If you had pre-eclampsia, can we chat?

[FastHands]

I didn't want to derail the other thread, but I saw a few mentions of pre-e. If you had it, can you share your experience? I know that everyone is different yadda yadda, but I'm interested in particular in how fast it came on, and how long (and how) you were able to put off labor.

I had some early indicators that I am headed down that road, and the dr a couple of weeks ago basically said that I'm going to end up pre eclamptic based on her experience, and will not make it to 40 weeks. But my bp, while not ideal, has stayed consistent since then. I mentally bounce back and forth between "pssssh I'm fiiiine" and "omg I could end up on bed rest at any moment..." and just looking for a bit of perspective.

[Deleted]

I'm pretty sure I had pre-e, towards the end I just could not stop gaining weight (Like, honest to God, 15 pounds in 1 week) and my blood pressure was everywhere. I was induced at 39 weeks because of blood pressure. This all started around 35 weeks, and my blood pressure just continued to get worse with every weekly visit before my doctor considered it a hazard. I did have proteins in my urine at 39 weeks, but not at 38 weeks.

My delivery was quick and everything went well, but I have some nerve damage in my hands, feet, and back from the pressure of all that extra fluid and weight coming on so fast. I had to get a Botox injection for my back a few months back, and that helped the constant tingly pain sensation go away.

[rupertpenny]

I'm on the app, how far along are you?

Anyway, I never had full blown pre-e, but I did have PIH. My whole pregnancy was fucking textbook perfect until about 36.5 weeks when my blood pressure was a smidge high. My OB recommended I keep an eye in it so I monitored myself over the weekend and it stayed high. I went to triage on a Sunday, at 36w6d, and my urine was fine but my blood was a bit off so I was admitted for 24 hour urine test and observation. My urine ended up being fine, and later blood tests were clear, but I was released on bed rest and scheduled for an induction the next week at 37w6d.

Anyway, my BP stayed high, but not alarmingly so. My induction took FOREVER but it was successful and I delivered a healthy baby vaginally at 38w2d.

Good luck!

[thebreakfastclub]

Pre-e came on in my 39th week. It was fast - I had my BP checked on Wed at a health fair at work - 120/80. At my 39wk appt 2 days later, it was 160/90. I had 0 symptoms - minimal swelling during my whole pregnancy, felt fine.

I went to L&D for monitoring, and my BP came down that night and stayed down when I returned Sat morning. Since I was so close to my due date, they induced on Monday morning, at 39.5 weeks. They would have just watched me if I was farther out from my EDD.

During labor, my BP shot up to 200/100 and I had the proteins in my urine. Again, no vision problems, felt normal (well, except for labor!) I had elevated BP for 4 weeks after DS was born, but then it finally went down.

[FastHands]

rupertpenny I'm 33 weeks now. This all started around 30 weeks with a slight pop of protein in my urine and bp 140/85 when it had been 120/70 at the last appt. Since then I've done 2 24h urine collections and a bunch of blood work that have all been normal, and my BP is 140/85ish every morning and a smidge lower at night.

I accept the fact that I'm just not in control here, lol, but I guess I'm trying to get a grasp on how much longer I might be able to hold out without bed rest. That may be a futile effort, though, depending on how much things vary from person to person.

[soozy87]

My bp started going up around my 36 week appointment. I was put on bed rest and had to do the 24h urine collection. That was tested and they called with the results and I was told to get to the hospital and I would be induced. I went and had my baby 2 days later at 37 weeks. He was quite small, but there were placenta issues as well. Everything turned out wonderfully.

I didn't have early indications I would have pre-e. My bp was almost always low. Once it started though I was retaining a lot more water and you could see it in my face and hands.

The thing that my OB told me that has still stuck with me was "is the baby going to do better on the inside or on the outside? If the answer is the outside then we take the baby."

[rupertpenny]

Jul 25, 2014 7:49:10 GMT -5 FastHands said:

rupertpenny I'm 33 weeks now. This all started around 30 weeks with a slight pop of protein in my urine and bp 140/85 when it had been 120/70 at the last appt. Since then I've done 2 24h urine collections and a bunch of blood work that have all been normal, and my BP is 140/85ish every morning and a smidge lower at night.

I accept the fact that I'm just not in control here, lol, but I guess I'm trying to get a grasp on how much longer I might be able to hold out without bed rest. That may be a futile effort, though, depending on how much things vary from person to person.

It sounds like you have a personal monitor, that is good. I spent a few days trying to go to cvs to monitor my BP and that was a disaster. Just hauling my bulk in from the parking lot raised my BP.

