15w Pregnant again after pre-eclampsia in first preg, fretting, anyone else in same situation?

[mspotatochip]

Hello. Had relatively early onset high bp with DD1 on meds from 27 weeks she was induced at 35 weeks for full blown pre eclampsia. Lots of hospital time, turned into a pin cushion by docs, on bp meds for months afterwards etc

The good bit DD1 was 4 pound 7 at 35 weeks and didn't need any scbu and breastfed well. Just a bit of jaundice and some antibiotics for ? cord infection.

Now pg with second thought I would be calm and fine but the appointments are starting to pile up, I feel like shit and I'm getting anxious.

I think I know too much this time! Also they've called me for a glucose tolerance test because she was 4 pound 7 at 35 weeks thats not big!

Hi - my story is very similar to yours!

With DS1 I had PE from 27 weeks, was on meds and kept being admitted for bedrest, bloods etc. He was delivered by emergency section at 34 weeks and was 4 lb 9 oz. He did go to SCBU but didn't really need much help and we were in for 5 days.

With DS2 I was terrified it would happen again. I did have high BP throughout and was admitted to hospital at 39 weeks for checks but apart from that was fine and he was born at 41 weeks.Everytime I went to hosp my BP was through the roof because I was so anxious!

Now am pg with third, 24 weeks, and my midwife has decided I'm better off staying away from the hospital as I shouldn't really get PE again as I didn't get it last time. I went for a scan at 20 weeks and after reading my notes they checked my BP which of course was through the roof so I was admitted for the day! Next day midwife came to house and it was low! so it just shows.

Obviously BP, urine and bloods will need testing but see if your midwife can visit you at home to test them? Saves a lot of anxiety!

Good luck!

I had severe PET with DD and liver went to pot afterwards

Got it again with DS who is nearly five months, spent a month in hospital. You will spend nearly every day at the hospital at the end of your pregnancy but it will be okay because you'll have learned to take books with you.

Wasn't as bad second time round either because I knew the drill!

I got the midwives to give me dipsticks to test my own urine and got a home bp monitor for most of my testing. That avoided half the appointments.

I've been wondering about home bp monitor as i get really wound up since about having bp taken. i flinch when they put the cuff on totally involuntarily I'm usually quite calm about these things. arrghh

Midwives came to flat last time almost daily at the end wonderful women. I appear to be consultant not community led this time though. its not that clear I'm getting letters from hospital and surgery!

Did anyone have to do the GTT test in second preg. Can't figure out where that ones come from

arrghh what am I doing my poor veins were screwed last time, how could i have forgotten all of this!!

I've never been offered a GTT.

You can get a BP monitor from Lloyds for 9.99 and your midwife could give you the urine sticks. I was consultant led second pg but only went at 20 and 34 weeks and then 38ish weeks.

My GP referred me consultant led this time but midwife changed it.

The automated BP monitors are good to keep an eye on the general blood pressure control but not as good with PE as the old fashioned ones where the midwife/doctor listens through the stethoscope. They can tend to give false high readings apparently.

thank you surprise we have a Lloyds in town will have a look, at least I can reassure myself that its not inching up or at least notice if it is!. well done to your midwife! Good look for PE free rest of preg

mspotatochip - I got mine from Amazon uk - it was about £7.

I had pre-eclampsia first time round which principally showed in DD having IUGR - no other symptoms until quite late (35 weeks +). She was delivered at 37 weeks at 4 lbs 9 oz.

I am now almost 30 weeks pregnant and no signs as yet (but obv could still do) - growth scans show baby to be average (compared to dd's 3rd centile size at same point).

I have been taking low dose aspirin from about 15 weeks on consultant advice - there is some evidence to suggest it prevents pre-eclampsia happening again but it is not proven although I think generally accepted as something to try and it doesn't have much risk to it. Might be worht speaking to your consultant about it.

I had PE with dd1 from 28 weeks, she was born 37 weeks weighing 5lb due to the damage done to placenta by PE or so the said

No PE with DD2 but placenta failure so born 38weeks 5lb2

Its hard if you know too much but good for questioning doctors!
good luck

I am 13 weeks pg and had severe PET with ds, had a section at 34 weeks so very similar to you! Was on bp meds for months though and protein didn't come down for ages. So I know just how you feel, am utterly terrfied especially as ds was pretty poorly and in SCBU for nearly 8 weeks. Don't know how I am going to do it all again with a toddler in tow...

I am taking low dose aspirin and am having a uterine doppler at 24 weeks, so at least feel like something extra is happening this time. No one has mentioned GTT to me and ds was 5lb 4 at 34 weeks!

should have said as well not though...

i had read about low dose aspirin spoke to gp and midwife and got blank response. Not seeing consultant until 20 weeks so prob too late. Must not be in protocol here royal surrey.

was on low does asprin too the second time round, mainly for Blood clots but also for PE

don't think 20 weeks is too late... maybe you'll feel a bit better when you've seen the consultant. I was lucky enough to get a pre-conception appt with a consultant so discussed things like low dose aspirin then. Spoke to the community mw about the PET I'd had in last pg at my booking in appt and got the impression I knew more about it than she did! So don't know whether she would have suggested aspirin, she might have been the same as yours. It's very reassuring when you've seen someone who really knows what they're talking about.

When I went to surgery and said so we're going for number 2 GP was quite dismissive of chances of recurrence which considering my research puts it at 1 in 4 for how early my symptoms started last time surprised me. But hey they hate it when you admit you have been googling so i said nothing. I'm falling into same pattern as last time blindly agreeing to whatever they say while privately seething

My chances of recurrence have been put at 20% by consultant, my symptoms started at 29 weeks. My community mw was likewise very dismissive of me getting it again, so I just smiled and nodded safe in the knowledge that I have an appt with the specialist unit at my hospital in a couple of weeks! Woudl definitely be worried if it wasn't for that. Hopefully you will find your consultant is brilliant and they will put your mind (a bit) at rest - shame you have to wait until 20 weeks though.

I reckon for the consultant 20 weeks makes sense as ita after that that pe generally presents. They just don't allow for me fretting four weeks beforehand. Its good to know there are other people in the same boat though!

I've found myself making plans in my head for childcare for dd if i get hospitalised which is likely to be months off if it happens! But we are in a bit of a sticky position as my relatives don't live in england, dp works 1.5 hours away and my griedn who usually backs us up is more pregnant than me.

Hopefully I will be sat here at 40 +1 with normal bp bemoaning being overdue and have a big fat baby (anything over 5 pound looks huge to us)

We have similar problems with childcare, parents not in this country and MIL is 3 hours away with no car... keep waking up at night worrying about all sorts of scenarios! Wishing you all the best, let us know how you get on