Natural birth w/preE?

Re: Natural birth w/preE?

• catsinawindow member

  March 2013

  IME, PreE will not preclude a natural birth, but will make it more difficult.  I think it depends a lot on your individual circumstances.  Will you need to be induced?  Will you need to be on magnesium sulfate?  How high is your BP running? 

  Based on these factors have a discussion with your health care provider about what your limitations will be during labor.  Will you have to stay in bed?  Can you eat and drink?  Can you labor in the water/shower?  Do you have access to telemetry monitering?  Can baby still room in after birth?  If they say "no" ask why and if there is any wiggle room.  Depending on your situation, there may be important reasons for these limitations.  On the other hand, some limitations might just be "hospital policy". 

  Basically, I'd try to make your birth as "natural birth friendly" as possible while acknowledging that some changes will have to be made to your birth plan for the safety of you and your baby.  Best of luck, I know how hard and scary it is to be in this situation.

  
  

  
  

  

  BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
  

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• kds717 member

  March 2013

  My BP is 140/100 in the office, but around 125/78 at home. My protein levels are in the 700s as well. Fortunately I have an awesome practice and my midwives are allowing me to stay on bed rest with close monitoring. They were going to induce me yesterday but I am already 3cm dilated and about 40-50% effaced, so I bought myself a few days.

  They did say that I was going to have to be induced and stay in bed during labor  because my blood pressure shoots up when I'm moving around, but they gave me a definitive "we'll see" when I begged not to have the mag sulfate. 

   However, I still get to catch him, do skin to skin, room in with him, wear my own gown, etc. They said that for women like me who have their plans flipped upside down, they try to be as accommodating as they can be.  

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• catsinawindow member

  March 2013

  That's great that you'll still have natural-birth friendly midwives managing your care.  That can make such a difference!

  Since it sounds like you'll have to stay in bed, maybe consider thinking about/researching positions and techniques you can do to manage pain while you're laboring in bed.  I found that relaxation breathing really helped.  Also, sitting or hands and knees may be more comfortable during labor than lying down.

  If you have to be induced, you can research which induction method you are most comfortable with.  Already being 3-4 cm dilated is great!  That probably means your Bishop score is good and you have a good chance of delivering vaginally.  Each induction method has it's own pros and cons and it really boils down to what you want.  For instance, low dose pitocin vs rupture of membranes both carry their own benefits and risks.

  One final thought, did your midwife strip your membranes?  Might be something to try if you get the chance.

  
  

  
  

  

  BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
  

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• crogers19 member

  March 2013

  I had planned on a natural hypnobirth with DS but I was diagnosed with preE at 37 weeks. My midwife put me on mag and that affects your muscles so I was bed bound. We did the foley bulb with almost no progress so they started me on pit. After labouring for about 10 hours I got an epi just so I could get some sleep. Thankfully I was able to still have a vaginal birth.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

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