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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Routine midwife app ended up sent to hospital with pre eclampsia please help

34 replies

Sweetpea86 · 17/04/2014 00:16

So went to see midwife for 40 week appt. told her my feet had swelled and had headaches for couple of days (put it down to my sinus) she checked my urine and found protein so just spent 5 hours in hospital, been told I have mild pre eclampsia so have to be induced on Saturday.

I'm so scared had a sweep of a male doctor an hour and half ago and it was so painful even the midwife came in with him to hold my hand lol. I didn't expect it to be that painful. Only 1cm dialted and my notes say unfavourable.

Just been to the toilet and wiped and a big piece of yellow clear snot came away. Is this my plug already.

The doctor was reLly nice he said to think about having epidural once induced. I just need advice really.

Any body had this problem. I'm in tears I'd planed for a water birth and it doesn't look like it will happen, on way out doctor said come in Saturday and you might have baby by Monday, how long am I going to be on labour for I'm totally freaking out.

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ResponsibleAdult · 17/04/2014 00:31

Remain calm, the only thing that knows what is going on is your placenta. Not you, the doctor or the midwife, and you can't fight biology. Wish someone told me this pre 38hr labour and EMCS.

If your birth plan is going to plan stick with it. If, as you post suggests, it isn't, don't stick with it. You and your baby are doing the best they can, trust your instincts.

Ask questions, remain vigilant. The only outcome you need from this is a happy healthy and as much of you intact as possible as you will inevitably (because of establishing bond, breast feeding or good feeding technique) be doing the majority of feeding and childcare.

Good luck, we are all here

MrsCakesPremonition · 17/04/2014 00:42

I understand that this is scary. I got sent to the hospital by my GP after a regular BP check (MW was on holiday), and I remember how panicked I felt.

The induction will happen quite gradually, and the more relaxed you can be the better. Relaxation really helps with pain, as well as getting your hormones chugging along - I used the old trick of breathing out slowly through my mouth when I felt pain and I did find it useful.

You've already had the first phase - a sweep. That might get things moving, or possibly not. You might be offered another sweep when you go in on Saturday.

The next thing they might try is a pessary, basically some gel put into your vagina to try and start your cervix softening. This also might start some contractions happening, they might come and go a bit but it is all good preparation for going into labour - none of your effort from now on will be wasted. They may repeat the pessary a couple more times over a period of a day or two.

Only if nothing much is happening and they need to get things moving will they put you on a syntocin drip. I found this quite intense and did have an epidural - but it was very effective.

When I was induced, I was admitted on the Wednesday evening for my first pessary and my baby was born on Sunday evening. I found the time in hospital very relaxing in a weird way. I had nothing to focus on or worry about, I was in the safest place, I walked around a lot, chatted to lots of lovely women. I was surprisingly serene .

Having said that, one lady admitted on the Wednesday to be induced at the same time as me went on to have her baby in the early hours of Thursday morning - so it can happen much quicker too!

Good luck - it is so exciting that your baby will soon be here.

wigglylines · 17/04/2014 00:53

I wanted a water birth, but I was induced. I did need need an epidural. But I didn't need to decide beforehand, I just kept an open mind, and at the point at which it became obvious to me I needed one, I asked for it.
All births are different. I would say to keep an open mind, however it's likely you'll want an epidural with an induction.

The snot sounds like your plug though, perhaps you'll go into labour naturally before Saturday anyway.

Please don't freak out! You're not far away from meeting your baby, which will lovely :)

I don't know much about pre-eclampsia. Hopefully someone else might have some useful advice.

wigglylines · 17/04/2014 00:58

Sorry, I should clarify, by needing an epidural for induction I mean specifically the syntocin drip bit. (For me, they needed to get the baby out quickly, so I didn't have a couple of days of pessaries or sweeps or whatever).

beela · 17/04/2014 08:42

This happened to me with dc1, at 39 weeks. I had also hoped for a water birth.

