High Blood Pressure

Hi C.. I had high blood pressure and was on medication after the birth of my first child as well. When I found out I was pregnant the second time, I was on medication and also concerned about the effects. My regular doctor said I should stay on them as there was minimal risk (based on the type of medication I was taking) but when I went to my OB they had me stop taking the meds immediately and had me take a low dose of aspirin (I stopped taking it close to the end of my pregancy as it can have side effects late in pregnancy). I was not on bed rest for any extended period of time, but I quit work a month early as my blood pressure did get fairly high on several occasions. The also had me in at least weekly for sonograms and to monitor my son (non-stress tests). And after all that - everything turned out perfectly fine. I think the attitude towards any meds (BP medicine or aspirin) varies from doctor to doctor, but I personally was more comfortable with the low dose aspirin as opposed to the BP meds, as I felt it was a safer way to go. Sorry so long - I hope this helps and good luck with number 2!

I developed high blood pressure in the third trimester of my first pregnancy, but I never had to take a prescription for it. My blood pressure returned to normal about 3-4 weeks after I delivered. However, I had no problems with high BP during my second pregnancy. Just wanted to let you know that just because you had complications with your first doesn't automatically mean that you will have the same experience with second or subsequent pregnancies. Having worked in a medical center, I know of many women who had to take BP meds during pregnancy. There are several safe meds that are approved for high BP that won't harm the baby. Try not to worry, as this can make you're BP go up just thinking about it. Be blessed!

At the end of my pregnancy with my oldest daughter, I was put on blood pressure medicine and I had been taking 1 baby aspirin a day until I was 36 wks due to pregnancy induced hypertension. Did you have preecalmpsia? There are b/p meds that are safe to use while you're pregnant and you'll probably be switched to one of those if you're not already on one. I believe I was on labetalol. But unless you b/p is really bad or unctrolled I doubt you'll be on bedrest the whole nine months.

I was on medication for blood pressure the entire time the last time I was pregnant and everything went great. They never even had to adjust it. By the end of my pregnancy when they thought it would go up it stayed perfect. I don't know if it was the medication this time around or not but I didn't swell half as much as I did the first time and my first was born in December my last one was a July baby! With my first I didn't take medication and I ended up on bed rest the last 2 months of my pregnancy this time I was fine. Hypertension is a lot worse for you and your baby than controlling the hbp with meds.

I did not have that problem, but a very close friend of mine did. She had high blood pressure during her recent pregnancy and was medication for it the entire time (they did end up changing her medication twice during that time). She did not end up going on bed rest, but her son was born 4 weeks early. She ended up having an emergency c-section, but the baby was a healthy weight and had good lung development so Mom and baby are doing great! Try not to worry about being on the medication too much, as long as your doctors know you're pregnant and are monitoring your condition as well as the baby's, I'm sure you'll both be fine.