? to those who's preemie was a result of pre-e. UPDATE

LilyPotter218 · January 2012

At my routine 30 week appt yesterday OB found +2 protein in my urine. Of course I asked what this might mean and he immediately jumped to pre-e and delivering early "as early as next week" (his exact words). My brain went into overdrive and I did not ask too many more questions, just stared blankly as he told me about the 24 hour catch and possible hospitalization next week.

I currently have no other symptoms. Not once has my BP been even borderline high, no vision issues, no headaches, no swelling at all, no pain anywhere.

My question for all of you is, IF this is the very early stages of pre-e, and for those of you who did catch it early, when was your LO born? The nurse was reassuring saying that with the early catch, and early intervention/monitoring, making it to 35 should be no problem.

Since leaving the office I have read of many other things +protein can be, but I'm trying to at least be slightly prepared for worst case here.

Thank you all so much in advance

MommynTeacher · January 2012

Mine was caught early with symptoms starting at 28 weeks and I had an emergency section at 32 weeks, 5 days. Did they send you for a 24 hour urine collection? Just to give you an idea of how things progressed for me- my 1st collection came back at protein levels of 150 then 300, 500, 1000, 2500 and 5700 ish the night before the c-section...pre eclampsia can move fast. It's good that your doctor is paying close attention to you- the other symptims will come when/if your continue to spill protein. Good luck with everything and follow your doctor's instructions.

HJOHNSTON411 · January 2012

Hi,

Did they do an ultrasound or NST on your LO?

The reason I ask is because most Doctors will put off delivering as long as possible if you and LO are stable. It's possible that your protein may not elevate further, and you may have no problem getting to 33-36 weeks.

In my case, they found the pre-e in my LO before me. Basically, he was measuring small and very, very low fluid at 28 weeks. Usually when they see that, it's the early stages of severe pre-e. I never had high BP or swelling, and the first time my protein level was elevated was 36 hours before he was delivered (@ 35 weeks).

So, I don't have a definite answer for you because pre-e manifests in many different ways. I was more rare in the way mine presented, and the biggest issue with mine was LO's growth restriction and resulting low fluid. So, if it hadn't been for the fluid dropping from very low to almost none overnight, I probably would have made it another week or so. It was a matter of safety for him at that point though.

I imagine you will be watched very closely by your Dr and MFM. They will be cautious and get your LO here safely. Also, even though my case isn't necessarily like yours, I will tell you to have hope that you may go much further than your Dr said.

I went into the hospital @ 28 wks and was told I'd be having a baby within the next few days. Then I was told everything was stable but to plan to live in the hospital until he was born. After a week they let me go, and I went in twice a week for monitoring. I went back to the hospital @ 34 wks 4 days electively, and he was born three days later. All in all, I made it 7 wks from day that my Dr told I would be having him!!

Have you gotten the steroid shots? I believe that under 32 wks, they are highly recommended.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions at all. Try to relax and think positively. Follow your instincts and ask lots of questions.

LilyPotter218 · January 2012

HJOHNSTON411:
Hi,
Did they do an ultrasound or NST on your LO?
The reason I ask is because most Doctors will put off delivering as long as possible if you and LO are stable. It's possible that your protein may not elevate further, and you may have no problem getting to 33-36 weeks.
In my case, they found the pre-e in my LO before me. Basically, he was measuring small and very, very low fluid at 28 weeks. Usually when they see that, it's the early stages of severe pre-e. I never had high BP or swelling, and the first time my protein level was elevated was 36 hours before he was delivered (@ 35 weeks).
So, I don't have a definite answer for you because pre-e manifests in many different ways. I was more rare in the way mine presented, and the biggest issue with mine was LO's growth restriction and resulting low fluid. So, if it hadn't been for the fluid dropping from very low to almost none overnight, I probably would have made it another week or so. It was a matter of safety for him at that point though.
I imagine you will be watched very closely by your Dr and MFM. They will be cautious and get your LO here safely. Also, even though my case isn't necessarily like yours, I will tell you to have hope that you may go much further than your Dr said.
I went into the hospital @ 28 wks and was told I'd be having a baby within the next few days. Then I was told everything was stable but to plan to live in the hospital until he was born. After a week they let me go, and I went in twice a week for monitoring. I went back to the hospital @ 34 wks 4 days electively, and he was born three days later. All in all, I made it 7 wks from day that my Dr told I would be having him!!
Have you gotten the steroid shots? I believe that under 32 wks, they are highly recommended.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions at all. Try to relax and think positively. Follow your instincts and ask lots of questions.

