Please tell me how your Pre-e and/or HIP developed. I think I might be developing it.

supermom83 · March 2011

For the past three doctors appointments, every time I go in my BP initially is very elevated, like 180/90 and then they make me lie down and retake it again and it goes down to the 125/70 range.

My doctor then ordered a 24 hour urine test and it came back with elevated protein, 180 mg/24 hours. From what I've researched, 300mg/24 hours or higher is pretty much Pre-E.

When I was 24 weeks, I started getting blurry vision, and went to the ER. They tested my blood, urine, took BP and everything came back clear and they said I was just having a migraine (I get them about 2/year for the last 8 years so it's not out of the realm of possible for it to be a migraine, sure felt like it but I was so worried about Pre-E symptoms). I had the migraine for a week though, and it was miserable.

My doctor now tells me that if by next appointment I still have an initially elevated BP that only goes down when I lie down, she's going to put me on bed rest. She also told me I now have to eat a low sodium/low protein diet and drink lots of water and stay off my feet as much as possible (hard to do when I have a little 2 year old to run after all day!).

I was just wondering if anybody could share their initial symptoms of how their Pre-E or HIP developed and if my story sounds familiar. I just hope with proper diet and rest I can control my BP and stop anything from progressing to a critical point. Also any advice would be greatly appreciated!

TIA!

egpitt22 · March 2011

I was around 31 weeks last time when they started getting worried about pre-e. (I've had hypertension for years, but my blood pressure was so low in the first few months of pregnancy that they took me off the meds). everything was fine until that time, then out of nowhere, it shot up to a range similar to what you're saying.

Around 34 weeks, I started swelling a TON-that was a huge indicator for me that things were not going well (I never did have the headaches or blurred vision or anything), but my legs and feet were huge. They started having me come in twice/week at that time to check my urine and do non-stress tests. (just to give you an idea of the swelling, there were some times in the 3 days in between appointments, I would gain 3-4 pounds!)

we discussed bedrest a few times, but in the end, I was just put on kind of a modified bedrest-meaning that I was allowed to go to work (I worked a desk job, I really didn't have to move much at all during the day), but other than work, I wasn't to be doing anything. So it was go to work, come home, immediately start resting on my left side. I had to take my own blood pressure 3 times a day & call if it went above 140/90 for 2 or more readings in a row.

All of that managed to keep it under control for a little while longer--then around 38 weeks, 5 days I woke up with a really swollen face and when I went to my dr's office that morning, my son was very slow to respond to the NST. The combination of those 2 things won me a trip to L&D for further monitoring & they decided I would be induced the next day and sent me home with a 24 hour urine catch. I wasn't spilling any protein in my urine that morning, but they were afraid it just wasn't presenting yet and wanted to make sure.

Ironically, I went into labor on my own that night and had pre-e when I got to the hospital, based on the urine that was in my catch from the previous few hours.

I hope that helps!!

seastar77 · March 2011

The only symptom I noticed was feeling dizzy/tight chest (like before a panic attack), so I went to L&D and my BP was 165/110. I was admitted on bedrest, did the 24 hour urine and had pre-e, and was delivered a week and half later when my labs got worse. I did have swelling, but not till the last few days, and no other symptoms.

This time I have PIH, but my highest reading has been 135/96 and no other indications of pre-e, so I've been on bedrest for a few weeks and it's helped.

Hope you can get the BP managed. Not sure how far along you are, but I delivered DD at 27 weeks and she's thriving and healthy, so try not to stress if you're still a ways away from term.

alamo10 · March 2011

I had PIH throughout my pregnancy but I started getting protein in my urine at around 22 weeks. I did a 24 hour urine test and it came back a little over 300. So I was on modified bed rest for a few weeks but my blood pressure kept getting worse. My next 24 hour urine test was 500.

I was going to my OB once a week and 3 times a week to the hospital for NSTs and biophysical profiles. I was 31 weeks when I was put on complete bed rest and a low sodium diet. I also had steroid shots at 31 weeks just in case my blood pressure got really bad.

I was 34 weeks when I went in for my normal NST and my blood pressure was 170/110, so they kept me in the hospital on bed rest and put me on medication for my blood pressure and seizure medication in case my BP wasn't going down.

The next morning when they came in to do an ultrasound, my LO only scored a 4 because she wasn't moving. I went in about 20 minutes later for an emergency C-section.

