PRE ECLAMPSIA - anyone else have/had it?

[alison_artist]

Hi everyone,

I've just been diagnosed with pre eclampsia and have spent the past week in hospital. It's been a scary week, and quite emotional as we've been advised that we'll have to have our baby early (I'm only 27 weeks pregnant now).

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if so, what was their experience? Any support would be great.

Thanks!
- Alison

[sugar n spice]

I suffered pre - e twice but both times it hit at the 30 wk mark

[sharonli]

Hi Alison,

I had this with DS but was taking medication about 3 times a day from 20 weeks or so which seemed to stop it rising. Was hospitalised once for a week about the 27/28 week mark but wasn't induced until 38 weeks.

Have they given you an indication of how early they think you'll be?

[JanetF]

How scary for you, I'm so sorry. I've seen a LOT of success with following a high protein no sugar diet to help mamas control PE and at least you'd know you were doing the absolute best for your body and baby while you're taking it easy, yk? I hope you have lots of support. I've also seen lots of women who've had PE once and then not again after eating this way in subsequent pregnancies so for some women it's a miracle. We don't know enough about what causes PE but relaxing helps some mamas too.

Try these:

http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/index.html

http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/natural/resources/prebirth/prebirth28.htm

http://gentlebirth.org/Midwife/pih.html

http://midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0102.asp

http://midwiferytoday.com/articles/nutrition.asp

http://midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0522.asp#qwr

http://midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0232.asp

http://midwiferytoday.com/articles/nutritionpreg.asp

[Funkychicken]

I had PE with my firstborn. My BP became higher during the second trimester and at about 26 wks I began to accumulate fluid. At 36 wks my BP began to rise again and I spent 3 wekks resting. At my 39 wk checkup my BP was higher so my GP advised a rest in hospital. I was actually induced the following day but I'm sure the resident OB just felt it fitted into his schedule as I probably would have been OK with resting. The induction and birth is a whole other story that I won't add to this thread but the good news is PE is generally only an issue during your first pregnancy. Some women do have it recurring but most don't after the first bub is born. If you change partners though and get pregnant again you are back at the start. Hugs to all you girls with PE at the moment- I feel for you.

[Elfin]

PE is such an awful thing. I had it with my first pregnancy, it didn't start till about 33 weeks and escalated very fast. I wasn't put on any medication and sent to the hospital when it was bad. I feel in hindsight that my GP at the time was not vigilant enough. I ended up having a c-section at 35 weeks, my son was small but healthy and only spent a few days in special care so it turned out ok in the end. My placenta was used in a national PE study at the time so I guess that was good.

I didn't get PE in my subsequent pregnancies. Rest is good for PE so take care of yourself.

[shanias_mum]

Hi Allison,

I had PE with my DD, they found out when i was bout 33 weeks and the hospitalized me in and out for about a week, then told me i had to stay until my DD was born. My blood presure was very very very high, and had 4 counts of protein in my urine. One night while in hosp i had a terrible headache all day and thought i would sleep it off, the i woke up and my head felt like it was going to explode so i buzzed the nurse to get me some panadal for my head, she checked my bp and rushed to get some magnesium cus that brings your bp down fast.

this was bout 10.30pm sunday night, they said that they would have to enduce me and to ring my DF and my mother, who then rushed to me. My DF arrived just as they were wheeling me to the delivery room, where the doc induced me and said that he would be back at 7am to break my waters. (it was bout midnight)

They monitored me through the night and i could tell the nurses were worried every time they checked the ECG report. (i was having mild contractions & high from the drugs) The doctor came back at 7 monday morning and had a look at the ECG Report and said that every time i had a mild contraction DDs heart beat would drop. So he said that he had to go ring the big boss, he came back and said that ift they let me go through and have full on contractions the baby may not make it. So he schedulled me in for a C-Sec for 8am.

DD was born at 8.43 am, 35 + 2 weeks gestation, weighing 4 pound 1/2 oucne (1.83kg)

So with all this in mind, please rest, take it easy and do not STRESS or WORRY as this will make your bp rise. Take Care and good luck.

