Preeclampsia, to be induced with small baby

[LizzeyBenett]

So long story short my Gp sent me into hospital yesterday with signs of preeclampsia I'm 37 + 5 and turns out I have quiet sever preeclampsia and will need to be induced in the next couple of days . They are going to do a scan tomorrow to check her size but I already know she is a small baby I'd be very surprised if she is over 6 pounds I'd say somewhere in the 5 pounds going from my scan a few weeks ago. Has anyone any advice on induction I'm clueless . it's my first baby and I'm Terribly upset over the whole situation and worried about her wellbeing and her size . A doctor will be coming to speak to me is there anything specific I should ask ?

Sending huge hugs this must be a worrying time.

I have no experience with preeclampsia but I had to be induced as my baby was stillborn 💔 so hopefully I can help somehow.

Questions you could ask:

-What medication could be used or techniques eg. Oxytocin, prostaglandins, membrane sweeps etc...

-Typical timelines for labor inductions?

-what happens if induction isn't working?

-risks for you as you have preeclampsia and risks for baby?

-could elect section be a choice (obvs depending on your preference) but with preclampsia surely you want baby out asap? Just a thought.

-how will you and baby be monitored?

-will you be induced and be kept in or sent home?

-if sent home, what do you need to look out for?

Hope this helps! Sending lots of positive vibes 🫂

@whoops2024 I'm so sorry for your loss thank you so much for your reply x

I had my baby at 36 weeks due to severe pre eclampsia he was 5 pound 6 and was perfectly fine he stayed with me the whole time didn't need to stay in nicu or anything. Good luck with everything xx

@sophcooper thank you that helps really afraid she might have to go to nicu very emotional al and teary all day

I know it's a very stressful time, you will be all over the plac! but the main thing is you and baby are in the right place. Me and my baby were able to go home after 3 days honestly I'm sure you will be fine xx

It is frightening BUT my pre eclampsia and teeny tiny 5lb 4oz IUGR 37 week baby were absolutely fine!
Didnt go to nicu, breast fed straight away and we were home in about 3 days.

Now nearly 6 foot with his head permanently wedged in the fridge hunting for food still absolutely fine!

Also had pre eclampsia with my next who was delivered at 37 weeks, 5lbs 6oz and fine, we were home within 24 hours (c section too!)
So, you will be fine im sure! We all survived it twice!

Hope this helps x

Stop and breathe, you can do this.

I was induced at 36/37 weeks with severe preeclampsia three times using a Prostaglandin pessary. From insertion to delivery I was under 24hrs with discomfort but short active labours. 2nd delivered in theatre as they were prepping for emergency c section.

My babies weren’t overly big, 5lbs to 6.5lbs but all stayed out of neonatal however needed light therapy for jaundice.

Is there a reason they are monitoring and not inducing now? I deteriorated quickly and induction began within hours of arrival on all occasions though.

My iugr baby was born at 37+3 and weighed 4 lb 12 oz. She was in NICU for 7 days. Her blood sugars were low at birth but I also had gestational diabetes. Her suck reflex wasn’t good which is quite common so she was tube fed for s few days. My bp took a while to settle after birth. She is now 15 and doing great. You are in the right place and under observation which is so important. My advice would be have an epidural at the same time as oxytocin induction as the contractions come on quite fast and strong. The birth for me was the easiest part of the pregnancy. I didn’t feel one contraction as I was given a spinal block also incase of need for emergency c-section. Good luck, this will all be a distant memory very soon!

My little one was induced at 36 weeks as I also suddenly developed uncontrollable pre-eclampsia. It ended up with an emergency c-section. Baby was a teeny tiny 4lb. Like a PP, I also had gestational diabetes and baby took a little while to get their blood sugars stabilised. We stayed in a few days but avoided NICU, despite being warned it might be necessary. They did need a "hot cot" to help maintain their body temperature. The only thing I'd change is that I wish I'd had my question about a selective c-section taken more seriously so I would think about whether that's an approach you'd like to take or discuss taking.

The most important thing is that they have picked it up and are treating you - pre-eclampsia is most harmful when it goes undetected. You're also past 37 weeks so have an excellent chance of not needing NICU.