Apparently the seizure meds they were giving me every 2 hours (which I felt uncomfortable taking in the first place) are what made LO stop moving. She was all dopey when she came out but luckily she was just fine. Those steroid shots I got really helped with her lungs. She was only 5lbs 1oz so weight was an issue, but we were only in the hospital for a week.

Best advice I can give you is not to stress (super hard, I know). But it only makes your BP worse. And as you get further along, ask for the steroid shots. They really make a difference.

jesss1022 · March 2011

I started with PIH at 28 weeks, and had all the symptoms of pre-e minus the protein in my urine around the same time. I was placed on modified bedrest, and a low sodium diet, but it didn't lower my BP. They didn't want to deliver me early unless they absolutely had to, so they said bedrest was the best way to go. My bps were running 145/90. I went into labor on my own at 36 weeks with a bp of 180/100, and had an emergency c-section when my labs came back with protein in my urine and the baby's heart was slowing. I was on bp meds for 6 weeks postpartum. So far at 23 weeks, no elevated blood pressure or any other signs. Now I see a regular ob plus a perinatologist, and they are keeping a close watch over this pregnancy, bc I also have MTHFR which with DS#1, caused his placenta to stop growing and he was born at 4lbs, 5oz. He's a normal, healthy 9 month old now! Good luck to you!!

x55centsxshortx · March 2011

Mine started pretty similar to what you are describing. I had a few readings of high BP here and there but it would always come down after lying down. I believe these were at 18, 20, and 24 weeks. 28 weeks I pulled a +1 on a dip with no high BP at the time. 24 hour collection was ordered which came back at 216 high but not preeclampsia levels. They said it wasn't uncommon to have some protein present during pregnancy. They basically blew me off because I didn't have a high BP at that moment and I was even cleared to travel. 30 weeks I was feeling off and I went to the doctor when I got back from a trip I pulled a +3 on a dip and have a BP of 130/90. I was sent to the hospital for a 24 hour which came back at 516 this time. I was sent home with "mild preeclampsia." I made it 1 week or so at home until my doctor caught my bp at 160/100 at the office with another +3. When I got there I was put on a 15 minute cycle of BP checks where they were able to see what was going on. My BP would climb to 275/175 and stay there for minutes and then come back down. Each time my BP would stay higher for longer. My last 24 hour collection was in the 6,000s. While in the hospital I started having headaches which calling them a headache is the understatement of the year. It felt as if my skull was riping in half and I started having the vision floaters. I was delivered at 36 weeks because of severe preeclampsia and suspected HELLP. They held off on delivering me because of other complications that came up which was scary but my DD had no NICU stay because of it. My DD is now a happy and healthy 1 year old.

liv97 · March 2011

a low protein diet is the worst idea in the world. all the (limited) evidence shows that you want to eat at least 90 grams a day, especially if you might have pre-e. honestly, get a second opinion, because low protein is not good for you at all.

i had high bp and protein of 300 starting at 7 weeks last time (which is ridiculously unusual) and went on a wonderfully blissful "work rest" (hiking, etc. all ok, just no work bc stressful) at 24 weeks bc i didn't want to take blood pressure meds. delivered at 37 weeks due to IUGR. this pregnancy my bp is staying low so far, and hoping for a home birth.

try acupuncture, meditation, yoga, cucumbers, garlic, kefir, and celery - all can help lower your bp. are you eating a lot of processed foods? too much sugar can raise your bp as well.

temerityjane · March 2011

As far as how it developed, mine just came out of nowhere. I'd had normal BP and normal everything leading up to my 24 week appointment, then all of a sudden, BP elevated high enough for concern. They were going to just let me rest for a week and see what happened when my husband mentioned that for the last day or so, I'd had headaches and burred vision. I did the 24 hour urine and was over 300, and I've been on bed rest since. Obviously a little sketchy on the detail here, but that's basically what happened in terms of how it developed. It was just... sudden and unexpected.

frogluver54 · March 2011

My BP was on the high side from the start of my pregnancy and at 25 weeks it reached the point of 160s/100s and I was placed on strict bed rest with medication and officially diagnosed with PIH. My doctor didn't think I'd make it to 32 weeks, in fact said it would be a miracle to make 32 weeks, and here I am, I'll hit 38 this week!! The meds have helped keep my BP at normal levels and staying in bed definately keeps the BP down. I stay away from sodium and drink plenty of fluids. Some doctors will prescribe medication and some won't, I know for me it has helped out so much, it may be something to think about with your doctor. I know some people don't like to take anything while their pregnant and I said I was going to be that way...until everything went down. The baby has been growing fine and is on track with everything, as if I had no problems!! Hang in there!

