Get The Bump digital magazine >

tools: My Baby Calendar | Baby Namer | Gender Chart | How Big is Baby?

community

all boards


birth clubs


nest boards


my blog

my photos

my boards


200+ Easy Weeknight Meals!

Green living: Eco-friendly tips & tricks!

< Previous topic | Next topic >

All Boards > 3rd Trimester

Sort:
12-13-2012 at 11:22 AM
brachysira
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-27-2012
346 Posts
6,039 Points
brachysira is online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 2:09 PMNewbie

if you monitor your bp...

Two questions:

 First, I always get a lower reading the 2nd time I take it.  Is this something you see, and just because I'm a little calmer after sitting there for a while, or is it a meter issue?  Should I ask the doctor's office to take it twice?

 Second, this morning it said 178/156.  I took it again, and it was normal (120/78), and a third time and it was even lower.  I'm sure this was an error, but does it mean the meter is starting to have problems?  Has your meter ever given you something so far off? 
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 11:27 AM
AimeeL85
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-13-2009
New Jersey
5,975 Posts
18,400 Points
AimeeL85 is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 1:25 PMSilver
I don't remember the reason, but I'm pretty sure there is a certain amount of time you should wait before retaking it (maybe even just 5 minutes) in order for results to be accurate the second time.  I think it has to do with letting your circulation return to normal in between.  Sorry I am not more help, but if you retake it, I would try waiting about 10 minutes after the first time and see if you get similar results.  I have had some variance with mine, but nothing as drastic as your difference.
TESE & IVF #1 - BFN, Natural Cycle FET - May 2010 - BFP! Ryan William born December 31, 2010, 6 lbs. 6 oz.! Natural IUI March '12 - BFN, Natural B2B IUI April '12 - BFP! Holly Nicolette born December 28, 2012, 8 lbs. 9 oz.! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 11:28 AM
Kate504
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-01-2007
New Orleans
580 Posts
5,094 Points
Kate504 is not online. Last active: 05-17-2013, 2:30 AMBronze

I don't monitor my BP, but when i went to the doctor they used one of those wrists BP cuffs and it said something outrageous like 150/105 and my BP has never been that high. They took it again and it was lower, the nurse said it could have been because I was moving.

Auto BP cuffs are not as reliable as a manual one. If you get an abnormal reading I would try taking it in both arms and go from there. You will most often get a different reading in both arms. 

How far of a break did you take between times taking it? Just seeing that result (178/156) would have made my BP go up! I think if your BP were that high (and it is not normal for you) you would be symptomatic with a definite headache.

BFP 6/18/2012 // EDD 2/28/2013 // Birthdate 2/7/2013

Lilypie First Birthday tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 11:30 AM
Kate504
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-01-2007
New Orleans
580 Posts
5,094 Points
Kate504 is not online. Last active: 05-17-2013, 2:30 AMBronze

AimeeL85:
I don't remember the reason, but I'm pretty sure there is a certain amount of time you should wait before retaking it (maybe even just 5 minutes) in order for results to be accurate the second time.  I think it has to do with letting your circulation return to normal in between.  Sorry I am not more help, but if you retake it, I would try waiting about 10 minutes after the first time and see if you get similar results.  I have had some variance with mine, but nothing as drastic as your difference.

 Yes
BFP 6/18/2012 // EDD 2/28/2013 // Birthdate 2/7/2013

Lilypie First Birthday tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 11:51 AM
brachysira
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-27-2012
346 Posts
6,039 Points
brachysira is online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 2:09 PMNewbie
Ah, I didn't know you had to wait 5-10 minutes.  I will do that.  Luckily I just took it and it's fine.   I hope I just was petting the cat or something and that screwed up that crazy reading--I assumed it was some kind of error b/c I do think I would have been feeling different if it were that high, but of course seeing that did make me worried.
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 11:51 AM
jvaeth2012
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-13-2012
408 Posts
7,484 Points
jvaeth2012 is not online. Last active: 03-22-2013, 12:20 PMNewbie

I monitor my BPs twice daily. You should always wait 15 mins before retaking it. Make sure that the cuff fits correctly and that you have it lined up right with the artery. Also make sure that you haven't eaten or exercised within 30 mins of taking it.

