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Pregnancy

Diagnosed with Pre Eclampsia - s aninduction inevitable? Anyone else in this situation?

13 replies

MrsHelenBee · 30/04/2014 17:24

Hi everyone,
Just wondered if anyone out there has been where I am.
I'm 36+3 with my second pg and I have a few complications (same as in 1st pg), including anaemia and chronic SPD, which have made it a long ride. I'm on crutches but barely mobile, and having iron infusions to improve my iron levels. To add to that, I've been diagnosed with Pre Eclampsia in the last few days.
At my routine mf appt last week, I asked about my horrendously uncomfortable and swollen feet/ankles, which have been getting worse in the last ten days. I also tested positive for +1 for protein with slightly raised BP, so the mf was monitoring me over the next 36hrs. Then, after 48hrs, I started to feel really unwell - throbbing headache, nausea and a general all-over feeling that I wasn't well. At hospital, my BP went through the roof, and I started being sick and having visual disturbances. Still tested +1 for protein although my bloods were ok. I was admitted for 48hrs and put on Labetalol, which brought my BP right down, almost too far, but also meant Bump was very quiet. Traces were 'unsatisfactory' and barely seemed to wake over a couple of days but today, on the 5th hour-long trace, he moved enough for the staff to be happy, and I was discharged. I also had a scan which established Bump is growing well and blood flow through the placenta is still good.
A registrar saw me before I left and said I'll need to see the consultant next week to decide 'when all this will come to an end'. I asked what that meant and she said I wouldn't be allowed to go anywhere near 40+12, if that's how things progress, now I'm on Labetalol, and that I may be induced.
Really wanted to avoid an induction and just wondered what other people's experiences have been - allowed to go into labour spontaneously, or induced? If induced, will this be left until well after 40 weeks?

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DitzyDonkey · 30/04/2014 17:31

I had pe with my ds, it was discovered at a routine gp appointment at around 36 / 37 weeks. I was told to go immediately into the hospital and they rushed me for a c section once they saw how high my blood pressure was. That was after two hours in the hospital. I was very poorly afterwards and my blood pressure would not go down. My ds was in poor health also.

So I know not the answer you were hoping for but pe is soooooo dangerous, I thank my lucky stars every day that we came out of it alive. If I were you I wouldn't hesitate to get that baby out ASAP. As you can feel physically fine but in fact be seriously ill!

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PetShopGirl · 30/04/2014 18:37

I had PE with my DS too. I was sent in to hospital following a routine midwife appt on the Thursday afternoon and he was delivered on the Saturday morning by c-section at 37 weeks. The reason he was delivered when he was, was because they couldn't control my blood pressure any more with drugs so the only "cure" in that case is to get the baby out. I had a c-section because DS was in a transverse lie so I couldn't have delivered vaginally. Had he been in the right position my understanding is that they would have induced me.

Try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know!). It sounds like the labetalol is doing a good job and they are keeping a very close eye on you and baby. I would think it is very unlikely now that they will let you get to 40+ weeks, but I'm sure they will try and keep you going as long as they can keep things under control. And don't forget anything after 37 weeks is considered 'term', and even if your baby were to be delivered now everything would be fine.

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Errrr2012 · 30/04/2014 19:12

Hi, I had PE and HELLP and my baby was delivered by c section at 31 weeks. I got worse very quickly but if my condition had been slower to deteriorate (and gone beyond 32 weeks) they would probably have induced me instead. A midwife, a couple of days before the section, said that women with PE are generally very quick to deliver when they have been induced, usually delivering within an hour. So it could all be over very soon and your baby is at a very good gestation so stay positive. X

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lyndie · 30/04/2014 19:20

It's really impossible to say, I've been induced 3 times with PE, twice around the 36-37 week mark. We were trying to hang off as long as possible but my kidneys start to fail, it wasn't safe to continue any further.

If you and baby are well, BP under control and bloods fine you may last a bit longer!

If its any consolation my 2nd induction was the easiest, they just broke my waters and I went into labour, I didn't need pessaries or a drip or anything.

Good luck x

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Flickstar · 30/04/2014 19:48

I was induced at 38+5 due to PE. I had been monitored for high blood pressure since16 weeks and on labetalol since 36 weeks. In my case my BP was creeping up but my protein levels in my 24hour urine sample were double what they should have been. I am pregnant again and currently 33 weeks- I've been on a very low dose of labetalol since 10 weeks this time round which is doing the job. However, they have said that I will not be allowed to go past my due date and induction or ELCS will be booked for 40 weeks due to my hypertension and the risks it adds to the placenta. To be honest, hearing so may awful things about placental failures in the late stages of pregnancy, I am glad to not be taking the risk and wouldn't argue with them.

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lyndie · 30/04/2014 19:51

Yes I think PE takes away all your choices doesn't it? Other conditions you might have a bit of wiggle room with timings and things but you'd be very brave or very daft to go against the hospital recommendations unfortunately.

