35 Weeks with Preeclampsia

[OnMyJourney]

Hi, today what started with a routine midwife appointment turned into me being sent to the Maternity unit at the hospital with suspected preeclampsia, I don't feel unwell at all just a little bit of swelling that's it.

I went in and my blood pressure was ridiculous and I had protein in my urine, they gave me 200mg of Labetalol waited another hour and my BP was still high so they gave me another 200mg of Labetalol and my blood pressure came down but still wasn't perfect.

I have to go back tomorrow for further testing and to speak to a consultant but I was just wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences and still carried to full term or if you were induced early at all? Any advice is appreciated x

Hi OP, I had preeclampsia from 30 weeks in my first pregnancy. I nearly had to deliver at that point as well but things calmed down. I managed to hold on until 36+3 before my little one came via emergency c section as despite improving I ended up with HELLP syndrome and didn’t have time to be induced otherwise I would have been at 37 weeks. Luckily it was caught really quickly and we were both ok in the end. I was on 3 labetalol by the end of it. If you can borrow or get a blood pressure monitor and check yourself if they can calibrate the machine it’s worth it for peace of mind on top of attending midwife appointments.

I’m currently 35 weeks with baby number two and so far haven’t had the blood pressure issues this time as of yet at least but I know it can strike any time. Good
luck I know it’s a scary time.

I've had it twice now. Developed both times around 34 weeks. Felt perfectly healthy, and was only swollen with my first.

First time I couldn't make my 34 week appointment. I checked my BP, but was a bit daft and didn't report that the readings were high, or test my urine. High BP and proteinuria was then picked up at the 36 week appointment instead.

Second time was an admin error on the medical professionals. I had high blood pressure and protein in my urine at my 34 week appointment. Bloods were sent off that turned out to have sky high liver enzymes. But I was inadvertently placed into the "low risk" call back pile, and called back 2 weeks later rather than being called in immediately...

Anyway, both times I was admitted at 36 weeks to await induction at 37 weeks, which I was. Luckily everything remained stable on twice daily Labetalol while I was there. First was born at 37+1. Second at 37+6. Other than some mild jaundice, they were both perfectly healthy. Good sized birth weights too.

I know how scary it is, but you are in good hands. Make sure your hospital bag is fully packed tonight. Maybe add some extra bits for you for a few days stay. Best of luck with your appointment tomorrow.

You have been diagnosed with PET and been sent home same day??
My trust policy is to admit for at least 24 hours to ensure BP is stable on the correct amount of meds before discharge. Induction I believe is usually after 37 weeks if you remain stable

Thank you for guys for sharing your stories they do make me feel better about my situation, basically they've admitted me to hospital now I'm on the labour ward, they're actually really concerned about my preeclampsia and have put me on 300mg of Labetalol 4 times a day and every 12 hours I'm taking another medication which I couldn't spell if I tried lol, the consultant has now said I have to stay in hospital until she's born I'm 35+5 today and they've said if urgent they could induce/Csection me at any time but she will definitely be born on or before 37 weeks, I'm absolutely terrified but I understand their concern as long as me and baby girl are okay.

Not that this is the most dramatic part but over the last 2 days I've had 12 attempts at blood being taken and I've had 4 attempts at a cannula trying to be put in, I am in pain and not having a great time 😭

It's crazy how all of this can happen so quickly

Thinking of you, @OnMyJourney. If baby needs to come now they are ready for you. I was diagnosed with pregnancy induced high blood pressure at 30 weeks. So began the waiting game of how long we could stick it out. I found the Tommy's website quite reassuring on what to expect in terms of prematurity at each week - https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/premature-birth/my-premature-babys-development-womb-week-35. As you'll see, at 35/36 weeks baby is mostly developed. In the end DD came at 36+5 by emergency c section after a failed induction and was perfectly well, just v. small (due to placenta issues). Wishing you all the best 💐

Thank you for coming back and updating us. Is Nifedipine the drug?

I too was surprised they sent you home, but was hoping your pre-eclampsia was mild like mine was. It is scary that it can happen so fast, but it does, and the entire maternity staff are well versed in management and how best to treat it.

