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High-Risk Pregnancy
Talk to me about your experiences with Pre-E...
At my regular checkup this past Thurs. my BP was 133/74, which is in normal ranges, but much higher than I tend to run, I also had a protein reading of +1 in my urine. My doc ordered some blood tests (which have all come back in normal ranges), as well as a 24 hour urine collection. Since we were running up against the weekend, she had me start the collection on Sunday morning, and had me drop it off and have the follow up blood test today.
Over the weekend, my mom who is a nurse, brought me a BP cuff so that I can monitor my BP. I called and spoke to one of the nurses today because my BP yesterday and today were/are consistently reading higher (upper 140's/upper 80's) and I have developed a slight, yet persistent pressure-like headache. They had me come in to meet with the NP (my doc was out of the office today) and she looked everything over and said that while they are high, they are not in a danger zone yet, and that my test results would be back tomorrow and that would tell them more. She said to call if I was experiencing anything worse than what I was today at the office. I feel pretty much the same, but am really nervous. I'm already on modified bed rest, so she said to be strict with that, and keep well hydrated too.
The ladies on the Multiples boards shared their experiences, which were pretty much being hospitalized when their 24 hour catch came back after having had similar BP's to mine, and delivery shortly after. I'm just wondering what the experiences of the ladies on here are? Has anyone been in a similar situation that turned out to need nothing more than monitoring? Maybe it's wishful thinking...but I'm just trying to get some sort of idea what to prepare myself for.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and hoping that I get to cook these girls until my scheduled c-section.
TIA!
bfp 5/17/09 - missed m/c 6/17/09 @ 9w - stopped growing 6w 1d, D&C 6/19/09
BFP #2 10/13/2009 on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary
Discovered TWINS during the 6w u/s - what a shocker!
Delivered on 5/19/2010 at 34 weeks due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome
The Bump MoM Recipe Collection
BFP #2 10/13/2009 on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary
Discovered TWINS during the 6w u/s - what a shocker!
Delivered on 5/19/2010 at 34 weeks due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome
The Bump MoM Recipe Collection
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Talk to me about your experiences with Pre-E...
i had pre-e, starting at 36 weeks. it was my first, a girl, and she is healthy and for the most part, me too! I had never had any health probs whatsoever. only NOW, 4 months Post Partum, i am discovering a vitamin D deficiency. check out on google what they say about vitamin D deficiency and pre-e. it's crazy. they induced me at 37 weeks, and i had +3 protein in the urine and 140/90. They were not as concerned about my BP as my protein in the urine. Not to scare you, but they say once you spill protein, it doesn't usually get better. the recommendation might be bedrest. if they do NOT put you on bedrest, my recommendation is to try it on your own anyway.
I also had contractions every day starting at 23 weeks. not sure at all if that was related. they gave me terbutaline (brethine) as a shot 3 times to stop them on three different occasions. then i took it as a pill every few hours. not sure if you are dealing with this too, or not. just thought it might help knowing, if you aren't.
the good news was that they told me i had a <than 50% chance of c-section bc i was not dilated or ready. however, i was NOT a c/s. i got pitocin, they broke my waters for me, i did labor on my own for a few hours until the epidral. 45 minutes after epidural, i was a 7. an hour later i was 9, and then it was time to push! the whole labor took only 6 hours. as my doc said, crappy pregnancy, best delivery of the year!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I did see your post below about Vitamin D. My office screens for Vitamin D deficiency in the first trimester - just one of the lovely benefits of the long winters in MN. Thankfully, I have been taking 2000 IUI for the majority of my pregnancy. I hadn't heard about the correlation between vit D and pre-e though - I found it really interesting and was glad to know that I'd been taking it.
I've read the same thing about the protein too, I'm just hoping that it doesn't get worse too fast. Unfortunately when I went in today I used the bathroom before I left the house, then realized that they'd probably want a sample, so I drank a bunch of water, and my urine was almost clear. My protein came back again at +1, but I'm wondering how diluted I'd made it. Thankfully I've got the backup of the 24 hour catch though.
I do have an irritable uterus and started to experience contractions early on at 10 weeks. At 24 weeks I was in L&D for PTL and had the therb to stop contrax, and was placed on bed rest at that time. So far though I haven't had to use any meds and even though I have contrax every day, it's not more than 4/hr and they aren't changing my cervix. Unfortunately because of the position of the twins, we know that we'll have to have a c-section.
How far along were you when you delivered?
BFP #2 10/13/2009 on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary
Discovered TWINS during the 6w u/s - what a shocker!
Delivered on 5/19/2010 at 34 weeks due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome
The Bump MoM Recipe Collection
Hello!
I was officially diagnosed with mild pre-e at 30 weeks. At my usual midwife appointment at 29 weeks, my blood pressure was a bit higher than normal. I think 130something88. They asked me to come back in the afternoon to check it again, and it was 142/78. At that point, they ordered a 24 hour urine screen and blood work.
I had a follow-up appointment with a different midwife on Thursday of that week to find out my test results, and my protein level from the 24 hour urine screen was 311....the baseline for "mild" pre-e is 300. To give you a frame of reference, "severe" pre-e measures around 3000. At that appointment, the midwife told me to stay off my feet and to follow up with my regular midwife on Monday.
