Conference moira::parenting

    I know that during my first pregnancy my blood pressure was considered
    normal.  What "normal" is, I don't know.  But 2 weeks before Alyssa was
    born, I came down with Toxemia, which is associated with high blood
    pressure.  It causes the baby's heart rate to speed up.  
    
    I would watch your salt intake and if you notice redness in your hands
    and face and swollen legs/ankles/feet, call your doctor and have him
    check your blood pressure.  Most women get swollen feet without high
    BP, but it's one of the symptoms.
    
    Sorry I can't offer anymore information.
    
    Gail
    

Unfortunately, I'm an expert on this subject.  I was pulled out of work a
month early and put to bed.

High blood pressure alone is called Pregnancy Induced Hypertension.  It happens 
more often in first pregnancies than in subsequent pregnancies.

This is not the same as pre-eclampsia, however high blood pressure is one of the
symptoms of pre-eclampsia, so they watch you carefully for other symptoms
to develop (swelling, headaches, etc - there are other notes that cover this,
like the previous reply. I'm not all that familiar with it).

The problem with PIH is that it is hard on the placenta.  It can cause the 
placenta to age prematurely, and so the baby's food and oxygen supply can be 
reduced.  In the worse case, they have to induce labor, because the placenta
can no longer support the baby.

There can be wear and tear on the mother's organs too, if untreated, just like 
regular high blood pressure.  And, if blood pressure goes high enough, you can
have a stroke.  They usually montor you closely during labor, since blood
pressure rises during physical stress.

My midwife told me that she suspects I have a latent blood pressure problem that
will appear at some later time in my life, and pregnancy gave me an early
warning.  Knowing ahead of time means I can prevent it from becoming a major
health problem.

High blood pressure is defined to be 20-30 points over normal for the systolic
pressure (first number) and 10-20 points over normal for the diastolic pressure
(second number).  For example, if you normally are 120/80, 120/90 or 140/80
would be cause to watch your pressure.  I am normally 115/75, so the midwife
became concerned when I hit 130/85 or so.

But, the good news is that PIH is very treatable, usually just with bed rest.
Sometimes they prescribe drugs to help reduce the blood pressure.  I heard
recently there has been some success treating this problem with one
baby aspirin a day and I'd ask your provider more about that.

In my case, I spent two weeks still working, but I had to lie down for an hour
three times a day, and then log my blood pressure (Health services at ZKO were
wonderful.  They were great about me using their beds, taking my blood pressure 
and giving me emotional support).

After two weeks, my blood pressure was still climbing, but very slowing.  It went 
to 160/90 (I think), and they pulled me out of work on Short-term Disability.
I was put on total bed rest.  At first I was told I could get out of bed (or
off the couch) for one hour, three times a day.   Then later, I was told I could
get up anytime I wanted, but that the more time I spent lying on my left side, 
the better off the baby would be.  Basically, this was to help me psychologically
not physically.  (having freedom anytime I wanted it made it easier to
lie there).  For the first few weeks, I had to take my blood pressure several
times a day, and call the midwife immediately if I went over a certain threshold.
I became very sensitized to blood pressure cuffs.  I swear my pressure would
jump if someone walked in the room with one.

They usually do non-stress tests on a weekly basis to monitor the baby and the
placental aging, too.  It is also stressful on the parents - as my husband put it,
you can only break even on a NST, you can't actually pass. 

The best news of all - women with PIH usually have short labor.  As the
midwife put it, "It's like your body says, Enough is enough, and ejects the
baby."  Elise was born in 3.5 hours total, from first pain to separation.

So, if this is happening to you, take heart.  It's not the end of the world,
altho it feels that way at first.  Follow your medical providers instructions and
advice, and it will be ok.  If you want to know more, or talk about it, feel
free to send mail or call.

Pat

    re: -.1 
    Thanks Pat,
    
    	if things get worse I'll drop you a mail to find out more. At the
    moment my doctor isn't concerned... my bp is 140/80 as opposed to 
    usually being around 110/65. I see him next week so maybe if it's the
    same or higher he may look into it. I did speak to him this morning and
    he assured me that high bp as a symptom of toxemia is far more likely
    in a 1st pregnancy (this is my 2nd... but all through the first it
    stayed at exactly the same level!).
    
    	.... I hope it does turn out to be nothing... I don't think I could
    cope with bed rest unless ... I can never sit still for 2 minutes at
    the best of times!
    
    Ann

    During my first pregnancy, more than a couple of times my blood
    pressure clocked on the higher side 140/90 (just borderline for high
    blood pressure). It so happened that my blood pressure would clock high
    on the days that my doctor's appt was in the afternoon and I had to
    drive over an hour to get the Dr's office from work (I worked in
    Marlboro, MA and the Dr's office was in Bedford, NH). The stress from
    driving that distance in addition to having worked most of the day did
    it. If my checkup was in the morning before going to work the BP was
    fine.
    
    Not sure if this helps you but just thought I narrate my experience
    since I was worried about hig BP since my Mom had to go 4 months
    without eating any salt when she was pregnant with me due to high BP
    and I was afraid that it might be hereditary.
    
