High BP facing induction

[eej]

I'm 37 weeks and my OB is concerned about my BP. It has been 140/90 for the last four weeks. Blood and urine tests show no protein, so that's a good thing. However he is still concerned about the BP and is going to make the decision next week whether or not to induce me. I'd really rather not be induced but do I have a choice when it comes to high BP?

[cookiemonster]

Wow, I wouldn't have thought that was high BP? Because your systolic & diastolic measurements are both a bit higher I would have thought, not to worry - lease thats what I was told. I 140/90 I was told everything was still ok.

Obviously i don't have medical knwoeldge, but I'd be sitting firm on NO induction unless you have oedema, high protein levels in urine or dizziness & headaches to accompany it. An induction has a higher possibilty of leading to a C-Section, especially if your not even to term.

I'd do as much research as you can over the next few days/weeks and hold tight to the knowledge that for now, you are still healthy!

[Hollye]

yeah you dont have much choice when it comes to BP. Your doc knows whats best for you and your bub. 140/90 is a little high but still good that it hasnt gone up over the past 4 weeks.

My advice to u is just trust ur doctor and do lots of relaxing to try and bring it down a little bit.

good luck

[eej]

My doc and most of what I read say 140/90 is at the lower end of high, where they start classifying it as high. I do have quite bad oedema of the legs and has recently started in my hands. Its hard to tell if my face is puffy or just getting fatter! Head aches come and go, but there are so many reasons for headaches, I tend to blame them on something else. (wishful thinking maybe)

[cookiemonster]

Oedema is generally only a worry if it sort of comes on fast, IYKWIM. Swelling in general is not necessarily an issue. How about protein in urine, has it been an issue previously?

[pollyanna]

Yeah high bp is usually a pretty fast ticket to induction. But don't stress-it isnt bad. No worse than a normal delivery. I've been induced twice and its a sure thing this time too,because of a complicated medical history. But when my bp hit 150/100 and i was still feeling great-would never have known, i was admitted and induced the next day. A bit of a surprise, but it was all fine. Wishing you all the very best for your impending delivery and remember-stress less. !!!!
Pauline

[Alan]

Hi eej
At 140/90 your BP is a little too high but not high enough to require an induction providing that there are no other symptoms and it does not go any higher. Are you taking any medications to help reduce your BP? There are a number of drugs that can help to lower your BP and are safe to take when pregnant.

Hollye
There are choices when your BP is a little high and your doctor may well know what’s best for you and your baby but unfortunately many of them put a higher importance on what is best for them and will often suggest induction because then they have some control over when the baby will be born.

Pollyanna
An induction can be and often is worse than a normal delivery. There is also a greater degree danger and potential problems to both baby and mum. However there are some circumstances where an induction can save life but a BP that is a little too high is not one of them.

[maybe baby]

Does seem a bit strange - I had high-ish BP but definite swelling and protein in urine so was induced and eventually had emergency - c-section at 5am when kidneys stopped operating properly

[eej]

Hi Alan,

No I'm not on any medication, which I thought would be tried first. he hasn't said a definite yes to induction so I may get to talk him out of it all together. I'll put some suggestions to him first and try and relax to bring it down.

[sweetpea678]

hi eej,

with my first i was induced at 38 due to high bp and onset of pre eclampsia, my signs were bp of 190/115 on day on induction but before that was sitting on 180/90 and that was on meds as it was higher than that at 32weeks. With second dd induced at 39weeks bp 170/90-100 and sweeling but because of previouse history induced it had been high since 20 weeks and had to stop work at 30 week but no meeds.

DD3 iduced overdue no bp probs.

Induction can be hard and fast and end in cs, so you need to have an open mind, if you dr thinks it is necessary it is prob for the best. high bp can change to pre e quickly and that is life threating.


I hope it settles down for you.

[BellyBelly]

I'm surprised they have not offered meds either - guess an induction is more convenient for their bedtime.

You can also try acupuncture to control your blood pressure - good idea to look one up that specialises in pre & post natal health...

[neekyv]

I was put on meds when my blood pressure hit 140/90 @32 weeks. I had blood tests done but they were fine even though I put on 6 kilos in 2 days!all bloat!.
My blood pressue continued to climb and at its highest was 170/110!
It wasnt until I was admitted to maternity for the first phase of my induction due to macrosomic growth that protein was found in my urine. Quite high levels apparently...on the upside- I was down 20kg 2 days after the birth of my son.

Good luck!

[eej]

Well I saw my ob today and we have avoided induction well at least until the 10th of sept for now. So i'm hoping that the little one will come before then and if not back I'll have to negotiate pretty hard. Any suggestions on getting her to come on her own?

[cookiemonster]

Have a look at the following articles.

Naturally Inducing Labour
Induction of labour - to induce or not induce?

I suggest also looking into getting yourself a doula - yes it is late term pregnancy, but if your obstetrician is going to force you into induction he certainly isn't going to make an intervention free labour easy for you. As Kelly would say, he's just looking out for his bedtime.

Maybe check out this article to; Natural birth - giving birthj without intervention.

Remember that an artificial induction is the beginning of the cascade of intervention. Full term is considered anywhere between 40-42 weeks and if it was me unless there was placenta detrioration etc I wouldn't be letting them touch me beforehand.

[BellyBelly]

Originally Posted by cookiemonster

As Kelly would say, he's just looking out for his bedtime.