BP Spikes but normal labs… when to consider induction?

Help?

I am currently 36 weeks and 6 days pregnant. Over the past two weeks, I have been to L&D triage twice for elevated blood pressure. Both times, I had a full preeclampsia workup and my labs came back normal with no signs of preeclampsia. However, I have continued to experience headaches, black spots in my vision, elevated blood pressure readings at home, and two elevated readings at my appointment today. I understand why I keep getting sent home since my labs are normal, but I am feeling frustrated and confused about why this is happening.

I also have a history of stillbirth in my previous pregnancy due to a true knot, so my anxiety is understandably high this time. I just want my baby to arrive safely and healthy.

This morning, I woke up feeling lightheaded. I initially thought I just needed to eat, but even after breakfast I still felt unwell. I checked my blood pressure and it was normal at 110/70, so I laid back down for about an hour. When I got up again, I felt like I was going to fall over. I checked my blood pressure and it was 152/102, which was very alarming, especially since I typically run on the lower end. I immediately retook it, and I continued getting readings above 140/90 for about an hour.

I called my husband and we went to the hospital to be evaluated. When I arrived, my blood pressure was 148/83, and once I was in triage it gradually went back down. They repeated labs, which were normal again, and the only abnormal finding was low blood sugar. I have my 37-week appointment with my regular OB on Wednesday. I am wondering if asking about induction at 38 weeks would be unreasonable. I feel like the constant stress and worry about my blood pressure and whether the baby is okay is taking a significant mental toll on me. I don’t want that ongoing anxiety to negatively impact my health.

Posted Mar 1, 2026, 1:39 AM UTC

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