At my follow-up appointment, I was officially diagnosed and pulled out of work. While I wasn't ordered to strict bedrest, I only leave the house for medical appointments and I don't do anything strenuous. IE - cooking, cleaning, laundry, ect. I am either sitting with my feet elevated or laying down on my left side.
At my appointment last week, my BP was 124/78, and the 24 hour urine screen came back at 423.
At my appointment today, my BP was 126/78 and the 24 hour urine screen came back 380! To give you an idea of medical care, I have a weekly doctormidwife appointment (my case is being co-managed) I do weekly bloodwork and a weekly 24 hour urine screen, I have a weekly amniotic fluid check ultrasound, and twice weekly non stress tests. I will also have a growth ultrasound every 4 weeks. If I am able to carry him to term, I will be induced at 37 weeks.
Basically, I am just taking things one day at at time, because with pre-e, your condition can worsen very quickly. A lot of what is written on the internet is very scary, so make sure you talk to your doctor and get all of your questions answered. Each person will have a different reaction to the condition and therefore a different treatment plan. For now, keep your feet up, drink plenty of water, and try to lay on your left side.
Please keep us updated! I'm sending good thoughts your way.
Thank you!, I do feel like I'm being monitored really closely, I just wish I had a crystal ball to tell me how it will all play out. Sorry to hear you had a scary experience, but you sure got a cute little one out of it!
BFP #2 10/13/2009 on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary
Discovered TWINS during the 6w u/s - what a shocker!
Delivered on 5/19/2010 at 34 weeks due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome
The Bump MoM Recipe Collection
Thank you!!! I'm so sorry you are having to go through all of this, and I'm sure it's really scary. And I can't imagine having to do weekly 24 hr catches, after having to do just one I really feel for you.
This was exactly the type of experience I was hoping to hear though. The thought of being forced to deliver my girls at 32 weeks is really scary, but I certainly don't want to risk their health, or my own. Thanks for sharing your care plan as it give me another option to prepare for or discuss with my doctor. Has your OB or MW talked about steroid shots to mature LO's lungs? I'm not sure if this is an option with pre-e or not...
Best wishes for you and your LO - it sounds like you have a fantastic care team watching out for you. Sending you lots of good thoughts and prayers!!!
BFP #2 10/13/2009 on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary
Discovered TWINS during the 6w u/s - what a shocker!
Delivered on 5/19/2010 at 34 weeks due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome
The Bump MoM Recipe Collection
Hi! I did have the steroid shots. I had them done at 30w1 day and 30w2d, strictly as a precaution in the event that he has to be delivered early.
I've only been dealing with this for a few weeks, and it can get overwhelming very quickly. Just remember to take a deep breath (easier said than done, right!) and to follow the advice of your medical provider. Together, you should be able to find a plan that works. Be sure to ask a lot of questions, and don't stop asking until you get all the answers you need.
If you notice a change in your body (headaches, blurred vision, pain under your ribs on the right side) call right away. Better to be safe than sorry.
Please be sure to keep me updated. And PM me if you ever have any questions or just need to chat!
Ditto. My son was born within 14 hours of finding out I had pre-e, and my situation is definitely NOT typical of pre-e. (((hugs))) You're already 32 weeks, that's awesome!
I was diagnosed with pre-e at 29 weeks 1 day. I was put on modified bedrest and my BP/protein levels were under control. My BP was just a bit higher than yours and my protein levels were 1+ as well. I managed to go nearly 5 weeks on BR.
At 33 weeks 6 day, I had an emergency c-sectioon due to severe pre-e but my protein levels were 4+ and my BP had hit 200/115.
Listen to your doctor. This is out of your control and the best you can do is follow your doctor's instructions. Good luck!
I have had cronic hypertension for 2 years before my pregancy so I am at high risk for pre-e.
Basically they told me that your body can go into a "honeymoon" period during your pregancy in regards to your blood pressure. It has to be closely watched though because at any point it can jump up. I am on bedrest for 22 hours a day due to the lack of blood flow in my placenta causing my LO not to grow. They are very worried that I will get pre-e so I go in every week to be watched. I have already had my steriod shots and we are just hoping for the best!
Like people said, listen to your doctor. They know what is best fo you and will make sure you and your babies are ok.
At 31 weeks my blood pressure was high, and I was swollen like crazy. I actually called my doctors to get me in earlier than my scheduled appointment because I just knew something was wrong. I had protein on my dip strip, so they sent me for bloodwork and a 24 hour urine catch. I was told to be on modified bedrest through the weekend until they got my results back. Once they got my result and my protein was over 300 (can't remember exactly how the numbers went), they put me on strict bedrest. I was only allowed to leave the house for my twice weekly appointments at the OBs. I had 2 NSTs weekly and one u/s to check fluid levels. My BP was under control on bedrest, so I continued my twice weekly appointments and weekly 24 hour urine/bloodwork appointments.
At 35 weeks, my protein was over 700 and the doctor sent me straight to the hospital for induction. I chose to go with a c-section rather than induction because I didn't feel that with my BP so high I could withstand days of labor. She said because I was so early and in no way ready for labor it would take days and I had a greater than 50% chance of c-section anyway. I am so glad I made the decision to go with a c/s. My son was born at 35 weeks and spent 1 week in the NICU due to respitory distress, being small, and a little jaundince.
Just be sure that your doctors are monitoring you closely, and that you rest as much as possible. I'll be surprised if they dont put you on bedrest, I think its the only thing that allowed me to go to 35 weeks. Good luck, keep us posted.