PE support thread: At risk? Worried?

[lotsofcheese]

There's been a few of us on the threads recently, who have had PE in previous pregnancies, are at risk or are worried about it. Also, a couple of ladies have very sadly had losses due to this horrible condition.

So I thought we could support eachother a little & listen to our worries

Here's my story: I had a completely normal pregnancy until my 28 week check - where I was found to have BP >140/>90 & 3+ protein without any symptoms. It was such a shock, as I had no symptoms.

So I was admitted to hospital & scans showed that DS measured only 24 weeks - he had stopped growing due to PE. I was given steroids, then transferred by ambulance to the regional centre as my local hospital didn't deal with babies

What a scary story cheese, but so glad that you're little boy survived (what a fighter!)

I got diagnosed with PE very late on in pregnancy, at my routine 39 wk checkup at the hospital. Hadn't had any signs or symptoms, but they found my blood pressure to be very high and I had 4 plus protein in my urine.

Since I was 39 weeks, they just kept me in that day and started the induction process. They tried the pessaries first, but my little bean wasn't ready to come out (his head was only two fifths engaged at this point), so ended up on the syntocin, very painful, but was over very quickly and he arrived fine.

I'm 19 weeks now and they've prescribed me aspirin to delay the onset of PE, although I'm not sure what my risks are of it coming early early, given that it happened so late last time.

I have a meeting with my consultant at my 20wk scan on 9th January - so will find out their plans for me then, and will hopefully get an idea of what risk they think I have of developing it again.

Hi again, Eleth - how did you get on at your consultant appointment today? Hoping you got a plan & a bit of reassurance?

I'm slightly ahead of you - 22 weeks & will see the consultant on 22nd - fingers crossed!

Hope all went well & you're keeping ok x

Hi can i join here as well :) I'm in absolute state about pe! I've had it with all 4 dc and am nearly 20 wks with our last. Last time I had a complete abruption with a crash section :( the consultant couldn't put me on aspirin as my bp was too high at 14 wks so am on bp tablets instead, with a goal of 28 wks! The drs don't think I can carry boys, so we are praying this time we are having a girl :) we have another scan and consultant appt on Tuesday, and being seen every 3 wks with growth scans 2 wkly :) x

Hi, can I join too?

My beautiful Ds1 was stillborn at 24 weeks due to this condition, I developed swelling on my legs and hands at 22 weeks and my bp was 190/100 with 3+ protein, I managed to keep him going for 2 weeks but it wasnt long enough, that was in 2010.

In 2012 (March) I gave birth to DS2 at 38 weeks (induced as a precaution but no definite signs of pe) I was on aspirin and thyroxine for this pregnancy as I was also diagnosed hypothyroid.

I am currently the proudest mum of a very beautiful 10 month old and am 15 weeks pregnant with DC3, got a doppler scan on the 8th Feb and hoping and praying it all looks good. Lots of luck ladies, I hope the dreaded, nasty disease stays away from all of us

Thanks for joining Sam & Rhubarb* - it's such a worry, isn't it?

Sam - I'm hoping your theories about gender are correct. I'm having a girl this time & hoping things will be very different. It feels very different from my 1st pregnancy & I definitely feel much better than I did last time - felt rotten from 18 weeks.

Rhubarb - I'm so, so sorry you lost your baby boy, am sure there's not words to describe what you've been through. But I'm so glad to hear that you got to 38 weeks last time & have a lovely wee boy. That gives me hope.

Keep in touch & let us know how you're getting on xxx

Hi can I join too? I was sent to the hospital immediately after my 36 week routine gp check up because of v high bp, protein and swelling and kept in from there on tablets which didn't reduce my bp so they induced me at exactly 37 weeks. Labour fine and healthy 7lb daughter.

Sam interestingly I had no problems with my son 3 years before so I wonder if I only suffer with girls? My mum had an eclampsia with me and we both nearly died so I wonder if it's something genetic with girls in my family?

