PE - what kind of birth ???

[bootiful]

I am due with #2 in Jan09 and doing my research.

I'd like to know what kind of births you had with PE and possibly a brief story.

Ill post some scenarios for a poll.

Thanks in advance :wave:

[the dargonfly faery]

I developed PE early in my pregancy and was able to hold it off as long as possible. By xmas my blood purssure was very high, started on blood purrsure tablets but didn't seem to work. I have fulid everywhere hands, face and legs. Could bearly walk it was horrible. Was admitted into hospitail on teh 2nd Jan under observation and did a 24 urine test to check the protien levels in the urine. They decided to induce me on the 7th JAn but my dd have other ideas and had a spontaneous birth and she was born on the 6th Jan 08 Vaginal. I was pretty happy about that as i was worried about being induced and didn't want a cs if i could help it. My dr was nice effort to let me enjoy xmas and new yr, but i know i was going to have her early just not that early. I was due the 13th of Feb. I hope that helps, good luck.

[Zoey]

I developed inital PE symptoms around 28/29 weeks, was diagnosed sometime around 30 weeks and admitted for 2 nights for steroid shots before being released. Second daily monitoring for a week followed by daily monitoring before being admitted again at 32 weeks until deliver. Was delivered by elective cesarean at 36 weeks for maternal & fetal indicators. Because of severe swelling caused by the PE they attempted and failed spinal & epidural 8 times and therefore I needed a GA, and bubs ended up in SCN for around 4 hours.

:fingerscrossed: for a full term healthy pregnancy & bub for you.

[DQ]

I have developed PE with all 5 of my pregnancies. :(

1st one held off enough, and I naturally went into labour.

2nd & 3rd one was induced at 38 weeks, both vaginal births.

4th was an emerg c/sec after my waters ruptured, but not related to the PE (was a difficult breech presentation).

5th was an induced VBAC :smiliedance:

6th - well going by past history I would say I will be induced in some way, shape or form :(

Good luck :fingerscrossed:

[JimJamsMum]

Diagnosed with PE at 37 weeks. Ob wanted to induce then but the nephrologist said it was only mild at that stage and it was okay to wait a week. At 38 weeks my kidney function was pretty bad and my ob sent me in that night for an induction. Four failed induction attempts with the gel over the course of two days and my ob sent me home to relax, telling me I'd probably have to have a caesar since kidney function was getting worse. I begged not to have a caesar and he then suggested a mechanical induction (they insert a catheter and basically use a balloon to dilate the cervix followed by the drip). Induction was successful and resulted in DS being born about 6.5 hours later. Unfortunately a complication of the PE was that the placenta separated before DS was born so he needed to be resuscitated (Apgar score of 1) and sent to SCN for 24 hours. Even though we had complications the feeling of birthing him vaginally was just amazing and not something that could be replaced.

[Mum of Midgeys]

I developed PE at about 32 weeks, after being monitored for HPB from about 27weeks. Admitted for the steriod shots just in case things got worse quickly, thankfully everything moved steadily. Was monitored a couple times a week every week until 37 weeks, when DD had become growth restricted due to the PE, so the decision was made to induce that day. Was induced with Foley's Catheter initially, then put on a drip. Had to have an Epi to manage BP. DD was born vaginally, a healthy 6lb 1oz... so not too restricted after all.

Best of luck hun :hugs:

[natski]

I had high blood pressure throughout my first pregnancy - from my first OB appt it was 'higher than usual', but not high enough to worry. It increased slightly each visit, and by 34 weeks I was on blood pressure medication. My only symptoms were high blood pressure and swelling.

At my last OB appt (36wks 5days), my blood pressure sky-rocketed and my urine tested for proteins (first time he actually tested urine).

I was told to go straight to hospital (do not pass Go) and was induced and baby was born vaginally next morning. I was very grateful that my OB was determined to give me a natural birth, as I also had gestational diabetes, and everything I read on that said 'C-Section', so it all worked out well for me and bubs in the end.

[Sheer Bliss]

DD - BP slowly increased from 28weeks, by 36 weeks i was on BP medication, and still had 140/95 BP, 24hr urine tests, and weekly blood tests. My liver and kidney funtion were starting to decline, so i was booked in for a c-section at 37weeks. Internal showed cervix not ripe, but he also did a stretch and sweep, to try and speed things up. He knew how much i wanted a vaginal birth. 3days later my waters broke at 11pm, bubs was born vaginally at 7am the following morning. She was perfect, had a little trouble maintaining her body heat, but didn't need humidicrib, just a few tube feeds.