[♥Heaven Sent♥]

Hi there,
I had PE with my first pregnancy and had protein in my urine my bp was high and something in my blood(cant remember) i was hospitalised once and monitored every second day by a visiting midwife.Luckily my bp didnt rise any higher and wasnt put on meds i was induced at 39weeks.I know what it feels like i had my legs blow up like balloons and couldnt even wear shoes i mostly wore thongs(only ones that fitted).This was one of the many things that went wrong i had a bad pregnancy but i know have a beautiful gorgeous girl.I am pregnant with my second baby and its a boy.About 5-6weeks ago i was also in hospital with a scare they thought that i might have been getting early PE but luckily i didnt have it(i was about 14 weeks usually the earliest you get it is 20 weeks).I have to be closely monitored this time too as i have an increased risk of getting it again and also am diabetic so have to be monitored for that.I wish you well for the rest of your pregnancy and if u wanna chat just pm me.:)

[alison_artist]

Thanks so much to all of you for sharing your stories. It certainly sounds like an eventful thing to go through!

Essentially what happened was on Tuesday, Feb 15th, I was at work, and noticed that my feet and ankles were quite swollen. During the day they got worse and worse, to the point I couldn't really walk. I tried putting my feet up at work, but it didn't help. I started feeling a bit sick, so I left work a little early, like around 430. I rang the hospital, but since I had a checkup the next day, they advised I just go home, put my feet up and relax and go to my appt the next day.

As I was feeling a bit unwell, I cried a little bit, and that caused my face to puff up to the point I couldn't recognise myself, which was really scary. (Thankfully it went down when I stopped crying!) I went to my appt the next day, and got a bit scared as the midwife did the routine check up things like have you pee on a stick, take your blood pressure etc - and when she did those tests she went white and really scared me, saying 'ok, something is wrong here, hop up on the table.' She felt around my belly to check on the baby, and luckily said the baby felt like she was growing well and doing ok. But, she explained, I was showing signs of a serious condition called Pre Eclampsia (or otherwise known as Toxemia) and that I had to be admitted into the hospital right away to have further tests. (Luckily I was already at the hospital, so it was just a matter of going to another floor)

It was really scary, as they explained my blood pressure was very high, and I had protein in my urine, which indicated my liver/kidneys weren't functioning properly, which are all related to the pre eclampsia. THey explained that the only way to stop this condition is to deliver the baby, as it is the placenta which is causing the condition, and that they would most likely need to deliver the baby anywhere between one day to three weeks, depending on how I responded to medication. That was a lot to take in, as I was only 26 weeks pregnant, which would mean a VERY premature baby. I was really scared!

Luckily all the midwives, nurses and doctors were all very lovely, supportive and caring. I was in the hospital for an entire week, which was very touch and go, as they had a hard time controlling my blood pressure for awhile. But thankfully the medicine adjustments are doing pretty well for the moment, so they let me go home a week later on Tuesday the 22nd. But they explained that I still have to come to the day stay unit at least 3 times a week to be monitored a few hours at a time, and that I need to understand that I'm on borrowed time, that it's really only a short while until I will have to be admitted again, because the condition will get worse and worse, and the medication isn't a cure, its just a temporary help to keep the symptoms at bay. I was told that realistically the longest that the baby will probably be able to remain in utero is a max of 5 weeks, which is still about 8 weeks early. And they also explained that it is such a unique condition, that every woman is different and they don't have the answers as to when I will need to be induced, or how I'll respond to medications, etc.

They gave me two shots of steroids, which helps the baby's lungs develop something called Surfectant, which normally doesn't appear until around week 34. It helps them accept air into the lungs. So in case they have to take her out now, she'll have a better chance at survival. It's still pretty scary though.

I was told I can only be home on the condition that I live a 'quiet life' meaning that I can't do any chores, can't go shopping, can't go for a walk more than 10 minutes... that I"m supposed to be resting, feet up, watching tv or whatever... which is really hard for me, as I normally walk most of the day and am always doing something! But the medicine makes me feel a bit drowsy and wobbly so at least that is slowing me down a little bit. But it's all pretty scary. Not to mention the added pressure of losing my income so early, as I was planning to work another 3 months!

