pregnancy related High Blood Pressure?

[dbestone]

well i had my 39 week checkuo on Thurs, and the noticed that my Dr. noticed my pressure was slightly higher than normal. it was 135/80. i brought to his attn that ive been getting headaches, and my hands, face, and feet seemed to be swelling more than usual. he said the swelling could be normal, or it can indicate other things. since that day ive been monitoring it, and this morning i woke up with another haedache, and checked it. it was 143/92. i called him and he said that if the headache didnt go away to go to the ER. it eased up after a while, but just now i checked it and it was 152/60. is that considered high, even though the diastolic isnt past the normal range?? he said it can be pregnancy related and the only thing to get it regulated is delivery. i was wondering if theres something i can do to lower it, and avoid the trips to the ER.? if i get there and its not as high, all there gonna do is send me home. i have my ob appt on thurs. and was wondering if i can hold out, or does my readings seem like they need to be attended to right away? any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[JoyRenee]

If you're still in the normal range, then you should be fine. You may be getting yourself worked up thus causing the higher blood pressure. There are many ways to de-stress and relax. Such as a bubble bath, deep breathing exercises, laying down in a dark and dim room. Just keep everything low key. At your appt. Thursday, ask if they'll strip your membranes (if you're dilating already). This typically causes you to go into labor within 24 hours. My doc did this to me and I had both girls (two different pregnancies) within 24 hours, two days before their due dates. You're far enough along for it to be safe.

[KellyA74]

Like Joy said, they may induce if they find it's a threat to your health....Other than the relaxation techniques, there's nothing that you can do about pre-eclamsia except have your baby.....Watch the diastolic number..it's more important than systolic......I would say that anything over 95 diastolic would warrant an ER or Ob visit......Maybe your OB gave you different guidelines to follow, but I'm just saying, if it were me with no previous problems, that's the # that I would be concerned with!  WOW....only a week (or less) left for you!  TONS of luck!

[dbestone]

well my last day at work was Friday, so maybe that was playing a huge role in the HBP. i think they stripped my membranes when i was induced with my dd. is it normally that painful? but if its worth it, i'll ask can it be done. last week i was only a fingertip dilated. hopefully im a little further this thurs. and he agrees to do it. thanks for the advice!

[JoyRenee]

Most doctors will strip them without telling you. It just causes you to contract (which of course is painful). I remember leaving the doc's office this last time around, after she did it and feeling crampy. It was a more intense cramping and it was localized in/near the cervix. Then I began to have contractions that evening. I had my daughter the following evening!

Sometimes this doesn't work and I don't know if getting this done will cause your BP to rise, but I'm pretty sure your doc wouldn't object!

[dbestone]

my ob was slightly concerned about the reading today because of the affiliation of the headaches along with it. i did read on a site that the main thing is the diastolic, but the systolic can indicate some things also. im just going to relax all day tomorrow and see how things turn out. 5 more days!  the luck im really going to need. im beginning to get nervous. Thanks for the info!

[KellyA74]

Glad that you and your Dr. are on top of it!  Sounds as though you have educated yourself well too...which is half the battle!