pre-eclampsia: please share some storys?

[didsnbump]

Hi all,

i am after some storys and sdvice here as i am 28+4 and as of today having to monitor my blood pressure daily due to excessive fluid retension and swelling hands and feet so they are keeping a close eye out for pre-eclampsia. Also my scan has shown that my babys is 2 weeks behind in growth!

Im really unsure what to think or expect!

Hiya

had eclampsia with my first although a bit later on, my sister also did (at 30 weeks0 and there are laods fo epople on ehre with experience as well.

My ds1 had IUGR which is the growth issue, he was induced at 38 weeks and was 5lb 5 oz so not too bad.

Once pre-eclampsia starts, if it definitely is that, it doesn't rally stop so you would be monitored as closely as possible for as long as they deem it safe for you and baby. however if BP and urine OK it may yet be OK. Babies behind can catch up when there is no medical reason- y ds3 stalled at 30 weeks, rest bumped him back up though!

There some sites about which may help- APEC is fantastic for information and I would recommend them hugely. Also there is a charity called PETS (pre-eclampsia and toxaemia support) which focuses on the 1-1 and shared support element- you migt benefit from that I think, theya lso have a website (I am a committee member but admite to limited invovlement for a while)

Hope all apns out well, keep us informed. X

(PS sisters baby born at 34 weeks by induction, spenta few weeks in NICU but is fine now)

What does IUGR stand for? At what stage in your pregnancy did they notice that baby was small???

Sorry- IUGR, intra uterine growth retardation- ie he didnt grow properly in the womb (in actuality they estimate he lost about a pound but scans aren't as super accurate in size prediction as people think).

They realised he was small at about 33 weeks I think, but my BP didnt start to spiral until later- so they didnt know the cause.

Should ahve known really, still in size 12 at 36 weeks! And what i didnt know was that MIL ahd a history of Pre-eclampsia (family histories are a factor for some women) but she didnt say.

My dd had IUGR, which was found at 22 weeks - I was closely monitored until 37 weeks when growth stopped. At this point my bp was also up and I had swollen quite a bit although gradually so we hadn't really realised (looking back now at photos its easy to see !). Because of dd's size I had to deliver and was put on bp tablets. It was never confirmed as pre-eclampsia because they to deliver dd anyway but it probably was.

DD was little (4lbs 9 oz) but absolutely fine btw.

Sorry to highjack but Peachy - are you saying that your dh's mother's pre-eclampsia could be related to yours ? So it is passed through your dh ?

I gained over s taone- but that was in one night in hospital the day before induction! Stretchmarks were unbeleivable...

if you are retaining fluid, do be aware that when you start to lose it after delivery it can be rapid and a bit surprising. Take in absornbent pants and extra pads.

There is a theory that if your DH has the pet gene that can accentuate your own risk factor- I should say its a theory! but its worth being aware of I think. As PET can affect the palcenta, there's no reasn why it couldn't work via that mechanism. However, clearly my sis had it as well (and my mum had several stillbirths for undiagnosed causes so we dont know if related or not). But yes, its a definite possibility.

Thats really interesting... so maybe I can blame DH for it then ().

natch

I'd love to know if it really is a cause- I think it could well be- as sister had her baby after me so we thought I was low risk (although all first time Mums are 1/10 risk), and they misdiagnosed me with anxiety () and thereby i developed eclampsia...

o thinking of you i also had pre-eclampsia when pg, lots of monitoring and scans etc. you just have to go with the flow and extra monitoring etc after all it is largely precautionary. i was transferred to consultant care, and the team all were fabby, really skilled, helpful

cause of pre eclampsia remains unknown
"Look at this page"

my baby was wee 4lbs, but has healthy appetite - great wee eater.

so good luck try stay calm, keep focused on your health and baby. keep a good book in your bag for waiting about between clinic
Best wishes

SM

link for IUGR
"Look at medline IUGR"