MSUMamaof2 · March 2011

liv97:
a low protein diet is the worst idea in the world. all the (limited) evidence shows that you want to eat at least 90 grams a day, especially if you might have pre-e. honestly, get a second opinion, because low protein is not good for you at all.
i had high bp and protein of 300 starting at 7 weeks last time (which is ridiculously unusual) and went on a wonderfully blissful "work rest" (hiking, etc. all ok, just no work bc stressful) at 24 weeks bc i didn't want to take blood pressure meds. delivered at 37 weeks due to IUGR. this pregnancy my bp is staying low so far, and hoping for a home birth.
try acupuncture, meditation, yoga, cucumbers, garlic, kefir, and celery - all can help lower your bp. are you eating a lot of processed foods? too much sugar can raise your bp as well.

THIS THIS THIS. I'm hoping you meant high protein diet and just typed a typo. a low protein diet could be disastrous. Get another opinion if this is what your doctor told you. And quite frankly, if you're going to get pre-e, it's going to happen, regardless of whether or not you're eating a high protein/low sodium diet. The only thing you're doing with the low sodium is helping to control your blood pressure--it's not going to prevent pre-e.

supermom83 · March 2011

MSUMamaof2:
liv97:
a low protein diet is the worst idea in the world. all the (limited) evidence shows that you want to eat at least 90 grams a day, especially if you might have pre-e. honestly, get a second opinion, because low protein is not good for you at all.
i had high bp and protein of 300 starting at 7 weeks last time (which is ridiculously unusual) and went on a wonderfully blissful "work rest" (hiking, etc. all ok, just no work bc stressful) at 24 weeks bc i didn't want to take blood pressure meds. delivered at 37 weeks due to IUGR. this pregnancy my bp is staying low so far, and hoping for a home birth.
try acupuncture, meditation, yoga, cucumbers, garlic, kefir, and celery - all can help lower your bp. are you eating a lot of processed foods? too much sugar can raise your bp as well.
THIS THIS THIS. I'm hoping you meant high protein diet and just typed a typo. a low protein diet could be disastrous. Get another opinion if this is what your doctor told you. And quite frankly, if you're going to get pre-e, it's going to happen, regardless of whether or not you're eating a high protein/low sodium diet. The only thing you're doing with the low sodium is helping to control your blood pressure--it's not going to prevent pre-e.

Hmmm... I just assumed since I was spilling protein in my urine that the doctors recommendation of a low protein diet was spot on to decrease the work load on my kidneys. Were you put on a high protein diet? I'm going to see a dietitian next week and I was going to ask her what her opinion was, or should I get another doctors opinion?

liv97 · March 2011

supermom83:
MSUMamaof2:
liv97:
a low protein diet is the worst idea in the world. all the (limited) evidence shows that you want to eat at least 90 grams a day, especially if you might have pre-e. honestly, get a second opinion, because low protein is not good for you at all.
i had high bp and protein of 300 starting at 7 weeks last time (which is ridiculously unusual) and went on a wonderfully blissful "work rest" (hiking, etc. all ok, just no work bc stressful) at 24 weeks bc i didn't want to take blood pressure meds. delivered at 37 weeks due to IUGR. this pregnancy my bp is staying low so far, and hoping for a home birth.
try acupuncture, meditation, yoga, cucumbers, garlic, kefir, and celery - all can help lower your bp. are you eating a lot of processed foods? too much sugar can raise your bp as well.
THIS THIS THIS. I'm hoping you meant high protein diet and just typed a typo. a low protein diet could be disastrous. Get another opinion if this is what your doctor told you. And quite frankly, if you're going to get pre-e, it's going to happen, regardless of whether or not you're eating a high protein/low sodium diet. The only thing you're doing with the low sodium is helping to control your blood pressure--it's not going to prevent pre-e.
Hmmm... I just assumed since I was spilling protein in my urine that the doctors recommendation of a low protein diet was spot on to decrease the work load on my kidneys. Were you put on a high protein diet? I'm going to see a dietitian next week and I was going to ask her what her opinion was, or should I get another doctors opinion?

I'd get another doc's opinion. It's my understanding that the amount of protein you eat has nothing to do with your kidneys spilling protein, and protein is super important for the baby and you - ESPECIALLY if you have any growth restriction, which is common with high bp. everyone i've talked to (midwifes, acupuncturists, ob's, perinatalogists, osteopaths, etc.) have all said protein protein protein.

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Please tell me how your Pre-e and/or HIP developed. I think I might be developing it.

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