If you are induced it may take a while, I was stop-start for 3 days with pessaries, until they broke my waters and started on the drip. My advice would be to take some reading material.

As pp have said, the most important thing is that you and the baby are safe. DS is now 3.5 and snuggled next to me on the sofa watching post-breakfast tv before we get dressed. It really doesn't matter that my original birth plan went out of the window, it's a means to an end.

Try to relax as much as you can, and good luck.

Original poster

Sweetpea86 · 17/04/2014 09:39

Thanks ladies I feel a bit better this morning, was totally frantic last night I'd only had 4 hours sleep night before then not getting in till late had a good nights sleep and just trying to get my head around a new birth plan lol.

I've heard so many horror stories with being induced I'm just anxouis about the whole thing.

Like I said about an hour and half after sweep last night I think I lost my mucas plug. I know that doesn't mean labour but at least it was something.

Thanks for all your advice.

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DownstairsMixUp · 17/04/2014 09:47

Hi sweetpea

It could be your plug, fingers crossed things get moving! I was the same as this at 40 + 5 days to, went in to a check, protein in urine, BP sky high so they did the sweep, sent me home and told me to come back in a few hours with my hospital bag to be induced. I got back to the hospital and was already 5cm dilated (I had no idea, had back pains but didn't think I was in labour) as soon as I got there as I was 5cm she popped my waters but they still put the drip on me to induce me as they wanted to get baby out as my BP was really really high. It did go from just mild back pain to very painful quite quickly with that drip so I would say defintely take all the pain relief you can get as I have heard it is more painful after having the drip and I wish I had an epidural! You might find BP might slightly go up with every contraction and in the pushing stage for me it kept creeping up so they got him out quite quickly with help of a ventouse. Tbh though, the whole healing process was very good and I've had no trouble since so don't panic! You will be in good hands and now they have picked up on it they will be monitoring you closely.

Good luck! Soon you will meet your baby! :)

Pregnantagain7 · 17/04/2014 09:54

Glad you are feeling better this morn, it must have been a very scary situation to be in. I've had one "normal" delivery and two inductions I had a really good experience with both my inductions I did have an epidural with both but I was really relaxed all the way through. It must be so hard when you have and idea of how you want your birth to be then it all changes so quickly. If it's any consolation my sweeps and internals really hurt I coped with labour much better. If you do get induced they will check your cervix first ask for g and a it really helped me and they were more than happy to offer it when I explained how painful I had found my sweep.
Lastly remember yes you do here bad stories about inductions but you also hear some horrendous birth stories too! Good luck I'm sure you will be fine :)

Original poster

Sweetpea86 · 17/04/2014 12:31

Thanks I'm feeling much better after reading that, I've decieded I want an epidural and I'm really going to push for it.

I've had a crap pregancy, HG for months and spd and no pre eclampsia is just the icing on the cake, I can barely walk due to spd so I just want the most pain relief possible lol

I'm glad the doctor and a male doctor too was really good about wanting me too have an epidural.

The initial shock of the sweep last night sent me in to shock and then having spent most of my pregnancy really worried about labour and planning a water birth to being told I'm going to be induced was a little scary.

By the looks of things on my notes it said 1cm long cervix closed tight lol so looks like labour was no were near. At least now by the end of the weekend to the beginning of next week I'll have my baby and only be a few days over due. Trying to be more positive lol

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MyCatLovesMeSometimes · 17/04/2014 12:37

Hi I was sent to hospital with pre-eclampsia after my 36 week appt. I also had an exceeding painful (& pointless) sweep! I had an epidural as I was induced with a drip etc and DD was back to back - and was very pain free which was wonderful.

Hope all goes well.

TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals · 17/04/2014 12:42

Glad that you've relaxed a bit - that's all that I was really going to say. I let the house thinking I was going to ask for an epidural, by the time I got to the hospital it was nearly time to push... moral of the story is that you just never know what's in store when it comes to childbirth.

Enjoy meeting your new addition and not being pregnant anymore!