I know bed rest terrified me too, and I sucked at it the one week I was supposed to so it. I forced my H to let me go to Costco one last time lol. Can you take it easy though? Go to work, move around as needed, but don't work out or bust your ass cooking or cleaning. Just that might help to keep your BP in check at least until you are further along. Believe me, I know it is hard. I think trying to sit still that one week was harder than labor and delivery lol.

[imbatman]

I was never actually diagnosed with pre-e, but my blood pressure was high my entire pregnancy. It was at least 140/85 the whole time, and would occasionally go higher than that. I was also super swollen and retaining a lot of fluid from about 25ish weeks on. I had protein in my urine once (after a terrible stomach virus) and they had me do a 24 hr urine sample, which came back fine. And then at my 39 week appt my bp was reeeally high and I had protein in my urine, so I was induced at 39w3d. But labor and delivery were no big deal, my bp never got real high, in fact at one point it got super low and I was put on oxygen from that point on.

[Amy]

I had high BP in both pregnancies. Pre E in 1st. Saw some protein in my urine at week 36, bed rest for a week then induced in week 37 - all was fine. 2nd pregnancy high bp never turned into pre e but still delivered in week 37 b/c it got so high it was affecting baby's heart rate.

[FastHands]

Jul 25, 2014 8:01:27 GMT -5 jillianashley6 said:

I did. I was diagnosed early (or at least I was told I was), around 24 weeks. It all started with migraines, which indicated my BP had spiked. I was able to keep working, just taking it easy for several weeks. I had a few scares where I ended up on hospital bedrest for a day or two, but was always able to go home. I started seeing a MFM dr twice a week starting at about 30 weeks I think.
I was on home bedrest starting about 32-33 weeks. Then I was induced at 37 weeks. Tried for 3 days to a vaginal birth, ended with a C.


I had a hard time letting go of working- I take a lot of pride in my job. I took it REALLY easy and continued working for several weeks. I bought a BP machine and took my BP every hour to keep an eye on it. It worked for a little while.

The last paragraph is part of what I'm struggling with in terms of planning. I take pride in what I do and ppl rely on me. So I'm torn between keeping my normal workload to not be a waste of space, and kind of shutting down shop so that if I go on bed rest I don't have to have someone pick up for me at a bad/confusing spot when they weren't planning on it.

[FloFTW]

First pregnancy: Started feeling shitty at about 24 weeks but whenever I went to the doctor my BP and urine was fine. Went to ER at 29 weeks 2 days and had full-blown HELLP syndrome. Did 48 hours of steroids and delivered at 29 weeks 4 days.

Second pregnancy: Pre-E at 31 weeks 4 days. Hospital bedrest for a week. Spiraled into HELLP again at 32 weeks 4 days so they did an emergency Csection that day.

It's a good sign if your BP responds to drugs and bedrest. Usually people can make it to 36 weeks if you respond. My body just didn't.

[Muddled]

Oh no, Fasty. Take care of yourself.

[keyslover]

I had Pre-E with DD2. I was put on strict bedrest at around 32 weeks. I am a SAHM so it wasn't a matter of me giving up a job, but I had to deal with DD1 and needed help 24/7 with her. We were lucky enough to have family help when DH wasn't around.

My blood pressure was rising so my OB told me to go on modified bed rest. Then the results of my urine test came back and I was told to go on strict I also had to get the steroid shots to help with lung development. I had to do weekly 24 hour urine tests also.

I was scheduled to be induced at 39 weeks and ended up going into labor the night before. I delivered vaginally without any issues. BP dropped shortly after DD2 came out.

Good luck. Pregnancy is an emotional rollercoaster.

[mellymel]

With DS (first baby), I started having MAJOR swelling around 34 weeks. It was so bad. I had to wear sexy compression socks and drink lots of Gatorade for the electrolytes (per dr orders). None of my shoes fit. Even 2 sizes up wouldn't fit. It was bad.

Then my BP started going higher around 36 weeks.

At 37 weeks my BP was even higher and I gained like 6 lbs in one week. Not good.

At 37.5 weeks some protein showed in my urine. I had to do a 24 hour urine collection. When I turned that in (almost 38 wks at that point) my doctor told me to get my ass in a wheelchair and she was going to personally wheel me over to the hospital across the street and induce me. They didn't have a bed for me, so we waited until the next morning. Still no bed. I waited one extra day and make it to 38 weeks and was induced.

DS was fine. I was fine. But it was kinda scary.

He was only 5lbs 9oz at birth. Totally fine, just much smaller than expected.

ETA: 2nd pregancy was textbook and wonderful (except going to 42 weeks). No high BP and no proteins.

