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@magnolia: I have been on the same dose of Labetalol as you for about 3 years now. I take 200mg every morning and every night. I have hypertension that is hereditary and have been on BP pills since 18 years old (almost 28 now). I used to take something different but it wasn’t safe for pregnancy so they switched me to Labetalol.

I can understand your worry about being woozy from it. When I first started, I was extremely tired from my morning dose and the night dose would make me go right to sleep. I also had some weird tingling feeling on my head for quite some time until my body got used to it. Hopefully you don’t have that but figured I’d mentioned just in case! Anyway, you totally get used to it and you’ll be fine! Kind of crazy because my BP has been the lowest it has ever been during my pregnancy (currently 37.5 weeks along) and I actually had to stop taking it cause it was getting too low.

I think your body just needs time to adjust. If you start to feel dizzy, when you get up quickly, etc. that could mean it is too low. I would take your monitor with you and just keep track. I still track mine at home (when I remember) to make sure it’s ok.

Good luck and keep us posted!

@magnolia: Are you taking your BP at home? Most doctors will have you keep a log (take BP twice a day, make sure you're sitting quietly for a few min before taking it) and share with them to see what's really happening. I took labetalol after birth of both girls due to preeclampsia and it really does have awful side effects. They do get better but I would take your BP 2x a day to make sure you're on the right dose. If your high BP continues after delivery, know that Procardia is also safe while breastfeeding and has fewer side effects. Hang in there - hope you find you no longer need it soon

I had pregnancy induced hypertension. And took this medication. They had me take my bp after my morning dose to make sure my bp wasn’t dipping too low. Are you keeping a bp log? And measuring bp after four morning dose?

@magnolia: fine on medication, you mean?

I was induced with both girls due to pre-eclampsia - 36.6 with DD1 in 2014 (she wasn't born until 37 weeks even) and 37.2 with DD2.

The plan was to induce me with DD2 at 37 weeks because I had been spilling protein since 28 weeks, though it hadn't gotten significantly worse. I think it's best practice to induce at 39 weeks because baby is healthier out than in at that point given the risks from high BP. You are also at much higher risk for pre-eclampsia given your chronic high BP. I would personally do the induction but I definitely understand your reluctance. I really, really wanted to go naturally with #2 and it was just not to be!

@magnolia: I’m so glad you asked because I was induced for this reason as well! My OBs office said they normally don’t let you go past 38 weeks but since my BP was so great the whole pregnancy, they let me go to 39 weeks. I think it mainly is a precaution just in case so we don’t develop preeclampsia.

My induction was great! I went in on Sunday at 3pm, had the Foley balloon/catheter inserted at 5:30pm (not exactly the most pleasant thing ever but oh well) and that stayed in for 12 hours. By 5:30am they took it out and I was already 6cm dilated. I was only about 0.5cm when I initially went in. They gave me pitocin around 9ish and then I asked for the epidural basically right away cause I couldn’t handle the contractions. They broke my water shortly after and then I took a 3 hour nap. Had my daughter at 2:48pm.

My bestie was induced for other reasons but she was already dilated a little and didn’t need the foley balloon. She went in at 7pm and had her baby by 6am just from the Pitocin, her water broke on her own.

I hope your induction goes smoothly! I heard some horror stories from people before I went in (like their inductions lasted daysssss) but mine was great and I hope the same for you!

@magnolia: In all honesty, both of my inductions were rough but necessary. I was very early with both of them though and my body was not at all ready, so it took a while to get going. I tried to hold off on the epidural both times and I would suggest getting it before they break your water. I definitely should have at least for DD2. Good luck!

@magnolia: Both girls had jaundice but it was managed with blue light (a week or less) and temporary formula supplementation before my milk came in. We had to take them for a few blood draws after we were sent home to make sure it continued trending down. Otherwise perfectly healthy!

I was induced due to pregnancy induced hypertension in my second pregnancy, at 38 weeks. I got a dose of prostaglandins to ripen my cervix which kicked my body into labor. I was lucky that my body took over from there with contractions and my water broke naturally, so I didn’t require any further interventions. Baby was born quickly and all was fine. My bp did spike a week later and I was briefly in the ER while they stabilized it. And then I had to be on labetalol until 6 weeks postpartum.

@magnolia: I was able to be induced without an epidural so it is possible! It was painful but I never considered getting one during labor!

@magnolia: I did temporarily but Procardia is safe for BFing and easier to take with generally fewer side effects.

@magnolia: I would have been induced at 39 weeks for PIH with my first. But he made his appearance early.

I just wanted to pop in and say that I had epidurals with both, my first I couldn't feel when to push at all. Ended up with a forceps assisted delivery. My second... completely different! They had to tell me to stop pushing because the doctor wasn't in the room yet (made it just in time to catch the baby). My body just seemed to know what to do the second time around. Even my DH was impressed!

Good luck!

@magnolia: I’m still breastfeeding and have been on Labetalol the whole time. I’m slowly decreasing my dose to see if it’s possible to come off of it completely but I haven’t had any negative effects with my supply.