Pre eclampsia and working/ handhold please

[Band3benefits]

Was told today I have pre eclampsia. This is after me noticing my own BP rising and a few hospital visits over the last week when self referred.

on Labetalol which is controlling things

the PE was diagnosed today due to protein in my urine being 109 (their level is 30 for a diagnosis apparently?!)

I have no other symptoms, I’m 35+3.

In my last pregnancy 4 years ago I was induced at 37+4 with high BP but no protein so wasn’t PE.

Has anyone else been in this position and did you end up going much further than 37 weeks? I’ve no other symptoms at all and I’m being regularly monitored.

im not due to finish work until 38 weeks (and don’t want to be sat twiddling my thumbs!)

I developed pre eclampsia at 34 weeks in my first pregnancy. I was induced around week 37 (ended up having a caesarean). The driving factors for me were that labetalol wasn't controlling my blood pressure and it kept spiking. I ended up spending a few weeks in hospital because of that. If the labetalol had worked then I think they would have tried to get me to week 39.

Thanks for your reply, that’s really reassuring!

The Labetalol is working so far so good (better than last time) so I live in hope!

Best to discuss wit h your midwife/obstetrician. However, Recommended timing for delivery is 37 weeks, evidence shows more harm than good by going past that date, and a fair few people might need to have baby earlier than that if it becomes severe. You meet criteria for pre-e based on your new proteinuria. Probably worth making sure you’ve been checked for a UTI because that can sometimes make protein higher and then go back to normal. assuming that’s been done and is clear, I’d be suggesting finishing up work now and planning for meeting baby around 37 weeks. All the best :)

Hi OP, I can’t offer a handhold but just wanted to stand with you in solidarity really as I know how worrying it all is. I’ve not got a PE diagnosis yet, but have been in and out of triage for the last 10 days with high blood pressure readings either at home or at antenatal appointments. The readings come down in triage so they don’t want to put me on high blood pressure meds yet because my BP isn’t staying elevated in triage. They’re picked up traces of protein in my urine, have had a few mild headaches that seem to be getting more frequent and my urine analysis came back with a result of 26 (so creeping up toward the threshold). Yesterday my BP was 160/98 in the antenatal clinic but after an hour in triage it was back down to 128/86. They’ve re done my blood tests and sent off my urine for a culture to check for UTI. I feel so so anxious about it all. I’ve now told work I’ll be finishing this week in the hopes this will keep my BP under control. I know you worry about twiddling your thumbs but anything you can do to try and alleviate pressure will help!

Hand hold. I had PE and it took them ages to spot it because my natural BP is low. Swelling got out of hand and I was diagnosed and hospitalised a day after my legs started weeping. Was going to be induced at 35 weeks but went into v fast spontaneous labour at 34+6. All of which to say: keep a close eye on yourself and advocate for yourself and worry more about your health than work. Good luck OP. (DC and I were both fine.)

I had preeclampsia with DD2 - high BP was found at 36w and my midwife advised i stopped work. I think i spent two days finishing off and then I did stop work. It was good I did, because the labetalol soon stopped working, I had to add nifedipine as well, I needed monitoring at the hospital every second day, then it officially turned into preeclampsia and I didnt give birth until 39+3. So trying to work in amongst all that would have been very difficult. Given yours is already preeclampsia, i strongly encourage you to finish up and take time to rest / nest / watch rubbish tv / go for gentle walks. I very much doubt you'll be twiddling your thumbs and I would prepare for a discussion about baby coming sooner rather than later.

I didn’t leave the hospital after PE being picked up and had an EMCS a few days later delivering at 35 weeks. It can escalate really quickly, although others obviously have a different experience.

37 weeks c section for my PE with both pregnancies.
Blood pressure out of control resulting in inter uterine growth retardation in each pregnancies.
5lb birth weights. So my concern was for my baby.

To be fair I didn’t feel well either so glad it was over sooner rather than later.

Thanks all for sharing your experiences, it’s helpful to get some perspective

I have started trying to wrap up work- it’s everyone around me stressing which is stressing me out I think! Wish I’d not told anyone 🙈

Id like to get to mid next week if I can as I’ll be nearer 37 weeks then. Will see what my scan says and my monitoring tomorrow. BP at home readings are much better now I’m on labetalol

plan for this evening is to pack a hospital bag and try to”prep” myself for birth with a bit of a pamper