Anyone with high blood pressure? Were you able to deliver vaginally?

Just curious because *I think* I'm slowly starting to think about DC#2.

I developed pregnancy-induced hypertension week 35/36 and was ultimately induced and had a c-section. BP stayed really elevated after birth and add to that that I now had protein in my urine. BP stayed elevated and I'm still on BP meds.

Anyway, I do not want another c-section and really want to try for a vbac if and when I have another baby. Went to the cardiologist who is going to run more tests but believes I have white-coat hypertension (i get really nervous now when BP taken so it is always high unless I take it at home.)

Anyway, in case i really do still have high BP, I'm curious to know if you can still deliver vaginally. Any extra precautions taken?

Just trying to get everything squared away in my head before eventually deciding to try for #2.

Message edited 6/22/2011 3:17:57 PM.

Re: Anyone with high blood pressure? Were you able to deliver vaginally?

My cousin had her son 4 months ago. She had high blood pressure before even getting pregnant, and was treated all through her pregnancy for high bp....she was induced, and delivered her son vaginally.

I don't know if the same is true if it is a vbac....I'd want to research if there was any increase in the chance of uterine rupture if you had high bp. Is your Dr vbac friendly? If so, I'd ask them...

Re: Anyone with high blood pressure? Were you able to deliver vaginally?

I've had chronic hypertension for about 5 years, before I was even pregnant. I was induced at 40 weeks because they didn't want me to go past my due date. Well my induction was successful and I gave birth vaginally.

I'm currently on meds and my bp was controlled my whole pregnancy. My bp did not really spike during my whole labor. They did, however, mention that a c section was possible if my bp was elevated during labor. Thankfully it wasn't. I never had protein in my urine and never developed preeclampsia. The possibility was there and since I already had hypertension they kept a close eye on me my entire pregnancy.

This was my first pregnancy though. So I'm not sure about a VBAC.

Message edited 6/22/2011 4:38:49 PM.

Re: Anyone with high blood pressure? Were you able to deliver vaginally?

I developed preeclampsia with both of pregnancies. With my first, it happened while I was in labor and I was able to deliver vaginally. With my second, I had to be induced because of it but I still was able to have my son vaginally.

Both times I needed to be on magnesium sulfate while in labor and for 24 hours after labor. While on it, you cannot get out of bed and I felt a little droopy. I also had to stay in a special recovery room both times afterwards so I could be closely monitored. The second time, I also had to stay on BP medication for 6 weeks after birth.