I have had 3 NST in the last 6 weeks. One was due to contractions caused by a UTI (I have had 3 so far this pregnancy). The last was decreased fetal movement (turns out she had just turned). She seems to be fine. Exactly 2 weeks ago I landed in L&D with severe cramping, that ended up being constipation. They did an u/s that night to check fluid and everything else and she passed with an A++ measuring a few days ahead of EDD.

I have instructions to do a 24 hour urine catch on Sunday, have blood draw/turn in urine 7am Monday, and then OB appt Tuesday to go over the results. He did say that if the results are unsatisfactory, I will be going immediately to L&D from there - which is fine! I would rather be monitored. This is when he said they would administer the steroid shots.

I think I am most nervous right now b/c I was sent home, with no restrictions or instructions other than the urine catch. Trying to relax and trust my OB, but there is this voice that keeps screaming out "if I possibly have pre-e why am I not in a hospital! Why are we waiting until Sunday to do the 24 hour urine?!"

lwmooney87 · January 2012

For me, my symptoms started at 27 weeks. They did a 24 hour urine at that time and it was 163. At 28 weeks, my BP was really high so they checked my urine in office and it showed 1+...so they told me not to worry. That night, my BP was really high again so I called the doctor on call and she told me to take another BP pill and come in in the morning. So the next morning, I went in and they did an NST which was fine, took my BP which was high and dipped my urine for protein. The doctor came in before the nurse did the urine and told me that she didn't think it was pre-e but that she was going to take me out of work and put me on bedrest. Then the nurse came in and said my urine showed 4+ protein. That's a HUGE difference in less than 24 hours. So, they sent me immediately to L&D and she was saying "28 week babies do fine". I was a MESS. I got the first shot of steroids and then I went to L&D. They started a 24 hour urine and did an ultrasound. The ultrasound was fine... the next day my 24 hour urine came back with 1900 protein. So, HUGE change in less than a week. So, I stayed in the hospital on bedrest trying to bide time. I was admitted on Tuesday and on Sunday I had an emergency c-section at 29 weeks, 1 day. So, for me, mine progressed very quickly.

Anyway, I would definitely push for the 24 hour urine. Are you having any swelling? I had TONS of edema. It was awful. How is your BP? I would lie on your left side and not do much of anything until you are checked again. Good luck!

ETA: I forgot to add that my symptoms that started at 27 weeks were... high bp, MAJOR swelling all over, even in my face. I was seeing spots or whatever they call them. Like a lot. It was really scary. I was SO tired and didn't feel well at all. But the major signs of pre-e for me were the major swelling and very high BP. So, without any of those symptoms... I would wait for the 24 hour urine and labs to come back before you get upset or anything. They may be able to keep you pregnant until full term with pre-e as long as it doesn't get severe and you and/or baby start to become at risk for problems.

LilyPotter218 · January 2012

lwmooney87:
For me, my symptoms started at 27 weeks. They did a 24 hour urine at that time and it was 163. At 28 weeks, my BP was really high so they checked my urine in office and it showed 1+...so they told me not to worry. That night, my BP was really high again so I called the doctor on call and she told me to take another BP pill and come in in the morning. So the next morning, I went in and they did an NST which was fine, took my BP which was high and dipped my urine for protein. The doctor came in before the nurse did the urine and told me that she didn't think it was pre-e but that she was going to take me out of work and put me on bedrest. Then the nurse came in and said my urine showed 4+ protein. That's a HUGE difference in less than 24 hours. So, they sent me immediately to L&D and she was saying "28 week babies do fine". I was a MESS. I got the first shot of steroids and then I went to L&D. They started a 24 hour urine and did an ultrasound. The ultrasound was fine... the next day my 24 hour urine came back with 1900 protein. So, HUGE change in less than a week. So, I stayed in the hospital on bedrest trying to bide time. I was admitted on Tuesday and on Sunday I had an emergency c-section at 29 weeks, 1 day. So, for me, mine progressed very quickly.

