High Blood Pressure in First Trimester

[adam03]

I posted this in the Dad's forum, but I feel this is probably a more appropriate location.

My wife is 10 weeks pregnant and her BP was measured as 150/100 at the doctor's office. The doctor is definitely concerned.

What could this mean long term, short term, etc?

We are both pretty worried about it.

[akemt]

Adam,

It sounds like your wife has chronic hypertension since it came on so early. BTW, I am no doctor. She can still have that diagnosis even if her BP's go down post-pregnancy...I think it is just called Gestational Hypertension then. Not sure. And if I remember right, stats about chronic hypertension are that 1 in 4 will develop preeclampsia. The high blood pressure can still cause problems without having "pure preeclampsia" so your wife will likely be put on blood pressure medication and that is fairly common in cases like this.

Is she seeing a perinatologist/Maternal Fetal Specialist (someone who specializes in high risk pregnancies)? If not I highly suggest you make an apt with one...they will be best capable of handling your wife's care. You can find one in your area at this website:
www.nasshp.org/address.htm

Feel free to ask any more questions and I apologize that I was not of much help. Others will hopefully add more.

Best of luck! And be proactive about receiving good care for your wife and baby!


Catherine (22)
DH Britton (27)
Emma Margaret (03/02/03) 37 weeks from PIH & oligo

[annegarrett]

Catherine is totally right. I would support everything she said. If you do a search of the site you will find others with this issue and see what they have done or how they were treated. Most doctors will put her on antihypertensives. Do not let the fact that her BP might fall in the second trimester confuse her doctor or you both. Most women have a natural dip in BP in the second trimester so if a woman HAD a high BP and then it went to normal--her problem might be missed.

Let us know what we can do! We are all here for you!



Anne Garrett
Executive Director
Preeclampsia Foundation

[akemt]

Here's one of the links I found when searching in the "ask the experts" section for chronic hypertension...hope it gives you a little more info/understanding:

www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73

Catherine (22)
DH Britton (27)
Emma Margaret (03/02/03) 37 weeks from PIH & oligo

[adam03]

Thank you all! I just have to quit worrying about it because I think I'll make my wife's blood pressure go up even higher! LOL!

We are going to buy one of the more expensive blood pressure kits....off to buy it now..

Thanks again to everyone!

Adam