You are absolutely in the best place possible now. I know this will be far from how you envisioned having your baby, but as PP says, baby is practically as cooked as she's going to get at this point. Just do your best to relax now. Treat yourself as best you can! Feet up! Chocolates! All the TV! Takeaways! Unless they tell you to fast, don't!

Regarding bloods, unless they've got you on a fluid restriction, drink as much as you can. Also ask for emla cream before the next attempt. If they haven't got a cannula in yet, request an anaesthetist doing it under ultrasound guidance.

Wishing you all the best, and you'll be in my thoughts. ❤️

I was diagnosed with pre eclampsia at 36+3 and DS was born at 37 weeks exactly. He was on the small scrawny side but otherwise absolutely fine with no lasting issues.

I think I had had the pre eclampsia for a while before it was diagnosed, I had the classic textbook symptoms and actually felt unwell and was overall a bit of a mess but unfortunately my midwife fobbed me off and said it was all normal despite having pitting oedema and seeing glitter, as well as the high BP and proteinurea and ridiculous swelling. It wasn't until I saw a different one at the 36+3 appointment that something was done and I got admitted that day. Went home the next day with a plan to go in later in the week to see a consultant and come up with an induction plan but that never happened as when I went back in for that appointment they just decided to induce there and then.

It sounds like you are in the best place and they will be keeping a really close eye on you. It does happen so quickly it's a bit of a whirlwind experience. I hope you are feeling ok and wishing you all the best for the birth of your baby girl

My situation was very similar and I had EMCS a few days after being admitted to hospital. Horrible experience but baby was fine.

Hello I hope you are ok and they sort your bloods out easily. 💐

can I ask how severe your symptoms were? I ask because I have itchy hands some days, pain below my left ribs only every days (I thought this was bra straps causing it but it’s always in the same place.) I’ve had the flashing black dots in my eyes just this morning and thought maybe it was just I was dehydrated or something.

it’s hard to know if these are truly preeclampsia symptoms I should get checked or whether they are just regular pregnancy symptoms.

If you're ever unsure, go get yourself checked out. Better to know it's nothing for sure, than potentially have something brewing away unchecked.

Thank you everyone again for your well wishes and experiences. It sounds like so many others have been in the same boat!

It looks like my BP is massively coming down which is amazing but my urine sample is still showing a lot of protein which is weird! But they said if my BP continues to go down then I might be able to go home tomorrow on bed rest 🤞🤞🤞🤞

@lucya66 I personally had no symptoms of preeclampsia at all, it was only picked up due to protein in my wee and high blood pressure at my normal midwife appointment, but some of the symptoms you've described do sound like some symptoms of preeclampsia but also normal pregnancy symptoms (it's all so confusing) but I think maybe it you should phone your midwife or maternity day assessment unit to go get checked out, better to find out sooner! Hope it all turns out okay for you! Xx

Hi OP. Sending love and support. I had pre eclampsia with my DD nearly 30years ago. The high BP was picked up at my routine weekly appt with GP (as my practice did then) I was 32 weeks. I am surprised they didn't keep you in the first time and I'm glad you're safely on the ward now.
I was kept on bed rest for a few days in hospital in the hope that it would settle. I don't know what drugs I had as they didn't really tell you in those days, but i think there we sedatives and they definitely said they were injecting me with something to help mature the baby's lungs.
I was prepped for a 'just in case' emergency C Section but in the end I had a section with an epidural. I believe they thought DDs blood supply was compromised (they kept talking over me and I didn't really understand, which is why I think I was sedated) and so she needed to come out quickly.
I was 32½ weeks when she was born. She was tiny but absolutely perfect. She was in an incubator and they fed her via a nose tube with my expressed milk ( they got me using one of those enormous milking machines but it did wonders for my milk supply!)
They only kept her in for two weeks and she was just 4lb when I took her home. They only needed long enough for her to be strong enough to feed. I had her with me on the maternity ward for two days to establish feeding.
She went from strength to strength and she's now a very healthy 29 year old, married with a baby of her own.
I wish you all the best 💕

I’ve had it twice and both times been admitted until babies were born. Hope you make it home, but if not, it’s not until your baby will be here. Good luck!