Anyway, I would definitely push for the 24 hour urine. Are you having any swelling? I had TONS of edema. It was awful. How is your BP? I would lie on your left side and not do much of anything until you are checked again. Good luck!

ETA: I forgot to add that my symptoms that started at 27 weeks were... high bp, MAJOR swelling all over, even in my face. I was seeing spots or whatever they call them. Like a lot. It was really scary. I was SO tired and didn't feel well at all. But the major signs of pre-e for me were the major swelling and very high BP. So, without any of those symptoms... I would wait for the 24 hour urine and labs to come back before you get upset or anything. They may be able to keep you pregnant until full term with pre-e as long as it doesn't get severe and you and/or baby start to become at risk for problems.

So far I have zero symptoms other than the protein. On 1-6 it was a +1, last night it was a +2. Baby seems fine (based on HR and external exam only last night). No swelling, no spots, no nausea, no fatigue, and my BP has never been high. Not even borderline. Last night it was 117/80.

I just wish my OB had taken more time to explain things rather than just say "it could be baby is going to come early - as early as next week." If he thinks there is even the slightest possibility of this baby coming next week I have a few concerns about being sent home with no information. (Just called and asked the nurse)

1. Why was there no u/s or fluid check last night? (They have the machines in the office - and they are hi tech enough that A/S are done in office.)

2. Why did you not do a NST last night or schedule one for today?

3. Why are we waiting until Sunday to do the 24 hour urine test if pre-e can appear "overnight"?

I am taking some comfort in my lack of symptoms and LO's A++ score on her u/s two weeks ago & NST one week ago.

Thank you all so so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I feel so lost b/c this is not something I know anything about. You are all responsible for my current sanity

sassafras007 · January 2012

I had my DD at 34 weeks. She was 3 lbs and spent 16 days in the NICU.

I think the steroid shot helped her a lot!

gysberger04 · January 2012

My symptoms started at 28 weeks, when I started swelling and my BP started going up. I had appointments 2x/week at that point to check my urine and BP - my urine was fine and my BP stayed high (I think it was 150/100 or so) until Mon. the 17th - I had a slight trace of protein in my urine and they ordered another 24 hour urine sample. That night I felt really sick (burning in my chest and pain in my shoulder blades, it felt like they wanted to rip out of my back); we went into L&D. They checked my urine and found a significantly larger amount of protein in it (I don't know what the exact number was) - they told me I had severe pre-e and would deliver my baby within 48 hours IF I made it that long (I was 30w6d at that time). I was put on magnesium and given the first of two steroid shots. We made it until Thursday evening when my blood pressure soared again and I delivered DD via c-section that night (she was actually born the morning of Fri. the 21st). Keep a close watch on how you are feeling and if you start feeling cruddy, don't hesitate to call the doctor.

gysberger04 · January 2012

My symptoms started at 28 weeks, when I started swelling and my BP started going up. I had appointments 2x/week at that point to check my urine and BP - my urine was fine and my BP stayed high (I think it was 150/100 or so) until Mon. the 17th - I had a slight trace of protein in my urine and they ordered another 24 hour urine sample. That night I felt really sick (burning in my chest and pain in my shoulder blades, it felt like they wanted to rip out of my back); we went into L&D. They checked my urine and found a significantly larger amount of protein in it (I don't know what the exact number was) - they told me I had severe pre-e and would deliver my baby within 48 hours IF I made it that long (I was 30w6d at that time). I was put on magnesium and given the first of two steroid shots. We made it until Thursday evening when my blood pressure soared again and I delivered DD via c-section that night (she was actually born the morning of Fri. the 21st). Keep a close watch on how you are feeling and if you start feeling cruddy, don't hesitate to call the doctor.

