Preeclampsia

[Ifitistobesaid]

I haven’t been officially diagnosed with preeclampsia but it looks like it’s brewing.

I’m 36w5days and for the past week or so I’ve been monitored for high blood pressure. On Friday they decided it was high enough to start me on medication but my blood tests and urine samples did not show signs of preeclampsia at that point. I’ve had a couple of further checks over the weekend and the medication seems to be controlling my blood pressure but today for the first time I had protein in my urine sample. We are waiting on the results of my 24 urine collection but I assume now that there is protein it’s heading in the direction of preeclampsia.

Has anyone been through this and would you mind sharing your experience? I am hoping I can hold out until my c-section in just over 2 weeks but I don’t know if that’s unrealistic.

I had preeclampsia - I have no medical background whatsoever but I think if they have now identified protein in your wee and you were already showing signs of high BP it does sound very likely that makes what you have.

My experience was that they found protein in my wee on my due date and so I was taken in for an induction (via a pessary) on the Monday and gave birth Tuesday. My active labour only lasted 1 hour (and I understand that induced labours can be quicker). I know sometimes people say induced labours are more painful but I don’t have anything to compare it to and I think they only tend to (potentially) be more painful if induced by a drip rather by pessary. And of course you can always ask for pain relief.

Overall pre-eclampsia didn’t make me feel unwell at any point and I didn’t have any negative effects from it post birth. I just had to have my BP checked more regularly by community midwife afterwards and also take a BP medication post birth for a few weeks.

Hope that helps and best of luck with everything! X x

Hi. Sorry it's not going to plan for you.

I had preeclampsia with my first.

I think it was noticed at about 34 weeks. I had no idea. My grandad died the day before I had a routine appointment with my midwife. She noticed my 'puffy face'. I explained that I had been upset all night and not slept and thought it was that that explained my puffy face and my slightly raised blood pressure.

She insisted on a urine test and I had protein in there. From then on I was in and out of hospital/doing 24 hour collections after that until 37 weeks. I was admitted again for monitoring (as I had been a number of times). DH went home to get some tea and come back. But then a midwife came to check my reflexes and I almost kicked her in the face as they were very much exaggerated, she checked my bp and told me I had to go down to delivery and to call DH.

I was then checked for signs I could be induced but the consultant said that wasn't happening. So I had an emergency cesarean. I remember that I felt strangely calm because all the medical staff were just brilliant.

The emergency cesarean was totally fine and apart from happening suddenly didn't feel much different to a later planned one I had.

My baby went to SCBU for a little while as her lungs needed a bit of help and while I recovered. It wasn't even for a day though.

My blood pressure was very up and down for the next few hours and I was in hospital slightly longer than I would have been. But I didn't feel awful (apart from the odd bp dip but they soon settled).

Since we were both discharged there were no other issues for either of us.

I think it's great they are aware of it with you and positive that you are further along. They will be on top of it and you are almost at 37 weeks already (which I think is seen as full term). My baby was 5lb 12 so little but not tiny. And she's certainly not little now (taller than me!).

Wishing you all the best.

My dd still jokes that she caused me issues from even before she was born.

I had it from 30 weeks, just high blood pressure no other signs. I got admitted due to bloods and liver function and nearly delivered then. Luckily I managed to get to 36+3 before it turned into HELLP syndrome and I had an emergency section. My platelets had gone down to a dangerous level and I didn’t have time to be induced.

My hospital and midwives were really good and constantly asked me if I had any symptoms but other than the high blood pressure that wouldn’t go down with medication I didn’t. Things can change quickly so be open minded if they need to deliver early it’s likely to save you. I was fortunate after delivery and the magnesium drip I was well enough to go home less than 72 hours after being really poorly it can turn around that fast.

This happened with my friend, they kept monitoring her every 48 hours until they officially made the pre-eclampsia diagnosis, then booked her in for a c section the day after when she was 38 weeks x

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It’s very scary but I’m reassured by how closely the hospital are monitoring me. I suppose I’m lucky that it didn’t happen earlier in the pregnancy.

High bp and protein in the urine are indicators.

I went in for reduced movement at 31 weeks, when I was in for the night my bp spiked. From then I had to have weekly checks with the community midwife. Oddly enough the day before I went in for reduced movements I had the general midwife appointment where my bp was fine and I had protein in my urine- I didn’t have uti symptoms so she didn’t send it off (it was another indicator but I didn’t know at that point).

When I reached 34+0 my bp remained high so they started me on medication. then five days later at 34+5 I went in for general bp and monitoring. My blood tests were getting worse and my bp was still high. I felt fine but the doctors were concerned enough that they said I should stay in until I deliver, and to consider induction in the next 48hrs.

At 35+0 I had come around to the idea of induction. They had given me steroid injections. That day my urine had become minimal and strong, I felt zero movements from the baby which worried me, and the baby kept having static hr (it should be zigzag with accelerations). So they escalated it to emergency C-section and within an hour I met my baby. He ended up in scbu for 12 days due to arriving at 35+0. He was a good weight though. During the csection the surgeon mentioned the placenta had a large portion of calcium on it (no idea what that meant really).

So it can change very quickly. The blood tests had indicated I had declining kidney function but I felt completely fine until that day.

I’m just back from the hospital where I’ve had an official diagnosis based on the urine collection. New plan is to try to get me to 38 weeks (a week from tomorrow) and do the c-section then (need a section as baby is breech).

Feeling very scared.

I know it feels really scary OP, have they got you going in for monitoring over the next week as well?

@Ifitistobesaid sorry to hear you’re feeling scared. I can understand why least of all because it’s not what you expected. Is there a specific worry you have?

At least you are ‘full term’ (as in 37 weeks). In fact most sections happen at 39 weeks a week later than yours. I am too awaiting a planned section in a week to 10 days time and have asked lots of people about their experience, all of which has been positive. If you are anxious about your health or the baby’s then you could ask for more frequent monitoring between now and then if you think that’ll make you feel better

This is exactly how mine started at around 33weeks. I was put on meds to control the bp and had checks every 3/4 days from 36 weeks. I was told at 38 weeks that they wouldn't be inducing me and would let me go naturally into labour- of course the next morning my waters broke! I was kept in and had to be induced within 24 hours of waters breaking because of the preeclampsia. I was lucky that I got an epidural before any of the labour kicked in so while I had slight pain as DD was back to back it wasn't horrendous! I know it's easy to say try and stay calm but please do, it being found early is good as they will monitor you properly and the meds will help x

@rainbowtea23 yes I’ll be seen every day or every other day so they’ll monitor me for any signs of deterioration. They took bloods again today so should have the results tomorrow or Thursday.

@User41 I suppose I’m scared of something happening to the baby due to this, and the fact that it is a couple of weeks early. I know it’s a good gestation but the last couple of weeks are important for the baby’s development. Also scared in case it turns into an emergency c-section situation.

@Ifitistobesaid yeah I do get where you are coming from - hopefully the doctors or midwives can reassure you. Anecdotally I know a few people who went into Labour early after 37 and all delivered healthy babies. I think you don’t stop worrying until you’ve got them in your arms though do you. X x

I was induced early in last pregnancy at 37 weeks due to high blood pressure - never got preeclampsia diagnosis but was on the watch!

I'm pregnant again now and high BP at 33 weeks so have been on medication which has kept it under control, still no protein - they are hoping to get me to 38 weeks this time then either c section or induction

Try not to worry it's pretty common and anything past 37 weeks is fab, with all the monitoring they will be looking after you! I had excellent care throughout monitoring and induction, hope it all goes well for you!