Am now 19+5 with third baby (my daughter is 10) and had my consultant appointment at 16 weeks. My bp was just in the normal range but I tested +ve for protein. I will only now see the consultant rather than midwife/gp and he's suggested that I will probably need more appointments after 30 weeks.

Rhubarb I'm so sorry for your loss, I just can not imagine how dreadful that must be.

Have my 20 week scan next week so maybe if it's a boy I'll worry a bit less xxx

Hi

Can I join and ask a question about how good a predictor a doppler scan is? Luckily my tales are much less dramatic than some who have posted and I hope you all have smooth pregnancies.

DC1 - normal pregnancy until 36 weeks when I had 4+ protein and oedema. Then my BP stared to rise. Induced at 38 weeks.

DC2 - regular dopplers all gave normal results. Although I had 3+ protein in my urine from 26 weeks my BP stayed stable and and I delivered without induction at 41 weeks.

I am now 22 weeks with DC3 and am worried because they did a doppler scan with my 20 week scan and they said that I had quite high pressure in both uterine arteries. This did not happen with DC2. The left artery reading was off the scale and the right artery was 96th centile. I am having another doppler in 3 weeks but I am not clear whether a bad result means you WILL get pre-eclampsia or you might. Does anyone know?

Too add: my other had pre-eclampsia with my and needed a crash section at 35 weeks. My father died of a brain heamorrage bought on by high BP when he was only 38 so I worry a lot about high BP!

One of the risk factors for developing PE is if your mother had it - there is a definite link. Other risk factors are: being older (over 35/40), obesity, underlying high BP or related conditions eg diabetes.

Mine was out of the blue, no risk factors & no symptoms.

I'm interested to know about the uterine artery dopplers too - and how often they're repeated. I do remember being told by my previous consultant that they don't read too much into them as a predictor & had wondered about whether to do them or not.

My dopplers are on 22nd so I can ask then & report back to you all.

Ps - I worry about cardiovascular risk later in life too - apparently PE can be a predictor for that & my mum had heart disease in her early 50's.

After this pregnancy, I 'm going to see my GP about future risk, get my cholesterol checked etc.

artigine I dont think it means you will definitely get it, they will just probably keep a close eye on you and even if you do get it it may be that its mild at 39 weeks or something. when my first doppler was clear with my 2nd son my consultant said that it indicates that if you are going to get pe it will be later and less severe however, they repeated them 4 weekly for the rest of my pregnancy so its obviously not conclusive. Are you on aspirin?

My mother also suffered with pre eclampsia, my 2 sisters however have been fine.

I was also told that if your next pregnancy was with the same partner your risk is less whereas if it is with a new partner its slightly higher, has anyone else heard that? I have had 2 boys so the gender theory is out in my case, still interested to find out what this one is though :) is everyone going to find out the sex or are some of you less inpatient than me?

impatient ! can you tell i work in a hospital

I'm hoping for some advice really. This is my first pregnancy and I'm 35 weeks. At my consultant appointment they told me I had protein in my urine but because my blood pressure was normal they suspected UTI not PE. Urine results came back clear of a UTI. Should I be concerned that it could be a sign of PE? I have had a headache and generally feeling unwell for a number of days now. I was hoping some of you might have some advice as when I rang the midwife she was very dismissive of my concerns!!
Thanks for sharing your stories, I wish you all PE free pregnancies xxx

I have never had this but yes rhubarb I was told that if subsequent children are with a new partner you are higher risk.

My pregnancies have all been fine but with no 5 I had awful headaches that lasted days and they admitted me for monitering, all was fine but they did want to know if it was the same father as my previous pregnancies as I was more last risk if it wasn't. Consultant and midwife both said this.

Wishing you all healthy pregnancies and hoping all goes smoothly xx

Simba: you've done the right thing calling the midwide, shame she was dismissive, though. Other things to watch out for are: visual disturbance, abdominal pain, sudden swelling & reduced urine output. Or I had no symptoms at all! Don't hesitate to call her back or contact maternity if you feel worse - good luck & hope it turns out to be nothing.