Luckily my friends have been really great, calling and checking on me, but it's hard because I'm from the USA originally, and that is where my family is. My husband is from Sweden, and all his family is in Sweden. So it's a scary time. Plus my husband has had to work really long hours especially now with the added financial pressure of losing m income, so I've been left alone most of the time which is scary and isolating.

So, at this point, I really have no idea what will happen. They advised that I bring my overnight bag with me every time I go to the day stay in case I need to be readmitted. Here's hoping our little Emma can hang in there a bit longer! :)

Cheers,
Alison

[shanias_mum]

Hi Allison, hang in there. :p I went through exactly what you are going through, well not as bad cus they didnt pick it up until bout 32 weeks, i went for my antinatal and they said that i wasnt going home except to pack my bag. :crying:

They admitted me and let me out every second day or so, but i had to go back every day for a check up, which then the would make me stay again, so i was in and out for a week till they finally said that im not going home without my baby. :eek:

She was delivered by emergency c-sec at 35 + 2 weeks weighing only 4pound 1/2 ounce, she was sooooooo tiny, BUT they are real fighters. So DONT GIVE UP.:D

Your little bub and the midwifes will hold on for as long as it is safe too. Be Strong, every thing will be fine, you just will get to hold your baby a lot sooner than first expected.

[SammyD]

Oh Alison what a scary situation. Good luck - hope you can let that little one cook for a bit longer.

Just wondering - do you have a history of high blood pressure?

[alison_artist]

Thanks so much for your responses, it's really helpful.

No, before pregnancy, my blood pressure was usually around 110/70. It was going pretty well at the check ups until the most recent one, which was when I was admitted, as it was 160/100!

Since my last post, I was readmitted into the hospital, but I'm out again now... I still have to go to the day stay unit twice a week for a few hours to be monitored, but thankfully the medication they have me on seems to be working (for now anyway!) and my BP is holding steady. It's strong stuff and makes me feel a bit weird and tired, but at this point I'm happy just to be home with my beloved hubby, and my baby girl is still holding on and growing inside. They're happy with her progress - I'm 28 weeks plus 3 days - they said I'm in the safe zone now. They think I'll make it to a max of 6 more weeks, but we have to take it one day at a time...

I hope you are all doing well, and thanks so much for all your support.

[rachdent]

Hi Alison

Like the other gals on here, I went through the same thing! I seemed to be having a perfectly healthy pregnancy till about 35 weeks when I noticed my limbs had swollen badly. I was going to the ob the next day so just stayed in bed as I felt like ****, till I had to go. My ob told me what I suspected. BP was something like 180/110 and there was protein in my urine. I'd put on three kilos in two days - not likely at that late stage of pregnancy. My ob also said I wasn't going home except to get my stuff.

once in hospital I had blood tests which confirmed the worst. It was Thursday and I was told they'd start induction on Friday evening. When nothing was progressing and DS was in distress on Saturday morning, they decided a CS was best. He was born at 35w6d but amazingly weighed 7pounds7ounces. Even so he was in neonatal for two days.

He's perfectly healthy now but I'm almost 20 weeks pregnancy with DS2 and am scared the same might happen again. Just concentrating on resting the best I can and taking each day at a time.

Good luck...

[MummyCharmzy]

Hi there,
I had PE with my fisrt son, diagnosed at 30.5 weeks - delivered 3 days later at 31 weeks. My bp only got to 140/90 but he wasn't growing properly from placenta not working properly so he had to be born.

With my daughter I had Severe PIH from 32 weeks and delivered her at 35 weeks when my bp got to 225/165 and I was not in a good way.

Third pregnancy now, was diagnosed with PIH at 19.5 weeks and then it changed to PE at 21 weeks (has only got to 160/100 so far and is now sitting around 140/90).. I'm 23weeks now and they're expecting me to deliver before 30 weeks at the latest but hopefully I can prove them wrong and my personal goal is 34 weeks (tho I'd be RAPT with anything over 30 weeks). I've already had one short stay in hospital and then was in for one other whole day. I've got weekly scans, checkups 2-3 times through the week.. weekly urine analysis.. weekly bloods... etc etc.. so they're taking good care of me thank god!