Early induction can be a bit slow (even the drip didn't get me into labour and I ended up with an EMCS which was absolutely fine) - its worth asking about when they'd give up on natural delivery and move onto a c section, and think whether there's anything you would want to request if you do end up with a section.

It's worth knowing that the medications they give you to lower blood pressure can make the baby a bit sleepy at the start and they may not breastfeed well. I wish they'd explained this to me earlier because I felt I was doing things wrong.

Once you're out of hospital you'll probably be on blood pressure meds for a few weeks - a home BP monitor is helpful to keep it in a healthy zone, including helping you spot when you need to reduce your medication as you recover.

Sorry you're having to go through this. I was induced at 36 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia. I suspected I had it for a while as i had many symptoms, but my BP had always been fine until suddenly it wasn't. Like others have said, I also had gestational diabetes so I needed extra monitoring for that, and it did cause other complications for me, but my baby weighed 6lbs 15 and did not require a stay in NICU but needed a little light therapy, which was done at my bedside in his cot.

With my induction, I didn't require a pessary as I had already started dilating, so they just broke my waters and hooked me up to a drip (can't remember what it was they gave me). The contractions started slowly , and as they turned it up, they became a lot more intense, but i managed this with gas and air. I unfortunately ended up having an emergency c-section due to my health declining.

If you're hesitant about induction, could you ask for an elective c-section instead?

I was induced with my second I had complications due to a severe UTI. I went straight on the drip and it is really intense and quick because I didn't get a natural build up . My wasters were broken and I was in labour 4.5 hours which isn't too bad. Dd was under ,5,lbs and was in nicu the staff were amazing. Dd is a fully grown woman with a partner and house of her own but I'll never forget how dinky she was and how wonder the midwives were from labour to baby care.

Good luck with everything xx

Thank you all for your responses it's very reassuring . @OatFlatWhiteForMe I'm
Not sure why they are monitoring and waiting to induce but from what I can gather I think there is an influx of people to be induced from what I overheard yesterday

Good luck, try to rest tonight as best you can. Rooting for you.

Hi OP, Midwife here. I was induced for preeclampsia at 37+1, first baby. Because I was so poorly, my body had tried to go into labour multiple times from about 34 weeks. By the time I came to be induced, all they had to do was break my waters and from waters breaking to baby born was 4hrs 59 mins. Two hours of that was pushing 😬😬 women with pre eclampsia can labour very very quickly, so make sure you have a good think about pain relief options and if you fancy an epidural ask for it sooner rather than later!

He was fine, weighed just over 6lbs. Had a bit of jaundice and had to have light therapy, however he stayed with me and we went home on Day 3.

That’s good you are being monitored and growth will be checked.
my dds growth was affected by pre eclampsia/ high blood pressure. They monitored closely and decided to induce at 39 wks as they said she was better out than in.
she was 5lb8 so quite small but it caused her no problems and we only stayed in one night. She’s doing her GCSE’s now and is taller than me 😊
I went on to have two more babies both small ish but she was my smallest.

I was admitted with preeclampsia and delivered at 38 weeks. My lovely girl was 6lbs and was absolutely fine. That was 35 years ago and she’s a mum herself now! Please try not to worry you’re in the best place.

This is really good to know yes I definitely want an epidural so will
Make that known from the get go thank you x

Pre eclampsia here too - baby 5.5lb. She stayed with me but was regularly monitored for low blood sugars

She is now nearly 40!

i don’t have any experience with pre eclampsia but I am 40+1 with a small baby (who was apparently going to need to be born early). If baby is under 2.2-2.5kg they will most likely go to nicu due to difficulties regulating blood sugar and temperature. Over this weight and past term (37 weeks) most likely fine and won’t need nicu. Jaundice more common in small/early babies.
NICE guidelines say not to induce SGA/IUGR babies if suspected fetal compromise, it should be a c section.

These weights seem huge compared with my 32 weeker who was 3lb 9. He's now 6ft4 and a big grown up man. Good luck ,all will be well,they're monitoring you which is the main thing x

Hope all is going well @LizzeyBenett

@OatFlatWhiteForMe being induced tomorrow , had a scan and baby is measuring 7 pounds so much bigger than I thought just a nice size so I'm feeling much better about the whole situation , thanks so much !

That's a lovely armful 😊

@LizzeyBenett great news all the very best to you and baby 🫂