    I was asked to check my BP at work (the nurses office did it for me)
    and in all cases it was fine.
    
    Shaila

    
    I also had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. It was my first pregnancy
    and I had to be on STD one month before delivery. My doctor suspected
    pre-eclampsia at first but I never got any of the other symptoms other
    than high BP. The last month I had a doctors appt. every other day.
    
    My delivery was 4 1/2 hours total with no problems or medicine. One 
    hour after delivery my BP was back down to my normal.
    
    It might seem difficult to stay in bed, but it was a very little price
    to pay for a health boy!
     

    I have a friend whose B/P is increasing and I've forgotten what some of
    the other symptoms of pre-ecl or tomexia are.  Can someone tell me?
    I know of swelling and protein in the urine are two of them.
    
    Thanks - Kathy

    Mild Preeclampsia implies the following:
    
    1. Hypertention with a rise in blodd pressure on two occasions at 
       least 6 hours apart.
    
    2. Weight gain of more than 3 pounds/week during the second trimester
       or more than 1 pound/week during the last trimester.
    
    3. Slight generlized edema (water retention)
    
    4. Protein in the urine (0.3 gm/l)
    
    Severe Preeclampsia includes the symptoms just listed as well as 
    the following:
    
    1. Hypertension with a blood pressure of 160/110 or more on two 
       separate occasions 6 hours apart with patient at bed rest
    
    2. Protein in the urine (5gm/24 hours or more)
    
    3. Diminished kidney output
    
    4. Severe generalized headache
    
    5. Visual problems (blurred vision or other visual changes)
    
    6. Epigastric pain or nausea, vomiting
    
    7. Irritability, emotional tension
    
    Eclampsia includes the symptoms of severe preeclampsia and one
    or more of the following:
    
    1. Tonic and clonic convulsions or coma, with the coma possibly
       following an unobserved seizure unrelated to other seizure
       disorders
    
    2. Hypertensive crisis or shock
    
    ******************************************************************
    
    I experienced all of the symptoms of severe preeclampsia before
    the birth of my last child.  A seisure kit was by my hospital 
    bed and was checked for completeness every half hour until 18 hours 
    after my baby was born.  My vitals (pulse, respiration, refexes,
    blood pressure and eyes) were checked every 15 minutes for 12 hours.
    I was on Magnesium Sulfate to help control the blood pressure.
    
    This is something the medical profession takes pretty seriously.
    
    Jodi- 

    
    
    I have high blood pressure and my OB has told
    me that she would like me to start taking one
    baby asprin per day.  There is a recent study
    that says that one baby asprin per day reduces
    the risk of eclampsia and toxemia.
    
    Has anyone else had their OB prescribe this type
    of treatment for them?
    
    Jeanne
    

    My wife also had high blood pressure during all 3 pregnancies.  For the
    last one (born April 91), baby aspirin had been approved to reduce
    blood pressure (according to her OB).  My wife took 1/2 baby aspirin
    per day, and it did help control her blood pressure.  I'm sure it did
    work, because 2 weeks before she was due, her OB had her stop taking
    the aspirin, and her blood pressure did go up.


     John

    My friend is currently 21 weeks pregnant and had high blood pressure
    before becoming pregnant.  She has continued to take the BP medication
    and has developed the other 2 symptoms of toxemia (without the high BP).
    We are wondering why her doctors are dithering about whether to put her
    on bedrest or not.  They are in the process of transferring her from her
    FP to a specialist OB due to these problems.  From all we have read, 
    shouldn't she be on bedrest or something?  Each doctor is saying she has
    to get the STD request from the other because she is "in-between" right
    now.  From what we understand the only reason that she doesn't always have 
    high BP is due to her taking the BP medicine.  Anyone else run into this?
    This is her first pregnancy and she is very concerned.  Any help would
    be appreciated since it appears this is also pretty early to develop
    toxemia.?

    Thanks in advance.
    Lisa

    
    
    I would be very proactive about taking care of myself and if the
    doctor feels she should be on bedrest and that's it's just a matter of
    getting the paper work signed, I'd stop work immediately, call in sick,
    check with the STD group, and spend my bedrest harrassing either or
    both doctors to give you at least a sick note untill the STD forms can
    be signed.  Toxemia, pre-eclampsia can be serious.  I had it early
    stages with my first pregnancy and I was out immediately to see if
    symptoms would level off or subside.  I had an elevated blood pressure
    though, so before it got out of hand, I was out of work and off my
    feet.  Better bed rest at home than at the hospital.  I've done both.
    
    Where goes your friend work?  If at DEC or another type company, the
    STD group usually give s you a week or two to get the paperwork to them
    and even then they call you to see where you stand before cutting off
    pay, but a regular old sick note should make her manager happy for the
    time before the paper work get done.  It does sound like it going to be
    a very long pregnancy though.  OB's usually like you to get to 37 weeks
    for obvious reasons, but maybe they aren't really worried becasue they
    BP isn't high(er) yet.