Scared-opinions needed-pre eclampsia

[Merrydoula]

So I've just been back from hospital, protein levels in urine have gone up from 40mg to 112in 5 days, Dr says this is a fast increase and a cause for concern, they want to induce me on Monday where I'll only be 37+5.

I hate the idea of an early induction but am trying to weigh up the cons of that with the cons of letting myself get to 40 weeks. Don't know what to do, anyone who has any input? X

Pre eclampsia is often fatal for mother and baby. I don’t mean to be alarmist. But what is there to weigh up? Your baby is full term and nearly 38 weeks. If your medical team thinks that baby is safer out than in, then I would listen to them.

I don't understand the dilemma. My only query would be whether you should be delivered earlier. Good luck!

@Merrydoula please have a look at the Action On Pre-Eclampsia website.

It is excellent and will give you all you need to know on PE far better than we can.

I have it twice ... i presented very differently each time and my babies were premature .

It presents differently in different people with different pregnancies- so please make sure you refer to the above website for sound advice x

I was like you with dd1, was booked for induction which I didnt really want but knew was the only answer. I went into labour the night before and ended up having a normal delivery!.

But if I was you I would take advice from your doctor/ midwife. I would have gone for induction had I not been lucky enough to go into labour myself. Good luck!

I nearly died from PE. As did my DS. If I hadn't listened to the experts we would both be dead.

PE sets it's own course; it is beyond your control.

In your situation, I would listen to your medical team.

I had preeclampsia. It doesn't get better until you get the baby out. Afterwards the risk of eclampsia is high for the first 24 hours and doesn't drop to a low risk for 48 hours.

Honestly the question I would be asking is 'If you were me would you have a CS or induction?'

For me, I was on a magnesium drip which slows contractions. My induction was unsuccessful after 22 hours so I had a CS at 26 hours after the start of my induction. Knowing what I knew after delivery I would have gone for the CS right away and not done the induction. I was absolutely exhausted from being in labour for so long. I was in hospital for 6 days afterwards (private room with ensuite bathroom) which had its pluses and minuses.

Another thing, if you have the magnesium drip be aware that sometimes it stops your milk from coming in. No one told me this and I was trying to BF my baby for 2 weeks. Poor baby was screaming her head off. Had I just had a CS I would have had far less magnesium and the risk of no milk coming in would have been much reduced. Please ask for a pump to use to help bring your milk in. 10mins every 2 hours helps a lot.

Ps at 37 weeks your baby is classed as full term . Lungs are fully developed etc.

Like PP said PE is a disease cured by taking baby out .

I went into prem labour with my DS ... i progressed really far as in his head was engaged - but my body quickly started to "blow" ( their words) and they whipped DS out as an emergency section.

Its not to be messed with .

Thanks ladies, I think that pretty much sums it up... Because PET can get dangerous quickly I know I have to listen to the medical advice, I'm just so terrified of induction so early because I just see it as going to be a long drawn out labour which will end up in a c section anyway. Will keep post updated x

I genuinely don’t understand the dilemma.

PE is not to be messed with, if they want to induce you they have good reason!

I had an induction at 36+6 due to pre-eclampsia (they’d booked me in at 37 weeks but after a stay in hospital they were unable to stabilise me at all so decided it was safer for baby to be out even though she technically wasn’t full term). I’d listen to your doctors advice as it can be fatal for both you and baby; my daughter was born through EMCS on the evening of my induction because my blood pressure was sky high and the epidural - which was the last resort to try stabilse it - wasn’t helping.

You might still have to have a section but it is definitely worth it to maximise the chances of you and baby making it out okay.

I really would advise you to monitor your symptoms carefully over the weekend yourself and any concerns go in. Also one unusual one I had both times (Dd1 born 32 weeks and dd2 due date although this kicked off day before due date) was having been feeling pretty shit with symptoms of preeclampsia (headache etc) I suddenly felt much better all of a sudden like I could do anything. Both times I was sent to delivery immediately (in hospital both times)

I had very severe PE at 28 weeks with no symptoms whatsoever. Not a single one. Felt totally fine.

Listen to the medics as they're there to ensure the best outcome for you and for baby. I've had it twice, first time there was signs for weeks but I suddenly felt really ill one afternoon (nausea and pain under ribs), DD was delivered the following day by EMCS after she was in distress during induction. I was really ill and in hospital for a week. My blood pressure was so high it was off the monitoring chart. Second time I was monitored really closely, admitted at 33 weeks for monitoring, DS was born by EMCS at 33+3 as they decided it was better for us both for him to be out. I wasn't ill at second time and went home 3 days later once they were happy I wasn't still at risk as my blood pressure took a while to come back down.

I was induced at 35+5 due to pre eclampsia. Labour was 5 hours, so it isn't necessarily a long drawn out thing. It's scary, but you need to think about you and your baby.

I had pre eclampsia at 37 +5 weeks as my blood pressure sky rocketed and there was a lot of protein in my urine. It was scary but they tried first to get my blood pressure down and when they couldn’t I was induced. I was able to safely deliver my son via forceps 23 hours later. I didn’t argue with the midwives and doctors just did what was needed to get my boy out safe

Thanks so much ladies for writing your experiences. I'm definitely going to go along with the advice and accept induction, it's only right that I do whatever I can to make sure baby gets out safe. I'm no medical expert that's knows much about Pre E so would be silly of me not to accept the advice I've been given. Hopefully my body will take to the induction and I'll give birth vaginally. I will keep post updated and let you all know how it goes xx

Good luck! Hope it all goes well