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MrsHelenBee · 30/04/2014 22:15

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all of the feedback - it may not be a happy topic to be discussing, but hearing from people who've been there is such a great help, and I really appreciate all of you taking the time to share your experiences, especially when some of them (most in fact) sound terrifying.
I had my heart set on a positive experience this time around - I was very poorly after delivery last time and was diagnosed with chronic depression and PTSD in the months afterwards. It toook a long time to even consider having another baby, and DH and I invested in a Natal Hypnotherapy course to help me feel less anxious about labour and delivery, and develop some skills to - hopefully - give me the best chance for a positive experience.
However, I couldn't have foreseen the events of the last few days and DH and I always said we'd be lead by events as they unfolded and the recommendations of medical staff - if I or the baby was in trouble, we'd accept whatever intervention had to be put in place. And I hold to that - I kind of feel feel like things are out of my hands now, but I'm ok about it, especially after reading your messages. It may not be what we planned but, at the end of the day, it's more important to DH and I that me and Bubs are safe.

Just want to say how brave you all are and how much I respect you all. It's amazing what we women go through. Thanks again so much for your support.

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lyndie · 01/05/2014 12:50

Hypnobirthing is a great idea, even if you're induced. If your hospital has mobile CTG then you can still be active and on your feet. All my three were born in Consultant units and so no pool or anything but I was still happy I got to do the birthing bit fairly naturally despite all the monitoring and fussing around!

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MrsHelenBee · 02/05/2014 20:21

Thanks lyndie!
I've just finished a course in natal hypnotherapy. I'm really pleased we went, and although I didn't know this week was going to turn out the way it has, I'm still hopeful I can use the skills I learned to get through it. We did it after having such an awful experience with DS1, but now I'm thinking it's really going to be put to the test with the extra complications.
I can't use a pool or anything - too high risk for various reasons - but I have found out in the last week that the unit has mobile CTG equipment, so I'm really hoping it's all pointing towards the chance of as positive an experience as we can now hope for under the circumstances.

Thanks again to everyone for the posts on here, really supportive and very much appreciated! xx

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Rockchick1984 · 03/05/2014 10:06

A good friend of mine was induced recently and had a fantastic experience using natal hypnotherapy and an active birth - totally drug free apart from a couple of puffs on the gas and air, she said it was a fantastic birth experience. Please don't assume that induction means negative!

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MrsHelenBee · 03/05/2014 21:34

Thanks rockchick1984, encouraging to hear.
Unfortunately I've only got the one experience to go by and it was terrible. I was very unwell and y body resisted the hormone drip so I ended up having 5x the normal amount to get things going, and the idea that I could hndle a reasonabe amounbt of pain went straight out of the window as, once it worked, it was like a switch being flicked - I went from no contractions whatsoever to being in excrutiating pain, and only managed pn gas nd air for around 5 hours. I know it sounds meladramatic but I felt like I was dying, the pain was totally unbearable. I feel positive and encouraged having done my NH course. I think it's done me the world of good and will make a big difference, not least of all in terms of keeping me more calm, but I'd by lying if I said I think it'll mean a total about face and a pain-free experience.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the coming days bring.

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TodaysAGoodDay · 03/05/2014 21:45

Hi Helen,
I was diagnosed at 39 weeks with pe and sent straight to the hospital. They tried for 3 days to kick-start me, eventually it worked, but once I'd started with contractions they let me carry on as I was, I gave birth naturally, no c-section. Not all bad, I hope it all goes well for you x

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BEEwitched · 03/05/2014 22:37

Mrs Helen, I've been having traces of protein on and off in my samples and now have my own sticks to test it, I was also put on labetalol when my bp went borderline - my meds have just been upped as my bp still had odd spikes (mainly due to anxiety) even though it settled within minutes of each of these spikes.

I found that the labetalol did the same to my baby, movement just was very reduced for about 4 hours after taking the pills. I also had Raynaud's syndrome in my breasts; when they upped my dose my medication was changed to methyldopa - so far I feel fine though my bp is still borderline.

I'm currently testing everything daily and very apprehensive as I could be up at the hospital with PE any day, really - I'm 36+2 so only barely behind you, and I am starting to doubt that I can escape induction! My GTT was positive but I haven't had a single high blood glucose reading since even with a 'regular' diet so while my GD consultant has said the induction is negotiable I really fear my up-and-down bp won't let me get that far.

Sorry, I know that doesn't answer your question, but I just thought I share my current experience. I have asked about having an active birth and have already been told rather vaguely that they'll be keen to monitor me and might even suggest an epidural to keep my bp down, which I'm not keen on (anaesthetist appointment on Wednesday). One thing to remember is that recent studies have shown that intermittent monitoring has as good as the same outcome as constant monitoring, and you should still be able to use a birthing ball and change position in bed with that - it's what I am banking on!

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