Gestational Hypertension

[u/AdmirableJacket3776]

I had high blood pressure my whole first pregnancy, was induced, then had an emergent C section. I was never medicated for my high blood pressure but instead told I would need a c section at 37 weeks since I was still having elevated readings. I’m wanting to start trying for baby number 2 now that my first is 18mo. I’m stressed about having high blood pressure again in my next pregnancy. Anyone experience high blood pressure with their first but went on to have other normal, healthy pregnancies? Thank you in advance!

Signed a traumatized c section NICU mom <3 lol

[u/Lackadaisical_silver]

Typically it’s only gestational hypertension if it onsets after 20 weeks and before that is just considered chronic hypertension.

Generally speaking the risk of it happening again is about 10-25%, it’s higher if you’ve gained weight/have a higher BMI and the earlier it onset before and the higher your pressures were, the more likely it will happen again.

It’s also somewhat uncommon for a 37 week baby to need NICU, only about 15% compared to 5% of term babies.

Overall I think lots of reasons to be hopeful.

I had a c section after a failed induction at 37 weeks for gestational hypertension (didn’t onset until 37 weeks). I’m 10 weeks pregnant and hopeful for a better outcome this time.

[u/AdmirableJacket3776 → u/Lackadaisical_silver]

That’s something I’ll have to ask about— they mentioned I had high blood pressure at every appointment since my first one at 10 weeks.
But made no mention of induction until 37 weeks when my BP was still elevated and I was very swollen.

I have lost all my pregnancy weight and am in a healthy BMI 5’3” 126lbs. So I’m not sure if my weight had anything to do with it but I did gain 40-50 lbs in pregnancy. I’m not sure if my body just doesn’t like being pregnant. lol.

My baby was in Nicu for a week due to not breathing after birth and needing extra oxygen. I was rushed to c section due to fetal distress and heart deceleration.

[u/BexclamationPoint → u/AdmirableJacket3776]

My first pregnancy, I also had high blood pressure at every appointment from the beginning (despite never having it before). That was a factor in deciding to schedule a C-section, though baby measuring giant was probably a bigger factor. My second successful pregnancy, my BP was normal for a long time but did start going up late in the second trimester. I did end up getting put on meds for it for the last few weeks until my schedule C at 39+3.

[u/Kindly_Switch_4964]

I also had gestational hypertension for my first and have been told by my OB that when I get pregnant again they will put me on baby aspirin at the beginning of my pregnancy as a preventative measure. So they would likely do this for you as well!