Anyway, thankfully these days theres a lot they can do for us and our bubs so I'm sure everything will be okay for you! Its a very scary time though, I completely understand! If you'd ever like to chat pm me and I'll send along my email address.

Take care and goodluck,
Charmaine

[Bronwyn]

Hi fellow PE sufferers

I too was diagnosed with PE at 28 weeks, after noticing that my feet and hands were very very swollen and went to my GP who sent me straight to hospital and there I stayed for 2 days. The rest of the pregnancy consisted of going to ob appt and then heading straight upstairs to maternity ward for a few nights then allowed home until the following Friday ob appt. I always took my overnight bag to my ob appts....lol. I got to 37 weeks, was at home (discharged the day before) and my ob rang me to check if i'd had brekkie (which I had) and told me not to eat another thing as we were going to theatre (booked c/s under general) at 6pm that night, bubs had to come out as my kidneys had stopped functioning...yipeeeeee. We darling girl was born 9lb 3oz (god what would she have been if i'd gone term..........heafer lump.

I just knew it was going to happen though, my mum got to 28 weeks and was in hospital until baby was born (not me - my older brother), she wasn't even allowed out to go to the loo. So it really didn't suprise me when it happened to me, we are very very similar health wise.

I was very very careful with weight too, i only gained 3.7 kg and bub was 4.2kg but it still happened.

Take care to all who are suffering and have lots of rest and be guided by your wonderful and dedicated obs and midwives.

[Milk_Monkey]

Im currently 34 weeks, and just spent a couple of days in the hospital because of high blood pressure. Although its high, it seems to be consistant and i dont have any other symptoms of PE so they arent too concerned at this stage.

My main frustration is that i havent been able to feel my fingers properly for about a week and a half. They constantly have pins and needles and are sort of numb. It feels really strange trying to type, and when it comes to writing with a pen i have to hold the pen out of trust rather than feel.

so far everyone has said that i just have to put up with it, but it is driving me nuts - does anyone know of anything to reduce or relieve the pins and needles numb feeling?

[kristin5]

My doc told me at my 26 week visit (on Tuesday) that I have developed pre-eclampsia. I was already in the high risk category for it as my mum had full-blown eclampsia with me and went into a coma and nearly died...

Now my hands, ankles and abdomen are swollen (abdomen is swollen with more than just the baby apparently). I look huge :thumbsdown: My legs look like thick german sausages! But the doc isn't worrying just yet, I still don't have to go back until 30 weeks, although she has told me to look out for any of the more serious symptoms, such as blurred vision.

I intend to ask her at the next visit the likelihood of me having a c-section, as my hospital is offering special classes for this, and I was wondering if maybe I should go to this class instead of the 'natural' birthing one. Baby is also breech (has been since at least 18 weeks), so this is another reason I think I may have to have a caesar, but I will wait for the doctor's opinion I guess.

I hate having all this uncertainty though - doesn't go with my organised nature (I should get used to it now I guess!)

[ellie72]

I had preelcampsia, but wasn't diagnosed with it until I was about 30 weeks. At that time, I was under an extreme amount of stress and I'm sure that contributed to it. I was frightened espeically when having ultra-sounds... However, my son was born at week 36 (via emergency c-section) and is a very healthy toddler now.

try and get lots of rest and relax if you can - easier said than done I know.
good luck to you!!!
best wishes to you and your bubs
Allie

[bubs_and_us]

i had severe PE during my labour. in hindsight, it should've been picked up earlier, but i didnt have a high BP, just protein in urine and swollen ankles. i had a sudden onset, about 2 hours before DS was born. my BP shot up to 210/110 i nearly died. it was borderline eclampsia so i was rushed to another hospital as soon as bubba was born. it was VERY scary and i will never have another VB. next time it will be c-sect.

good luck with everything

[my1and_only_precious]

hey i know exactly what ur going thru. i had pre ecclamsia and no idea til it was too late. my baby boy is now 16 mths and healthy as. i hope you dont have a premmi as its very hard on both parents :(.. i was flown to syd napean hospital my boy was born at 33 wks via c section but still weighing 8 pound! yes big babies run in my family i hope all goes well for you stay strong it will all work out for you !!!