chickaboo1974 · January 2012

My BP was high for a lot of my pregnancy- however at 31 weeks it hit 160/100- I was not having any protein in my urine. I was admitted to the hospital- but sent home later with my 24 hr urine catch. It was negative for protein but I was put on bedrest and a medication for my BP. At 34 weeks I did another 24 hr urine catch, it showed protein- however not at a high level. Three days later I started to see stars, my head ached, and my BP jumped. I called they sent me to L&D and my boys were delivered that night. So I lasted 3 weeks.

Bookwormyone · January 2012

My BP was fine most of my pregnancy. At 30 weeks I started to be very tired. I figured it was normal pregnancy related fatigue and didn't think anything of it. At 33 weeks I went in for a NST and my BP was 160/95 and Violet failed her NST. I went for a BPP which she quickly passed and was sent up to L&D. They immediately gave me the first steriod shot and told me I'd be there over night. I did a 24hour urine.

My BP was all over the place and when my urine came back there was a significant amount of protein and I was admitted. I had no symptoms for another day or two when I started getting headaches, nausea, severe anxiety corresponding to jumps in my BP. I delivered at 33w5d.

I think the steroid shots were huge. Violet only spent 8 days in the NICU and never needed any oxygen. I hope it's something besides pre-e and that you have a long, uneventful rest of your pregnancy.

hunt2005 · January 2012

You've gotten a lot of good info so far, but here's my 2 cents

I went in at 29 weeks, my proteins were around 300ppm (not sure what the 1-6 scale is, but I'm going to guess that's really thousand parts per million, ppm, so a 1 would be 1000ppm?). That's the bottomline for diagnosis of pre-e. They told me unless I got up to 5000 that I wouldn't be delivering unless my symptoms caught up with me. I had no high blood pressure, no dizziness, no blackouts, no eye problems, so they just monitored me. I was kept in the hospital, but that was because it was a multiples pregnancy and our house was an hour away across a large bridge so they didn't want me to be there if I went into labor or had immediate problems as there were no closer NICUs, otherwise I would have gone home.

The steroid shots were HUGE, IMO. We delivered at 33w1d and two babies came home within 2 weeks, the third came home after 4 because she wouldn't take the bottle and we finally roomed in to get her to nurse for 24 hours straight to get her home.

They do the 24 hour because an individual test can be so off compared to your 24 hour average due to how much you've had to drink, etc. Fingers crossed your 24 hour comes back much better!

LilyPotter218 · January 2012

I can not thank you all enough for taking the time to answer my questions and give me a better idea of what this all means

I started out with Dr Google and I think that was a mistake! Being nuts and paranoid I have checked my BP a few times at local drug/grocery stores and it has been fine. (Unfortunately this is not my first scare: I bled heavily from about 8-15 weeks - ended up being a polyp that was hiding, then had BH way earlier than I should have - ended up being UTI's I felt no symptoms of, and have been in L&D for insane cramping that left me shaking and throwing up - yep, that was constipation...)

For now, I am taking some comfort that no other symptoms have shown up, drinking a TON of water and taking it a little easier than I was before. If it does end up being worst case scenario, the hospital I am delivering at has a level 3 NICU and Cincinnati Children's Hospital is a mile away and is one of the best in the country (so I've been told).

Still scary, but I am trying to be calm and as realistic as possible. Thanks to all of you, I slept last night

als8711 · January 2012

I went in for a routine check up at 31 weeks 4 days and was immediately sent to the hospital because my bp was 150/90 and I had protein of 2+. They kept me at the hospital monitoring me all day and since my bp wouldn't go down they transferred me to a different hospital with a level 3 NICU and put me on an IV of magnesium. It immediately made me feel like I was on fire, I was sweating and extremely uncomfortable. I stayed on the mag IV until Wednesday night, which meant I was on a liquid diet of ice chips and occasionally water for 3 days. They then transferred me out of labor and delivery and into the antipartum section where I stayed for 24 hours until they did an emergency c-section at 32 weeks exactly.

