Preeclampsia

[ThirdTimeLucky27]

I’ve just been diagnosed with preeclampsia at 35 + 4 weeks. When am I likely to be offered an induction?

Thanks 🙏🏼

How severe is it? Is your BP controllable with meds? They'll try to keep baby in as long as possible but if you're at risk of going full eclamptic they'll get baby out asap

Blood pressure has been 160/100 today, have been on labetalol since Friday but only 200mg so they are now increasing this to 600mg. They're keeping me in overnight for monitoring.

I was diagnosed at 35 weeks and taken into hospital, medicated and observed for just over a week then induced at 36+3. They wanted to get me to 37 weeks but something in my blood tests was too high (I can't remember what). This was nearly 20 years ago, mind you.

Thank you. How did you feel? I have really bad health anxiety and I'm so scared of being poorly x

I remember being pretty worried, but also reassured that hospital was the best place for me, and I was very well looked after.
You will most likely be really closely monitored, and induced if your blood pressure can't be controlled. As easy as it is for me to say, and hard for you to do, try to be as relaxed as possible and try not to worry.

I was pretty anxious too if I'm honest. Hated being in hospital, I hadn't even packed my bag when I got admitted. As pp said though, try not to worry as that won't help your blood pressure.

I had preeclampsia with my twins. Went in and got magnesium IV- not a pleasant experience but it's bearable. All went ok and had 2 healthy babies!

usually aim for 37-38weeks then recommend induction, but depends on your bloods and BP control.

Just to say if you haven't seen it already, the royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists has a patient information link:

https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/pre-eclampsia-patient-information-leaflet/

Essentially they'll monitor and treat your blood pressure and keep an eye on some blood tests. At 37 weeks you're considered term so they aim for that, but if monitoring shows concerns they occasionally deliver sooner if on balance it looks like baby and mum will be better off with an earlier delivery.

Have they given you any indication as to next steps? Xx

Currently I'm in hospital overnight. They are going to triple my dose of medication and monitor for 24 hours. Hoping I will see a doctor and be able to ask what happens next

As others have said, they'll aim for 37 weeks so long as you and baby remain stable.

I'm surprised they're considering letting you go home though. In both my experiences, once pre-eclampsia was diagnosed, I didn't see my home again until a couple days postnatal. First time caught me by surprise when I hadn't even packed my hospital bag. Second time I was much wiser and had it done ahead of time.

In both pregnancies, at no point was I poorly. If it hadn't been tested for pre-eclampsia, I would never have known I had it.

Hope all goes well in the coming weeks.

I was diagnosed just after 37 weeks. Gave birth 5 days later as it was getting worse. No meds as bp was slightly high just outwith normal parameters but the swelling was off the scale.

I was diagnosed at around 35 weeks, admitted for a few days, given steroid injections and BP meds, then allowed to go home for the weekend with meds, back Monday am for checking but it had rocketed again so re-admitted. At 36+3 it got to 210/138 and they couldn’t bring it down at all. With a LOT of medication the got one reading under /100 so they rushed me in for an emergency c-section. DD was born weighing 4lb1oz but was healthy all things considered and only needed help regulating her temperature.
I was pretty poorly for a few days, first few days of her life are hazy. I was in hospital for about a week after she was born and then monitored for a little while afterwards.

With DD it wasn't diagnosed until I became ill as the community midwife dismissed my symptoms! DS was delivered the next day 35+5 by EMCS after induction failed and she was in distress.

With DS they suspected it at 32 weeks, confirmed at 33 weeks and then admitted. DS was born by EMCS at 33+3 in a very carefully orchestrated plan to deliver him before the weekend and subsequent Christmas bank holidays. Might have managed a couple of days longer if it wasn't for that....

Thank you all for your replies! I was given another 100mg dose of labetalol a few hours ago now and my blood pressure is currently 138/87.. The midwife did say they will probably want to give me more medication tonight. Bloods have all come back okay which I guess is reassuring.

I was diagnosed with this a few weeks ago at 34 weeks. I then spent about 12 days in hospital and my medication has consisted of both Labetalol and Nifedipine. I couldn't go until they were happy it was under control as it kept going up and down. I've had no other symptoms apart from protein in my urine and some slight swelling. Since then I've been able to come into the day ward for monitoring and I have a section booked for tomorrow morning at 38 weeks, eek!!

Glad to hear you're doing well and best of luck for tomorrow

Did you all have very high blood pressures? The highest mine has been is 163/98 and 156/105 today.. Was being treated as pregnancy induced hypertension until the protein showed up today 🙄

Similar to you I had the high BP diagnosed around 36 weeks at regular check up at GP. Sent to hospital and kept overnight, no protein so put on tablets and eventually let home but had to go to gp every 2 days. About 2 weeks later sample showed trace protein so did 24 urine collection results said pre-eclampsia so went in at almost 39 on a Wednesday they started induction on Thurs evening ended up having her by section on Sunday. Don't be scared you are safest exactly where you are. Good luck op

I think ~155/100 was the highest mine ever went. It was the following day after the first high BP reading of my pregnancy (145/88) was detected. That was in my first pregnancy. It was milder in my second pregnancy. My BP was well controlled on the minimum dose of labetalol, but it was creeping back up again by the time I had the induction.

Forgot to mention that as well as the protein and BP, I did have skewed liver enzymes as well. Which was probably why I was admitted to hospital.

Urine PCR has just come back at 18.0mg.. Any ideas what that means?

Mine went to over 200/100 at one point. I had my son at 34 weeks plus 2 by c section within 36 hours of hospital admission. They say they like you to get to 37/38 weeks. I went downhill fast though with my bp and blood work.

Omg good luck!! 🥰🥰