Postpartum pre-eclampsia PSA

huggabunch

Hey everyone. Just wanted to share my experience with you im the hopes it may help others. I had a mild case of gestational HTN which started at 37 weeks. I was induced at 38 weeks. Postpartum my pressure was still mildly elevated but not alarmingly so. I was discharged home and felt well.

I'm lucky enough that my husband and I are both in healthcare. So he was taking my BP daily just to be sure it wasn't creeping up.

On Monday I was feeling fatigued and achy. I thought maybe I had developed a UTI or something. I took some Motrin and continued on with my day. By the evening I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I asked my husband to take my pressure, and it was 182/110. Yikes! We headed immediately to the ER, and I called the doctor on the way.

I was admitted and immediately started on magnesium and IV anti hypertensives in the ICU. I developed a terrible headache and double vision. Luckily with meds everything had resolved, and I am now on the postpartum floor.

I feel so fortunate to have had the ability to check my BP at home. The past 2 days have been very scary for DH and I.

Please, please call your doctor if ANYTHING AT ALL feels wrong postpartum. I was 5 days out before my pre-eclampsia developed. Had I not listened to my body and checked my BP, things could have turned out very differently. I don't think this is something people think of happening very often once you are discharged home. I just hope that this helps someone else in the future!

iris427

I'm glad to hear you're OK!  Thanks for the PSA.

I'll also add to this that it's possible to have a late postpartum hemorrhage after you get home from the hospital.  We think of PPH as something that happens right at delivery, but it can also happen days later. i  know two people who had late PPH at home and almost died.  So call your doctor if you are bleeding really heavily or passing huge clots.

mcvgal

Glad you are ok. Thanks for the PSA.

livkight

Didn't know this was a thing! Thanks for passing that along, and I'm glad you're ok. 

Heather100612

iris427 said:

I'm glad to hear you're OK!  Thanks for the PSA.

I'll also add to this that it's possible to have a late postpartum hemorrhage after you get home from the hospital.  We think of PPH as something that happens right at delivery, but it can also happen days later. i  know two people who had late PPH at home and almost died.  So call your doctor if you are bleeding really heavily or passing huge clots.

This!! My PPH happened right after my placenta was delivered, but it's something I am still monitoring. Also, if you develop a fever and body aches with no other symptoms, please go to the ER! This happened to me last week, and it turns out the infection in my uterus that I had at delivery was never fully wiped out with my first round of antibiotics and unfortunately it came back with avengence, and I had to stay in the hospital for a week. If you feel the slightest bit off, call your ob!

OP, I am SO glad you are feeling better!!!

huggabunch

iris427 said:

I'm glad to hear you're OK!  Thanks for the PSA.

I'll also add to this that it's possible to have a late postpartum hemorrhage after you get home from the hospital.  We think of PPH as something that happens right at delivery, but it can also happen days later. i  know two people who had late PPH at home and almost died.  So call your doctor if you are bleeding really heavily or passing huge clots.

I didn't even think about this either. This is good to know.

1982Babies

Glad you're okay!  I've been monitoring mine since I've been home (a full six weeks tomorrow) and it was low for a week, then at my BP followup appt it was high, so he has me monitoring it still.  I am so paranoid about it, which of course doesn't help.  I would not be surprised if I am put on meds at my 6 week checkup on Monday.. ugh.

rach1285

So glad to hear you are ok! Thank you for sharing!

shamyfowler

Wow, I never would have thought of such a thing!  Thanks for the post and glad you are doing well!

TurtleMonsters

Opened this as I'm sitting on the couch with swelling and high BP @ the ob's- though I trucked up a huge flight of stairs with the baby in the car seat right before they took it. taking it at home with my cuff it's still high.I go back tomorrow for another BP check. I've been having a tension headache, but not sure if that is related.  I didn't know this was a thing, thanks for posting.

cakebatter27

That's scary! I'm glad everything is ok. Thanks for the PSA!

reils500

Thank you for sharing! Glad you're ok!

huggabunch

Summerlovin314 said:

Thanks for the PSA and for the responses that include other things to look for. I'm not sure I would think of something serious, just "so I guess I'm supposed to feel like crap after having a baby." As a FTM, I wouldn't know better and wouldn't want to bother my doctor for a mild fever or "strange feeling."

I agree. I had been feeling like crap for 36hrs or so. I just figured it was normal after a long labor and pushing to feel like crap. Plus I figured hormone shifts were playing into it too.

AMcLaws

I wasn't aware it could present itself after giving birth. Good to know. I don't have pre-e...just PIH. But doc has been monitoring me carefully for pre-e

TurtleMonsters

Yeah, I know. I have a BP check tomorrow, so I've been taking it very easy today. It's also a sign of allergy/intolerance stuff for me, so I it may be that. antihistamine has solved it, so hoping I'm not mistaken in assuming it's all allergies. I have a cuff, and its actually a bit lower now, wonder if the allergies are effecting things.

brooklynesque

Thanks for the PSA . . . glad you are okay, OP.

@iris427 thank you, too.