SilverShins · 17/04/2014 12:54

I have been where you are. Certainly is no fun! However the last lines of your recent past say it all, in a matter of days you'll have your baby

I know how frightening it all is but you are in the best place and they take pre-eclampsia seriously so you should be well looked after. I also didn't know how bloody awful a sweep was! Sounds so gentle doesn't it, good grief. ..

I was induced and had an epidural. Honestly, by the time it got to the epidural stage I was almost taking it in my stride. Almost. With an epidural you can't move so basically chuck your birth plan away. Mine

TarkaTheOtter · 17/04/2014 12:59

Both my inductions took about 3 days but was only in active labour for 4hrs max. There's just a lot of waiting around. I had an epidural for the first bit the second was too quick and I didn't ask for it early enough. It was better with the epidural!

Don't worry about not being favourable - that's what the pessary stage is for.

SilverShins · 17/04/2014 13:01

Sorry posted too soon. Mine lasted for about 9 hours from the beginning of the epidural and the pushing was about 20 minutes. It was just quite dull really.

Much luck to you. I'll watch this thread to see how you're doing. So exciting that your baby will be with you really soon.

Original poster

Sweetpea86 · 17/04/2014 13:09

Thanks ladies I'm a total control freak and welllllll out of my comfort zone now. More I read these posts the more positve I feel.

I wanted to ask how soon should I TELL them I want an epidural should I do it when they do the drip or wait till longer after.

All though the doctor last night was trying to give me info on pain relief and asked me if I had any questions I had a total mind blank an didn't no what to say lol

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TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals · 17/04/2014 13:12

Tell them early on if you're definitely wanting it. The anaesthetist (sp?) will be in demand so you want it before you feel anything if that's the route you're going down, avoid the exhaustion as much as possible.

DreamToSleep · 17/04/2014 13:17

Hi I've been in your shoes twice, once at 39 weeks and once at 35.
I had a normal labour induction the first time with the drip and dd was born 6 hours later.
With my second I got even more poorly unfortunately and had an EMCS.
You should be reassured that you are in the right place, it has been spotted promptly and they have a plan of action for you. Hope it all gord

DreamToSleep · 17/04/2014 13:18

Goes well.. wasn't meant to post so soon

bunkygirl · 17/04/2014 13:22

I was sent in after routine mw appt at 39 weeks due to PE. Induced at 7pm with drip. Baby born just after 6am with bit of help from forceps. Was all a bit of a shock at first and wasn't what I'd hoped for but was actually fine. Couldn't have had epidural as my platelets were too low, so that might be worth checking if you definitely want one. My consultant said they wouldn't do one if below 100 although some anaesthetists will apparently go a bit lower. Good lick. I'm sure you'll be fine.

FaFoutis · 17/04/2014 13:22

This happened to me too Sweetpea, I was aiming for a water-birth at home. It is hard giving up control and your expectations, but it sounds like you coping well.

I went through the whole induction process and ended up with a c-section. It was all fine, the c-section went well and I was looked after by some lovely people.

After I relaxed about the whole thing I strangely enjoyed it all too - and got a sweet little baby at the end.

bunkygirl · 17/04/2014 13:23

Luck obviously. I'm not sure a lick is much use to you...

Original poster

Sweetpea86 · 17/04/2014 13:38

Thanks ladies really helpful advice :) xx

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IShallCallYouSquishy · 17/04/2014 13:53

I was induced with PIT and possible IUGR at 38+2. Pessary and breaking my waters did nothing so needed the drip.
Once the drip was in it was very intense but DS was born after 1 hour 7 minutes. So induction doesn't have to be long drawn out and horrible.
I only got chance for about 2 sucks of gas and air before his head was making its own way out!

Good luck and you will be fine

IShallCallYouSquishy · 17/04/2014 13:53

PIH not PIT

Original poster

Sweetpea86 · 17/04/2014 14:12

Thanks squishy does having the press ay tablet inserted hurt. I'm still pretty upset at how painful sweep was lol

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