DS - hyperemisis through the whole pregnancy, but BP was ok. At 35 1/2weeks i was back in hospital to be reyhdrated, but it felt different, and bubs movement had slowed considerably. Blood tests showed that my liver was starting to fail, i had OK BP, and no protein in my urine, so it had crept up on us, despite looking for it. They gave me steroids for 24hrs, and induced (ARM was all that was needed, so no drip made it a more pleasant induction). A 2hr 15minute labour gave me a lovely blue baby, not breathing with an apgar of 4. He was breathing within the minute, and we had a quick cuddle until they took him off to the humidicrib. HE stayed there for 3 days, needing oxygen and warmth. He is now a big fat 13kg, 17month old jumping all over me, tapping the keyboard as i type. So all good in the end!!! I hope it goesw well for you.

[missie_mack]

Relatively mild PE. Fought hard and held off long enough but due date came and went. Argued with midwives etc but in the end I was begging to be induced :o

Inducement didn't look like it was going ahead as they couldnt control my blood pressure but I managed to get it down. In labour (for ages) both DS went into distress and I was looking down the barrel of renal failure so we headed off for a c section.

So I actually went over with PE and still ended up with a CS

[naiwen]

I had PE and HELLP (which affects the liver and platelets) and I started getting it at about 27 weeks I think, by 29 weeks and 6 days I was so ill they had to do an emergency caesarean as my placenta was failing and Edward was IUGR and in distress and there was low fluid and my liver and kidneys were failing and I almost had a seizure.

All in all it wasnt a good day lol.

Edward spent a total of 3 weeks in intensive care and 7 weeks in SCN, he has ongoing health issues but I wont bore you with those now lol.

Hope all goes well for you this time.

[~*clairesmum*~]

this is on behalf of my lil sister..

she got p/e at about 35wks when she got told, when she was 38wks it was way to high so the induced her but her blood pressure got way to high n it was taking to long to dilate so ended in a emgernacy c-sec

n shes young only 17

[Leisa21]

I developed PE at 36 weeks and was hosptalised. Long story short I made a deal that I would be medicated for BP and come back everyday if I could at least wait until 40wks to be induced. My BP went right up at 391/2 weeks so my Dr booked me in for a full inducition on my dure date:D.

I had gel put on cervix on Monday night then went to bed feeling fine waters broken on Tuesday Morning at 11am the Dr broke my waters and left me with my midwife. bam straigh away I went into labour, not pre labour either. 6 hours of a drug free very intense birth my DS was born. AS soon as my waters were broken my BP went right down and was text book perfect(I should note that I had Polyhydramnious which is excess fluid in womb).

It was a beautiful birth and I'm so glad everything happened how it did:D Good luck.

[niknax]

Went to the GP at 35 wks 1 day because one eye had swollen up...took my blood pressure at 10am (3 times) straight to hospital and had her at 3.20pm. I was in hospital for 10 days and Sarah for 21 days...thank god for private health insurance!!!!!

my blood pressure had not moved at all during my pregnancy and only suddenly went up.

[jewelzy]

I had been in hospital for several weeks on medication. (This was back in UK)

Ended being rushed to delivery suite every night at about midnight due to dangerous blodd pressure etc. It was very frightening as I was by myself and didnt know what was going to happen.

Anyway finally induced me at 38wks, didnt work properly and after 3 days I finally gave birth with forceps and stitches! Ouch.
Was awful and traumatic 3 days.

My son was born with kidney problems, and had to have one removed at 9 months old. I still wonder if it was partly due to hospital keeping me so ill for weeks. It was very busy with not enought staff to cope or do C Section.

Doctor at next hospital got my notes and said off the record I should have been delivered much earlier and that it was mismanaged.
A few years later the same hospital was in local papers with string of people suing them.

My sister had PE with first birth too, had very early birth before 30wks. Emergency C-Section.

J

[~Mands~]

I was booked in to the birth centre and had my appointments with the midwives there. I feel my symptoms were overlooked as I wasn't diagnosed with PE until a few days before I delievered my son via emerg c/sec at 34 weeks. I had high BP since 21 weeks, to which was shrugged off to being normal pregnancy symptoms for weeks :eek: even though I also had swelling and sporadic headaches.

