Preeclampsia concerns already?

kwentela · September 2015

So I went into my doc last Friday for our routine check up, I usually get white coat blood pressure so they usually have to check my BP a few times for it to be normal. They checked it 3 times at our 15 minute appointment and the third time the bottom number was still over 90. So for being almost 23 weeks at that point my doc was kinda concerned so she had me go up to Labor and Delivery for a few hours to watch my blood pressures every 10 mins and do blood work and urine lab work. As soon as I was up on L&D for 20 mins my blood pressure was happy again around 115/70. I sat there for about 3 hours and waited for my lab results and the results looked good. There was one lab result from the urine that we wouldn't get back until today, so they sent me home. My urine lab result came back this morning and was elevated... Making them concerned for signs of preeclampsia. So now I have to collect 24 hours of urine which is a more sensitive test to check for signs of preeclampsia and they are making me come back to L&D tomorrow after my urine collection is completed and do serial blood pressure monitoring tomorrow for who knows how long. I'm 23 weeks now and obviously concerned. They gave me a doctors note to get out of work tomorrow to come in for the monitoring. But I'm supposed to be moving next week across the country but if the results come back that I am getting preeclamptic then that can't happen. I know me and baby's health comes first and I need to try and stay calm and relax until I have more information but it's definitely not easy when there's so many other things I'm trying to do this week. Hoping to hear anyone's experiences or just some calming thoughts as I try to get through this week in one piece

Monilee1017 · September 2015

I had to do this with both of my boys. I never had protein in my urine, but I ended up having to have twice a week NST, once a week ultrasounds and once a week doctors appointments, this started around 30 weeks and continued until delivery. My blood pressure was always high at the doctors before that. I had to go to the hospital as well a few times and take my blood pressure at work or at home everyday. Luckily for me everything worked out and I never had to have my kids early but it was a lot of doctors appointments, one day a week I would be there for over 3 hours. Hopefully everything works out for you.

ellaxo1 · September 2015

I am a FTM so don't have any experience, just wanted to wish you well and hope that everything turns out good.

maureenmce · September 2015

Oh wow, how stressful - thinking of you and hoping for the best. Preparing for a cross country move might be stressful enough to elevate your blood pressure anyway and it might not be preeclampsia? But of course, I'm not a dr! Hoping for the best outcome for you and baby - keep us posted!

kfreeman2008 · September 2015

I actually started having high BP about 21 weeks with my son. The bottom number was always higher than normal (in the 90-95 range when its normally 70ish) and my upper got over 130 around that time. It stayed pretty steady at 130/90 until 30ish weeks when it went dangerously high.

I was a FTM who hadn't worked for a year. We did Fertility treatments and I quit my job to release some stress and handle my chronic kidney stones and migraines during pregnancy. So, I had the advantage of basically being on modified bedrest for about 5 weeks before it got high. Then it got bad at about 30-31 weeks and I went on normal bedrest. Then it got dangerously high at 160/105 and I was on strick bedrest...only laying on my left side and monitoring my BP every 3 hours. I had early labor at 33 weeks, stopped it with fluids and then scheduled an induction for 37w3d. I made it to 37, went into labor and had my son. He was 7lb12oz, but had some complications probably related to shock. But, he is perfect.

I don't say that to freak you out, but to let you know that this happens to some of us. The best part about your situation is that your doctor is proactive and started testing now. I was in the office twice a week and had only one stress test the whole time b/c my son was so active. You can have preeclampsia without protein in your urine (it is a major marker, but not mandatory for diagnosis). I never had protein, but it would have been much worse for me.with my history of kidney disease. The did have gestational hypertension until they decided it was preeclampsia right before my son was born.

I would say that what made me feel much better was investing in the $50 home BP machine. Even though I was getting high readings, it let me know it wasn't just while in the doctors and let us make a treatment plan that worked. I was able to carry my son until I absolutely couldn't any longer and we figured out a position that drastically decreased my BP. Maybe you will feel better having a machine and monitoring yourself? It was all a mental game in the earlier time for me. Good luck!

Monilee1017 · September 2015

I agree with @kfreeman2008. I had to take my blood pressure at home and when at work, my work has machines at all office buildings, and this really helped with the worry. I called whenever my blood pressure was out of the range they gave me. We had a machine at our house because of my husband. If you think it would make you feel better you could buy one or talk to your doctor about the possibility of renting one.

JDBtwinmama · September 2015

Hi I've actually been dealing with this since week 19 and I did have high levels of protein. I'm still working and everything has turned out fine. Thinking of you and hoping you have the same results!

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