pressure. Did he do blood test and have you had protein in your urine? Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry.  Take the pill the same time (say 9am) every morning. It will also help out when you go into labor to prevent a stroke, seizure or stress the baby. You can still monitor your b/p and move around which is healthy. Best wishes, tmv  p.s.

[Cheyenne_08]

I am just going to record my blood pressures for the next week and just explain to the doctor that my blood pressure is fine under most circumstances, but the minute I start moving a lot or anything, my blood pressure goes up. So therefore, maybe I don't need medication that could cause bigger problems by making it too low! I don't know, I am so confused.

[adestar]

I guess I'm wrong about the one kind not unless that's just a different name for  the one I take.  It's methyldopa.

[over40club]

I had preclamp. with my second preg. and my bp never went back down to normal after my DD birth she was early induced at 34 weeks and she weighed 4 lbs 10 ozs and was very healthy, went straight to reg nursury no problems...I just had my 3rd baby in Jan had to be on the meds you mentioned and the aldomet the whole time...dosage increased till the end..delivered a haelthy 7lb 12 oz DS at 36 weeks. The danger is the placenta shearing off the uterine wall if pressures get too high....very dangerous for you and deadly for the baby...take the meds! HOw far along are you? THe meds did not affect my babies. I'm now back on my pre-preg. meds. Guess I'll have to deal with bp issues the rest of my life now.

[L J]

Hi there. I had pre-eclampsia with all three of my pregnancies. Toxemia is the full blown version of pre-eclampsia which is pregnancy induced high blood pressure. Toxemia is a serious risk, but if the doctors are aware you shouldn't reach that point. I never took any blood pressure medication until my babies were born. My first was induced at 38 weeks, my second & third I went into labour at 38 weeks. My first the hbp started at about 32 weeks and I was hospitalized at 35 weeks. My second & third the hbp didn't start until I went into labour, and my blood pressure went 190/120. The risk with high blood pressure in pregnancy is that the placenta doesn't work it's full capacity which may cause low birth weight babies. The risk of it going as high as mine did in labour is a stroke. All my children are in perfect health, they just started out small(6lbs) by one they were perfectly average. My eldest is 14 today and towers over me.

Do research into the medication that they recommend and weigh your options. Any blood pressure over 140/90 should be monitored regularly, if yours if higher than that I would consider the medication. Good luck.

[rubyolivia]

Did you call the specialist back and ask them their opinion? What you are saying still makes the most sense to me....unless like one of the posters above said, that the blood vessels are too restriced DUE to the high blood pressure and if you take the meds it will open them to get blood to the baby normally. (???????) Don't feel guilty for second guessing him....I'm second guessing him after your appointment and he's always been great to me!

Have a good Tuesday! :0) I'm 20 weeks today!!!! Still paranoid to go to my u/s tomorrow though! SIGH! Talk to you later!

[ksmom]

I really feel your stress on this situation.  I have never had BP problems, until during delivery of my daughters, and with my last daughter three years ago my BP stayed way up.  So my doc. put me on meds. once we had it under control and I found out I was pg they put me on metroprolol.  My BP so far has been great, but now that I'm entering my third trimester (30wks), she said we really have to watch because your BP goes up naturally and because of the BP problems it puts you at a higher risk for Pre E, and the other issues you mentioned.  I can say mine did get fairly low during my second trimester, but I would guess that your doc. is worried primarly for the third when most of the symptoms for pre e can show up as well as the rising BP.  I was scared to death taking the meds, I dont believe in taking anything during a pregancy but my doctor said the risk of not being on them out weighed the slight risk (small birth weight) of taking them.  I would feel free to quesiton your docs. on anything you're uncertain of, your scared for yourself and your baby and that is understandable, your doc. should awnser any questions so that you feel confortable with the sitaution. Good luck!

[ksmom]

You mentioned that your Bp didnt go up until delivery and it was 190/120 I too have had this same problem with my last three pregnancies and I'm terrified for del this time because last time the doctors freaked me out becasue it was so high in delivery. My question for you, is how long were you in labor, did the lengh of time effect your BP and what did the doctors do to mantain it during delivery.  I'm just trying to be a little more prepared this time, I am on meds now, so my doc thinks we might have better luck in del.  But I'm just starting my third trimester 30wks so we'll see how my BP holds up the next few wks.  

[L J]

All three of pregnancies ended in emergency c-sections. First one was due to distress and high blood pressure - labour 16 hours. Second one I elected for c-section but as she came early they still had me in labour for more than 16 hours, the blood pressure got higher the longer I was in labour and they gave me magnesium sulphate to try and control it. Third one I also elected a c-section as I predicted the same would happen as before, he came early also and my blood pressure was at 160/110 when I arrived at the hospital 8 hours into labour and kept getting higher, only in labour 12 hours that time. I think if you are already on medication that it should help it stay under control when you go into labour. For me the doctor is not going to let me going into labour this time and hopefully that works. I hope this helps.

[ksmom]

It does help.  My doc mention the magnesium, if necessary.  I've had all vaginal del and del pretty quick once they give me the potossion (sp) but w/out that I think I'd still be pregnant w/ my first daughter.  Ive never heard of anyone else who's had this problem so I appriciate the advice.  Have they ever firgued out why this happens to you?  

[L J]

I am glad I could help. I have kidneys that don't function at 100% and therefore am prone to high blood pressure. So far it only happens when I am pregnant.
I hope everything works out for you. Take care of yourself.