 

I follow the instructions pretty closely and have never had any read reading that I couldn't determine why/ Usually if I do get a weird reading it's because I haven't applied the cuff tight enough. In this case it will give me an error reading.
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 12:23 PM
TarHeelMom...
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-15-2012
606 Posts
9,700 Points
TarHeelMomToBe is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 9:06 AMBronze
I always have a higher reading at the beginning of appointments, so they almost always take a second reading for me.  Sometimes they'll test the right arm after my left reads high and it is usually lower too, even immediately after.  I have always had a touch of "white coat" syndrome, but it's been getting worse the closer I get to my due date.  I've never NOT gotten a normal reading at an appointment, but my last 5-6 were all high at the start.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
Image and video hosting by TinyPic 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 12:44 PM
LittleLuvB...
Not Ranked
Joined on 03-07-2012
1,008 Posts
17,888 Points
LittleLuvBug is not online. Last active: 02-27-2013, 9:51 PMBronze
PP is right. If you're retaking your BP on the same arm, you need to wait a minimum of 5min between readings b/c taking your BP cuts off circulation and it takes time to fully regulate again afterwards.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 1:07 PM
Country Gi...
Not Ranked
Joined on 10-22-2010
2,726 Posts
13,970 Points
Country Girl in the City is not online. Last active: 05-08-2013, 11:13 AMSilver
My readings are higher at home with my auto cuff than they are at the doctor with a manual cuff.  My home measurements do match up with what the nurse at my office gets.  The doctor's office wants me to bring in my auto cuff so that they can compare the two and make sure that my cuff doesn't need calibrated.  You might want to try that to check your cuff's accuracy.
BFP on IVF #2 6/29/2012. Beta #1 7/3 = 522; Beta #2 = 1180; Beta #3 = 6491 BabyFruit Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 1:20 PM
brachysira
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-27-2012
346 Posts
6,039 Points
brachysira is online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 2:09 PMNewbie

Country Girl in the City:
My readings are higher at home with my auto cuff than they are at the doctor with a manual cuff.  My home measurements do match up with what the nurse at my office gets.  The doctor's office wants me to bring in my auto cuff so that they can compare the two and make sure that my cuff doesn't need calibrated.  You might want to try that to check your cuff's accuracy.

Yeah. my readings are always lower with the manual cuff than auto ones, and also my readings have been lower at other offices (hospital, osteopathic medicine) than at my OB office.  One nurse at the OB office told me that my body wasn't well suited for the manual cuff, but I don't know if that is a real thing.  Unfortunately only about 1/2 the nurses at my OB office will do it manually if you tell them this is what is best for you, so I still have pretty high readings on record at the OB office.  I will ask them to see if we can compare the manual reading to my home automatic, and leave the OB cuff out of it, as that seems to be different than any other version.
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 1:57 PM
Raeily
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-16-2010
2,438 Posts
42,119 Points
Raeily is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 7:39 PMSilver
What PPs said. You have to wait a while after taking it before you take it again. Sometimes electronic cuffs freak out. Make sure you're not moving while you taking it and that you arm is at level with you heart or similar to how they take it at your dr. appts. If your cuff keeps acting up bring it to your dr. appt and have them check it to make sure it's working properly. My MFM also told me NOT to use a wrist or finger cuff. Arm only. 
January 2013 Moms - May Siggy Challenge - You and LO
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
Anniversary
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-13-2012 at 9:46 PM
ateach
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-12-2009
409 Posts
6,038 Points
ateach is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 2:50 AMNewbie
My old doctor had me get a machine to monitor but I get a wide variety of results. My new doctor said he really doesn't trust them. My doctor told me if I feel like it is going up to just stop by and have them measure it. I use the machine once in a while to ease my worries, but one time it said 165/110 or something and when I got to the doctor it was 125/75... so I really think my machine was wrong!
TTC since March 2011
2 miscarriages 9/11, 2/12
#1 on the way! Due Dec. 23, 2012
Praying for this little one.
BabyFetus Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board