Any one with a similar preclampsia scenario?

[PreclampsiaMommy]

I'm 34 weeks + 1 today - uk if it makes a difference, I have preclampsia. I have symptoms and had over active reflex two days ago (but only when checked on sitting up as i struggle to drop my weight lying down) , last night I had magnesium which was decided to be stopped early, yesterday i received steriod injections in my thigh - two lots. Labs aren't very out of control and urine is currently clear. My alt was 55 which then raised to 101 sunday, it then raised last night to 133, 144 and now 164. Midwife said the thing confusing the doctors is its a slowly increasing trend not a big jump. Early delivery of baby keeps being mentioned but they're not sure yet if that'll happen. They can't decide a full plan and just keep saying we have to see what happens tomorrow. They're going to take my bloods again in the morning. I guess I'm just wanting to ask if any one has been in this situation before as its horrible not knowing what's going to happen, I understand every situation is different but I'd love to hear everyone else's outcomes. The last consultant I saw about two hours ago said he'd suggest if my symptoms are the same tomorrow, he'd deliver baby, however he's not in and it's the consultant who is on tomorrow's decision and they keep having different ideas.

Make sure your bag is packed. Everything charged up. Be ready to go.

Went with DIL to appointment on Wednesday, sent to another hospital on Thursday to see consultant, he scanned and was completely honest. Hospital in the morning, steroids, then we'll see. . Babies delivered by C section on the Saturday.

I hope you're both healing well... I've actually been admitted to l&d last two nights and going back down to antenatal ward this evening, but one minute I'm told consultant wants to deliver today or tomorrow and the next it could be weeks because it's the never the same consultant.

they won't wait weeks @PreclampsiaMommy

the steroids are to accelerate development of the baby's lungs, your alt is high which means your liver is being impacted.

The only remedy for pre-eclampsia is birth. Within the week, most likely.

I don't understand why your obstetricians are not being honest with you.

Thankyou - I'm getting mixed messages off all the professionals because only my alt is raised nothing else.

They do take it day by day so babies lungs develop as much as possible.

Thankyou, It's just stressful not knowing if it's going to be this week or still like 5 weeks away 🙃

@PreclampsiaMommy

Wishing you all the very best, hoping you'll be given more definitive answers, sooner rather later. 🌻

The thing is that it can change so rapidly that the Dr's can only go with the 'right now' approach.

You can't plan in this situation, it's day by day. Which is hard if you're a planner but try and lean into it.

It won't be 5 weeks away that's for sure!

Yep, me. You need them to deliver within 7 days of the steroids as otherwise you've lost the benefit on baby's lungs plus increased their chances of behavioural issues and neurodiversity. They should have explained this to you.

I had a slow-burning pre-eclampsia, in that it kicked in at about 20weeks and then got worse every day but without being horrendous until I delivered at 34, by which point I was maxed out on three different agents and baby was very growth restricted with awful scans and ctgs and no movement. Even then, every consultant was saying a different thing, some were planning to deliver the next day, some were saying we'll wait another three weeks! Eventually I lost my shit and insisted on speaking only to my named consultant and everyone else had to follow her plan. She agreed to deliver the next day.

Just a heads up that I've been poorly with it postnatally too which everyone told me wouldnt happen 🙄

During my first pregnancy I had a little known condition (at the time, 26 years ago) called HELLP syndrome which stands for Haemolysis, Elevated Liver Low Platelets. It is a serious form of pre-eclampsia and mine built slowly, without symptoms until it then very suddenly ramped up and within 24 hours I was in ICU and was very very poorly and in a critical condition.

I have no idea if this is what you are presenting with but they will be keeping an eye on you and will more than likely deliver baby sooner rather than later if they have cause to believe it is escalating.

Keep an eye on your own symptoms and raise anything concerning immediately.

You are in the right place for immediate action if its necessary.

Thankyou - no we wasn't informed that about the steriods! I hope you feel okay now? We had a scan last week and his ctgs have been fine although I'm definitely not feeling him as much as usual.. the only problems at the moment are symptoms and increasing alt day by day.

I had pre eclampsia, baby had IUGR and the consultants were talking about induction, then waiting, ah the anxiety was terrible.

So, they do try to keep you pregnant until 36 weeks, but with the steroid jabs, they'll induce you if they need to- the blood tests, your BP and urine will tell them when they need to do it...and honestly, when they need to, they'll spring into action very quickly!

Held out until 37 weeks and was induced (if I can reccommend- if you're planning on having an epidural, have it before the pitocin! Works really well, and I think that's what stopped my baby going into distress like my previous pregnancies!)

Also for a bit of reassurance- I was a pre eclampsia baby, born at 34 weeks, 3lb 2oz- I'm 34 and suffered no long term health concerns related to my mother's pre eclampsia or my prematurity.

Not quite the same situation but I had obstetric Cholestasis and had blood work that started to show signs of HELLP

• I had normal blood pressure but mild haemolysis, elevated liver function (alt 600+) but it was unclear how much was the OC and low but not super low platelets. As soon as my platelets started to go low and the haemolysis started they got repeated bloods done another few days and they brought me in for induction the next day when they were as bad, I was 37 weeks but this point but induction had been on the cards since 35 weeks. The consultant arranged the induction and made sure the consultant on duty was following her plan even though she wasn't on shift. They monitored my bloods and blood pressure throughout the induction and labour.