Suffice to say, I will be seeing the obstetrician this time around, regardless of whether I am showing PE symptoms again or not.

[MummyCharmzy]

1st pregnancy PE diagnosed 30.5weeks, delivered 31w baby was IUGR by emerg csect
2nd pregnancy diagnosed PIH 24w held out to 35w for emerg csect I was not in a good way
3rd pregnancy PIH diagnosed 19w5d, PE diagnosed 21w made it to 38w6d for scheduled csect!!!!!

[bootiful]

:hugs: thanks for all the stories ladies.

definitely a huge variance there...

i have 6 wks to go an no signs of PE to worry dr's yet so im pretty happy.

im still being cautious of it coming back but if i can make it 2 more weeks with no signs then ill be ecstatic. :D

[Pices_79]

I also had high blood pressure from 36w in my last pregnancy. Every Ob appointment the midwife would test my BP and urine and it kept going up. I had protein in my urine a couple of times but didnt develop any other symptoms of PE. At 38.5 weeks my BP surged again and my Ob asked me whether i wanted to be induced. I was induced that night and my DD was born the following afternoon...

I am also due in January 2009 (currently 31w 5d) and my BP has already started to rise - My Ob thinks maybe it was a once off but is going to monitor it closely over the next few weeks....

[madreader]

With my third pregnancy i had PIH.
At 38 weeks my bp was 160/110.
I was put in hospital for complete bedrest.
Three days later i was allowed home, and then two days later i was back in and i later had my baby boy, who was born naturally but i had to have an Epidural. My bp still stayed up a year later whilst being on bp medication, since being off the tablets my bp is back to normal.
Good luck with your birth in Jan.:wave::hugs:

[SPC]

I developed mild PE at 34 weeks; BP 180/100. I was observed in hospital for 3 days then put on labetalol and monitored twice a week in fetal monitoring clinic. At 38 weeks I was induced, although PE was stable, but it didn't work and I had a caesar instead. Esme didn't grow from 34 to 38 weeks, but she was fine as she was a big baby.

[iknowu2o]

I had a family history of PE, so my Ob just kepted a close eye on me. So I'm not sure when my BP started going up and protien became present in my urine as my Ob didn't want me to stress me out. He just told me about signs to look for and to ring him. So when I didn't feel right at 37wks he sent me straight up to the birthing suite and to get induced. And now I have a beautiful 2yo girl.:)

[joalisha]

Hi, was told i had PE at 25 weeks started with swelling in feet, in and out of hospital for 2 weeks till they addmitted me at 28 weeks where i stayed till DD was born em c- section 30+4 was also given 5 lots of steroids ! i was so sick after DD was born i spent 3 days in ICU! DD was in hospital for 6 weeks! is now 18 months and doing great! hope all goes well for u and ur bub!:flowerz: ps my hightest bp was 190/140

[Orris Apjoko]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread, i'd like any stories, both pos and neg.

[joalisha]

hi, well 10 weeks ago i had my 2nd child dd lily she born at 37 weeks because again i had pet was in hosp 4 days b4 she was born via c/section and 4 days after !

[Timestwo]

I started developing it at 35 weeks. I was getting random problems of swelling, like Id wake up in the middle of the night with my eye swollen over. My BP and urine was fine on the Monday, on the Thursday everything swelled up. I couldnt close my hands, my feet were really bad and my face was puffy so was admitted to hospital. I cant remember what my BP was but it went up and down depending on the day so I was constantly sent home and then readmitted on a daily basis. I wasnt medicated since I was already 35 weeks with a multiple birth it wasnt worth it. By 36 weeks I when I saw my Ob again after been admitted again I had protein, my blood tests were coming back clear at that stage but they decided it was best to deliver. I was admitted to hospital again on bed rest and I was booked in for 37 weeks and had an elective c-section (which was due to a breech twin). During the pre-op stuff my BP skyrocketed to something like 190/110 or something extremely ridiculous so they were going to give me a GA instead of an epi because the risk of stroke to me was too high. In the end, they gave me the local and epi which was enough to bring my BP down to a safer level but I was constantly monitored during the op.
My BP was still up afterwards and took a few months to return to normal.