[FastHands]

Jul 25, 2014 8:02:39 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Jul 25, 2014 7:49:10 GMT -5 FastHands said:

rupertpenny I'm 33 weeks now. This all started around 30 weeks with a slight pop of protein in my urine and bp 140/85 when it had been 120/70 at the last appt. Since then I've done 2 24h urine collections and a bunch of blood work that have all been normal, and my BP is 140/85ish every morning and a smidge lower at night.

I accept the fact that I'm just not in control here, lol, but I guess I'm trying to get a grasp on how much longer I might be able to hold out without bed rest. That may be a futile effort, though, depending on how much things vary from person to person.

It sounds like you have a personal monitor, that is good. I spent a few days trying to go to cvs to monitor my BP and that was a disaster. Just hauling my bulk in from the parking lot raised my BP.

I know bed rest terrified me too, and I sucked at it the one week I was supposed to so it. I forced my H to let me go to Costco one last time lol. Can you take it easy though? Go to work, move around as needed, but don't work out or bust your ass cooking or cleaning. Just that might help to keep your BP in check at least until you are further along. Believe me, I know it is hard. I think trying to sit still that one week was harder than labor and delivery lol.

lol at the bolded! Yeah, I'm trying to just make small changes to be even less active than I already was, lol. And yep I have a little BP monitor (my BP is usually on the verge of dangerously low, lol, which is why I had one to begin with.. pregnancy is so bizarre!) so at least I know where i stand. It's hard because part of me is like "HURRY UP AND DO IT ALL! WINTER (bedrest,lol) IS COMING!" and the other part is like "welllll if you just take it easy, maybe you won't NEED bed rest, ya stooge." I'm just desperately trying to be in control when I completely can't. heh

[FastHands]

Jul 25, 2014 8:08:12 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

OH but like @jillianashley, I had terrible migraines starting at around 20 weeks. I'm prone to migraine, but not that often. THat was another reason my OB wanted to keep a close eye on my BP and urine, though he also said that if you tend toward migraines, they can either disappear completely during pregnancy, or ramp way the fuck up. Headaches don't HAVE to be a symptom of pre-e, but they CAN be. If that makes sense.

Yep, totally. I feel like this is the case with a lot of things (I have pretty bad swelling, but I did all throughout and am prone to it non-pg as well, and had some vision issues that they are pretty sure were related to fluid retention and NOT a sign of pre-e), which just adds to my inability to know anything at all. lol

And when I first told my local friend about my need to do a pee jug, she found me your story and sent it to me, yes! LOL So while I am completely sorry you had to go through with that, I am so glad you shared because it gave me a much-needed laugh at the time.

[VeryViolet]

Jul 25, 2014 9:50:05 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Jul 25, 2014 8:08:12 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

OH but like @jillianashley, I had terrible migraines starting at around 20 weeks. I'm prone to migraine, but not that often. THat was another reason my OB wanted to keep a close eye on my BP and urine, though he also said that if you tend toward migraines, they can either disappear completely during pregnancy, or ramp way the fuck up. Headaches don't HAVE to be a symptom of pre-e, but they CAN be. If that makes sense.

Yep, totally. I feel like this is the case with a lot of things (I have pretty bad swelling, but I did all throughout and am prone to it non-pg as well, and had some vision issues that they are pretty sure were related to fluid retention and NOT a sign of pre-e), which just adds to my inability to know anything at all. lol

And when I first told my local friend about my need to do a pee jug, she found me your story and sent it to me, yes! LOL So while I am completely sorry you had to go through with that, I am so glad you shared because it gave me a much-needed laugh at the time.

I have hypertension put not pre-E. Since I was at higher risk but my bp wasn't always a good indicator my doctor was always checking my reflexes. If you have really strong reflexes that is a sign of pre-e. They first time he did it he said all seriously that my reflexes were dull. How he said it made me freak out but apparently that is a good thing. 

[iamali]

I had signs of pre-e at about 30 weeks. I was put in bed rest at home.

At 32 weeks or got much worse and I was put on bed rest in the hospital. At 33 weeks it morphed into HELLP syndrome. Within a 24 hour period my already high BP skyrocketed. They did labs on me 4 times in 2 hours until finally when my BP was in the 210's / 110's they did an emergency c section.

Pre e isn't something to mess with. My liver was so distended that the doctors told me that if they waited even a few minutes longer it would have ruptured.

Sent from my defective S3.

[chickenlittle]

My bp was elevated around 36 weeks, and protein showed up at 39. I'd been out of work on modified bed rest since 37 weeks, so my OB scheduled an induction for two days later, with daily NSTs and blood pressure checks. My water broke before I could be induced, but my bp during labor and for a day or so after was 200/110. Normal for me is 90/60. The day I went into labor I felt like absolute shit, but I'm not sure if that was from the pre-e or from just getting easy to go into labor.