Pre-Eclampsia

dette7820 · May 2012

Anyone have this, or have experience.. pending some tests- my Ob thinks if I dont have it yet- I am on my way to having it.. I am kind of freaking out looking at the risks etc..

anyone have a good story? I am really nervous.

lwmooney87 · May 2012

I don't post much on this board but I thought I would chime in.

I had pre-e with my DD. I developed it at 28 weeks. (My 24 hour urine protein was over 1900) and 6 days before that, it was 164. So, I developed it severely and quickly. I had TERRIBLE swelling from like 24 weeks on and I just felt terrible and my BP was out the roof. I ended up having to have an emergency c-section at 29w1d. My DD came out crying and was 2lbs 11oz and 15 inches. She spent exactly 8 weeks in the NICU but she is doing wonderful today. So, unfortunately, my story isn't a good one as far as pregnancy goes but it is as far as my DD is concerned. She's such a blessing. As far as any future pregnancy...I'm not sure. I am going to talk to MFM next month regarding their recommendations.

Do you have a lot of swelling? High BP? If you do have it, it may not be severe and they may be able to monitor you and keep you pregnant until you're full term. I hope your test results come back and you don't have it! It's definitely no fun. Good luck!

ETA: IF you do get the diagnosis, I would definitely ask for the methotrexate?, I think it is..it's two injections of steroids to help mature baby's lungs.

dette7820 · May 2012

My swelling is in my feet only right now- but it's first thing in the morning which is new.. and I have pretty boney feet- so it's really obvious.. my blood pressure is normally around 117-120 over 60 and the last 2 times it's been 136 or 138 over 80/90.. Which he said isnt horrible, but for me it's high and it's creeping.. and the last two visits I have had the small amounts of protein.. with headaches. So I am hoping if I have it, it's mild enough that i dont have to be worried about my own health other than taking the precautions recommended.. it's the things like "stroke, seizures, placenta abruption".. that have me freaking out

lwmooney87 · May 2012

You can probably rest a little easier if you're protein isn't too high and your BP isn't extremely high. I had had pressures of 140/102 consistently and 4+ protein the day they admitted me to the hospital. (I had 1+ just the day before, so you never know) I had horrible swelling though. Seriously, I couldn't wear shoes and my hands and face were swollen too. I didn't even look like myself. I gained 20+ pounds just in fluid.

If you start to notice increased swelling, high pressures or really rapid weight gain..then definitely don't wait to be seen. It sounds like you may need to be put on bedrest. I definitely wish my OB would have done that for me...maybe they could have kept me pregnant longer. Just drink lots of water, lay on your left side and take it easy oh and limit the amount of salt you ingest.

Good luck!

dette7820 · May 2012

lwmooney87:

You can probably rest a little easier if you're protein isn't too high and your BP isn't extremely high. I had had pressures of 140/102 consistently and 4+ protein the day they admitted me to the hospital. (I had 1+ just the day before, so you never know) I had horrible swelling though. Seriously, I couldn't wear shoes and my hands and face were swollen too. I didn't even look like myself. I gained 20+ pounds just in fluid.

If you start to notice increased swelling, high pressures or really rapid weight gain..then definitely don't wait to be seen. It sounds like you may need to be put on bedrest. I definitely wish my OB would have done that for me...maybe they could have kept me pregnant longer. Just drink lots of water, lay on your left side and take it easy oh and limit the amount of salt you ingest.

Good luck!

Thank you- That is what I am hoping if I do have it- that it's bed rest and totally managable. I have already started to reduce my salt.. per MD's recommendation. Thanks so much for your assistance.

Debra4love · May 2012

I am sorry you are going through this. I also had pre-eclampsia with my 2 daughters.(They are very healthy and happy girls!) I am hoping and praying that I don't get it this time. It is so stressful to worry about it. Just do everything that your doctor says and don't be afraid to call to be checked if you feel something isn't right.

September2007 · May 2012

I very rarely post anymore, but I had PreE with my twins. My protein level was 305 (needs to be over 300 to be considered PreE), my BP was 170/110, and I got myself admitted for 5+ weeks of bedrest at 28w. I delivered the twins at 33w6d, and although DS was severe IUGR (2lbs 7oz), DD (4lbs 2 oz) was good size for their GA.

All of us are happy & healthy today. My BP stabilized after a month of BP meds, and the twins are doing well. Both are still on the smaller size (DS is now 14lbs 4lbs and DD is 16lbs 2oz at 10mos), but both are growing appropriately.

Good Luck! PreE sucks!! Just keep hydrated, relax with your feet up, but if you feel off, get yourself checked ASAP (vision issues, chest pain, etc.).

dette7820 · May 2012

Thank you ladies. I think the next couple days of waiting is going to have me going crazy- specially with this headache.. but its ok.. I am trying to just be ok with it.. and surrender control.. since I can't control this..

Reducing salt, already drinking about 80 ounces of water a day and I am going to stop drinking my one cup of coffee too.. not going to do excercise or anything strenuous until I hear more.

Thanks so much.

lwmooney87 · May 2012

Yes, forgot to say that...cut out the caffeine. It can make BP higher. Rest on your left side as much as you can with your feet elevated. Obviously, there's nothing you can do if you do have it but it won't hurt to try! I hope you get good results! Pre-e is a nasty illness.Try to eliminate as much "stimulation" as you can too. In the hospital, they wouldn't let me watch tv, talk on the phone or anything like that! It drove me crazy. Obviously don't cut it all out because it will probably cause you to be MORE stressed out (It did me) but just try to rest as much as you can!

hokies94 · May 2012

I don't post much here anymore but lurk every once in a while.

I ended up with pre-e with my third. It was found at a 34 week NST. I had no symptoms of it-no swelling, no headaches, only high bp. I had PIH in my first two pregnancies so the high blood pressure wasn't surprising.

Long story short, my pre-e was fairly mild (I have no idea what my protein #s were-they never told me) and I was put on bedrest at home for 3 weeks. My bedrest was not strict. My OB knew I had 2 kids at home and full bedrest just was not going to happen. She let me stay at home and I was able to keep my bp down enough to make it to 37 weeks. I was induced at 37 weeks 1 day. DS was born healthy, although a bit small-5lbs 13 oz. He did have some issues with jaundice since he was so small but aside from that he was healthy.

The one thing that terrified me about pre-e was the possibility of having to be put on magnesium during delivery. Luckily I was able to avoid it and while my bp was fairly high during delivery I was able to make it through w/o magnesium. My bp went back down soon after the birth.

sjones10 · May 2012

I had Pree with my first son. Found at 29 weeks, Bp 156/95 and +3 protein at regular dr apt. I was put on hospital bed rest and delivered at 30+3. I didn't notice swelling in my face until I looked at pictures afterwards. The average time between diagnosis and delivery is 2 weeks...so if you are diagnosed I would start to get ready for a preemie. No matter what you do, increase water intake, lower sodium, put feet up, if you have pre e it's not going away and can progress extreamly quick. If you start feeling horrible I would go into L&D. Pre e is not something you want to play with.

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