I had been in and out of hospital for a few weeks for various symptoms and it was only my named consultant that was looking at the big picture. I would really push for a single voice driving your care.

Thankyou for your response and I hope you're well now... the doctor I've recently seen says rise in alt isn't that concerning lol although everyone else said otherwise so I've asked to come home this evening and return tomorrow.

I'm only 3 days post partum but already starting to feel better

I had preeclampsia with my son 2.5yrs ago.

It started with high bp at 30 weeks. They started me on bp medication with weekly checks. By 34 weeks I went in for another routine check feeling completely fine and they wouldn’t let me leave until I had my baby. My bloodwork was really bad apparently, I can’t say numbers now but something was 4x the amount it should have been. Another thing was also very off. So on the thursday at 34+5 I was admitted to the ward and waited to be induced. On the Saturday morning still waiting for the labour ward space I suddenly couldn’t wee anymore. I had drank 2 pints of water an hour or so before and I managed maybe 10-20ml. That’s the first sign of me feeling unwell. Then at 5pm during a routine ctg my baby’s heart rate was static. It’s supposed to have accelerations and look zigzag but his was a straight line. They said he likely wouldn’t cope with contractions and said a csection and I agreed. He was born an hour later at 35+0.

Hes now 2.5yrs old, very healthy and full of energy. He was born 5lb4oz, had 12 days in scbu but mostly for feeding issues. Initially he had low blood glucose. He was tube fed for the first few days and just wouldn’t wake up to feed. I had a bit of a rough recovery for the first few days but after that it was a quick recovery, I guess I didn’t realise how much the preeclampsia and the blood loss during delivery had affected me.

Also to add, I have just had a second baby 4.5 months ago and I didn’t get preeclampsia this time. I took asprin from 13 weeks onwards and made it to 39 weeks before my elective csection. Only adding this as a positive, I know this won’t be on your mind at all but I always had that worry that it would happen again if I chose to try again.

I was in hospital from.35-37 weeks. They wanted to 37 weeks then induce me. But under constant supervision. I actually got worse 4 days post birth so was in hospital for over a week past birth. It's a delicate choice. You just have to surrender to it in this case unfortunately. Because it can go bad very fast. If they string it out they will but I doubt you will get to 38 weeks. Also there's zero chance they will agree to going overdue. Which is for the best. I know it sucks but it is what is.

Good luck your in the right place

OP - to clarify - are they clear on the diagnosis of preeclampsia? Have you got new high blood pressure? You’ve mentioned your urine is clear, so no protein? Is there another explanation they’re thinking about for the rising ALT? Is your AST also rising? And are you having bad headaches/feeling unwell/severe swelling etc?
the reason I ask is that the delivery decision kind of depends on how secure the diagnosis is. If it’s unclear there are extra labs that can be done to assist with diagnosis. Have they mentioned sFlt or PLGF to you?

If you have preeclampsia with worsening liver function tests, that’s severe preeclampsia and warrants delivery, particularly now you’re after 34 weeks. It’s sometimes worth waiting a day or two just for the steroids to be on board, and also to make sure the liver functions are indeed trending up.
If they’re not so sure that this is actually preeclampsia it may make more sense to hold off, but it would be safer if waiting to wait and watch in hospital.
Have they talked with you about induction of labour vs CS delivery?
honestly it doesn’t sound like you’ll be pregnant much longer, would certainly be prepared to meet baby within days. Would just encourage you to keep asking questions and if something doesn’t sit right with you then ask for second opinion.

Hi yes, they've said I've got preclampsia, I'm sympmatic and had raised bp which is currently medicated. They're just investigating the alt rise - they did a liver scan and blood tests for it and can't find another cause, but now I'm waiting for the medical consultant and if she says there's no other cause, I should be seeing the obstetric consultant afterward.

20 years ago DS was born via general anaesthetic emergency c section. Earlier than 34 weeks. I'd been in hospital for 6 days. His lungs were fine, they turfed him out of NICU after 2 days because he was crying healthily. You will be fine, but at 34 weeks they really should deliver you imho

They've said they need to deliver the baby within days. I'm to have nothing to eat or drink, other than water from midnight tonight and they'll repeat my blood test in the morning, and then I'd be ready for theatre for a c section.

Oh bless you. Some times the best thing to do is to get them out.
I'm less than a week on from the decision to induce my little one and I've gone from being barely able to move from the bed to the sofa to popping to the supermarket this morning and to the park this evening. Sometimes for your own health it's best to call time on the pregnancy and get your health back

34 weeks is a really good gestation, I know they might need a little help but you've done the best for them getting them to this point. It's time for you to be looked after now.
I had threatened preterm labour at 34 weeks and my liver condition came with an option of induction at 35 weeks if my bile acids had increased any further. They were really optimistic of chances.

Try to get some rest and speak to the staff as much as you need. Take care x

Thankyou so much and I'm happy to here you're slowly on the mend x

I'll admit I'm relieved you're having the baby imminently. We'll want pictures you know.

So just been told that they are repeating my bloods at 6 in the morning and they want to see they're still trending up, if they're magically fine then it's down to the doctor if they call the c section off or not.