During the days I was there I was getting headaches but was too scared to tell the doctors, and it felt like everyone was talking really loud and it really bothered me. I would occasionally see stars but I ignored that too. Right before they did the c-section my bp was 170/106 and I was hyper reflexive. There really wasn't anything they or I could have done to prolong the pregnancy at that point. I was put back on the mag IV and stayed on it until Saturday morning, and that's when I finally got to see my little Liam, 3lbs 4oz, 15.5" long. I stayed in the hospital until the following Wednesday because my bp and pulse stayed high, and I went home on bp medicine. I had to monitor my bp at home and it took quite a few weeks for it to calm down.

kyethra · January 2012

I have had preeclampsia since week 33, OB has been watching for it since week 28/29 ish. There are two basic things they are going to check for-- the health of your baby and your health. Right now my baby appears to be doing really, which makes me happy. My OB is more concerned with my health. We have discussed our goals and priorities. Right now my biggest goal is making it to full term without developing severe preeclampsia and I'll agree to deliver when the protein in the urine reaches 5000. It has been going up, but was last under or around 300. If there are other indicators that my health is worsening since as very high BP, lab values, etc. then I will get hospitalized and treated as long as possible and we will discuss.

I did order a small package of preemie sized diapers, but I kept the receipt so I can return them if (I hope) I don't need them.

While my personal goal is to make it to 39 weeks, my more reasonable goal with the OB is to make it to 36 and then see if we can push for 37.

I get screened twice a week and see the doctor. I have a biophysical profile ultrasound and a non stress test to check on fetal health. I also often have blood work and the 24 urine catch these days and we talk about my blood pressure, which is rising despite increased meds, and my swelling and the OB asks about the other symptoms.

You need to so research and talk to your SO and family and think about your priorities. For me, I am willing to wait to deliver until the pre-eclampsia becomes severe or an emergency situation develops-- I am willing to let it go longer than another woman might be because I know way too much stuff (according to various people) about preemie risks and my child is a boy and already at risk for special needs. I want him to stay in longer so long as he is healthy. This has meant a little negotiating with my husband and so forth since he tends to worry about me and the potential health risks associated with preeclampsia.

carlamell · January 2012

My OB noticed mine at my 28 week appt (on a Tuesday). She prescribed Labetalol then for my blood pressure. Two days later I was admitted and transferred to the high risk unit. His activity began to decrease. I then began spilling protein. He was born on August 18 at just 29 weeks.

If they caught it early and you have no other symptoms, you may just be monitored closer and have more frequent appts. You may also have to do 24 hr urines often.

Best of luck to you!!

LilyPotter218 · January 2012

Results of blood + urine came back normal and there was only a trace in my office sample today. They are going to continue to monitor me more closely, starting weekly appointments now as opposed to 36 weeks.

She was not moving and they were having issues finding her HB separate from mine so after 30 min on the monitors they sent me for an u/s. Turns out all was well and she is still measuring a few days ahead with ample fluid.

Now I am slightly annoyed they jumped immediately to worst case before even doing the 24 hr catch. They had be pack a bag to have at the appointment today just in case I was sent directly to the hospital... I know they were/are still being careful for my best interest, but holy balls thanks for that.

Thank you so much to everyone here who gave me advice/input/shared your stories. I went into that appt today feeling so much more confident and prepared (and calm) for any outcome and now know what to ask/expect if things do end up progressing. You are all amazing and I can not thank you enough

Bookwormyone · January 2012

I was hoping you would update soon. I'm so glad everything looks good. You're doing everything right for yourself and your little one. I hope the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful. Please keep us updated and take care of yourself.

Want a personalized experience?

? to those who's preemie was a result of pre-e. UPDATE

Re: ? to those who's preemie was a result of pre-e. UPDATE

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

? to those who's preemie was a result of pre-e. UPDATE

Re: ? to those who&#039;s preemie was a result of pre-e. UPDATE

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: ? to those who's preemie was a result of pre-e. UPDATE