Just to ask the other ladies on the thread: what was your Papp-a from your Down's screening result? Mine was 0.4, which is on the low side (average is 1) - not sure how accurate a predictor it is though?

Hello. I developed PE quite late in my last pregnancy 2 years ago. I was induced due to v. high BP (bottom number was 110!) and protein on my due date. I had a straightforward birth and DD was a healthy 7lb 7oz.

I am now 28 weeks with DC2. This time, my BP has been up since 22 weeks, but no protein yet. At my booking appointment my MW said I would need to see a consultant, but I still haven't seen one. I got MW to ring the hospital in front of me yesterday and I finally have an appointment for next week.

I'm angry that it's been left this long. Maybe I could have been given aspirin or a doppler scan before now. It's been six weeks since my BP went up and I've had no help or advice. I'm still working (teacher) and I worry that I should be taking it easy. Hopefully it'll be clearer after my appointment next week.

Good luck to all of us for healthy pregnancies!

Now I'm worried I've not been put on aspirin despot history and bad Doppler results. I'm having consultant led care so I've only seen doctors and one put me on aspirin then the next took me right off.

Just wanted to ask Sam & Sneezy how the hospital appointments went?

Hoping all is well?

I've got my Doppler on next week - a bit apprehensive...

Against my better judgement I bought some 2nd hand nursery furniture today. Had previously said I wouldn't buy before 24 weeks, but it was a bargain.

Hope everyone is doing ok x

Sending positive vibes to you all. Not pregnant but had sudden onset eclampsia with DD3. The warning signs were there but ignored as it wasn't a first pregnancy, swollen hands, numb and tingling fingers, BP not high, but high for me IYSWIM. My first seizure was what highlighted it for nursing staff!
DD and I all ok now, but it was a worry. Hope you don't m ind if I dip in and out to see how you are all doing.x

Just a wee hello from me to see how everyone is doing?

I'm now 24+2 & all is well so far. By this stage in my 1st pregnancy, I was feeling generally rotten & so it's good to be feeling well & have good BP: my usual 100-110/60-70. My Doppler scan was good - though I'm not too sure how much confidence my consultant has in their accuracy for predicting PE. And bubba is measuring bang on the 50th centile.

So it's weekly BP checks & fortnightly growth scans from now on. I can't seem to think beyond a week or 2 ahead. And I can't imagine what it will be like to be 30 weeks or more.....

Hope everyone is PE-free & keeping well. Looking forward to hearing your updates.

Hello. Consultant appointment was fine - I've been given aspirin but she wasn't very positive about it and asked me if I wanted it rather than saying I did or didn't need it. My BP is behaving itself and no protein for now.

I have blood tests tomorrow and a growth/Doppler scan on Tuesday which I'm pleased about. I'm currently on thrice-weekly hospital monitoring but they will reduce it to once a week if these appointments go well.

How is everyone else?

I'm 30+1 now, so getting there!

So I've made it to 22 weeks :) doing bp twice a day and blood sugars 6 times a day 2-3 days out of 7! Still on bp pills three times day. Now consultant wants to give me aspirin I'm not happy about it and not taken any so far as I had an abruption last time and she said aspirin can make you more likely to bleed so why take it! Am I being silly not taking it?

X

Sam - I haven't started my aspirin yet as I've been told my platelets are low. This has made me unsure if its wise to take a blood-thinner.

I'm getting repeat bloods today and seeing the consultant tomorrow, so I'm going to double-check then.

Sneezy: good luck for your scans tomorrow - hoping all goes well..

I'm not sure about taking aspirin if you're worried re: abruption or bleeding. I know I was on clexane injections after my c-section last time, even though I had very low platelets due to hellp syndrome. Not sure what the best advice is to give, sorry!