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  |  Pregnancy  |  Complications  |  How high is too high?
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How high is too high?

by Dr Howard Lee

question
I have found it difficult to contact my midwife, as she keeps cancelling my appointments and I don't want to take more time off work and then find she cannot be there for me.

I have quite a simple question really. I am 17+1 weeks pregnant, and the problem is my blood pressure. Hypertension runs in my family - my mother suffers from this especially and is on medication. This was especially bad for her in pregnancy.

At my last visit to the hospital a couple of weeks ago my blood pressure was 130/91. Nothing was said to me but this seems quite high - I thought the normal was 120/70. I am now taking twice daily readings with my mum's blood pressure monitor, which seems to vary quite a lot. Last night my blood pressure peaked at 133/91.

I have been getting some nasty headaches and some dizzy spells. My question is: what is a normal blood pressure reading for pregnancy, and what level should my blood pressure reach consistently before I contact my GP?

Hope you can offer me a little advice, just to guide me as to when I should take this up with my GP without wasting his time.

answer

I'm sorry to learn that you do not seem to be able to get help and advice from your midwife, and that she doesn't appear to be there for you - as is normally to be found in most cases. In my own experience with this member of the health professional team, I usually found that, not only did they carry out their practical role with great skill and care, but they often became almost a friend of the family during the close contacts that are necessary - for these very important few months.

I am sure that you should regard blood pressure as important - especially with the family history that you relate, and in view of the fact that you are getting symptoms like headache and dizzy spells.

Even a regular reading like 130-133/91 is a level significant enough to be closely monitored. In general, a person's blood pressure is considered to be high when readings are greater than 140/90.

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