Preeclampsia

Question: Preeclampsia? I am afraid that I might have preeclampsia, sudden excessive weight gain and swollen ankles. I see my doctor on the 7th, so Monday. I am just wondering can this cause death to my baby. Im pretty sure it cant but I worry a lot. Thanks.

Answer: One thing to watch out for are headaches that won't go away or if you start seeing spots. If you have either of these symptoms call your doctor right away or go to the ER. This would mean that your blood pressure is dangerously high and that you need medication. Try to relax, put your feet up and drink lots of water which will help with the swelling. I would definately speak to your doctor about it. But if you get too worried, it would be better to call and speak to your doctor or nurse than getting upset as that too can increase your BP.

Question: What are some natural remedies for preeclampsia after giving birth? My friend just gave birth about 3 days ago and she had preeclampsia during her birth. Now she still has it and her feet are so swollen...HUGE. She can’t even walk. Doctor says it will go down in 6 weeks but she is really uncomfortable. Is there anything she can do at home to help it go down quicker?

Answer: i think they say to raise your feet as much as possible to help with circulation and to help the swelling go down..

Question: How safe is it for mother and baby with preeclampsia just diagnosed today? We have set a date with the fill in Dr ,just so happens the Dr we have had for nine months won't be here this week, anyway for Friday the 25. We just found out today that she has signs of preeclampsia. How safe is it for baby and mommy to go these next 4 days? We are freaking out thinking we should go now. Is the Dr just trying to cash in on delivery?

Answer: No your doctor is not trying to cash in on delivery. Preeclampsia is very serious. She needs to be on strict bedrest, stay hydrated, anytime she has a headache that will not go away with tylenol, see's firecracker vision, swells up that does not go away with puting feet up or resting, she needs to check her BP. If anything like that happens tell her to lay on her left side and drink water. With high blood pressure it can cause mom to seize,get problems with liver or kidney and that is very bad for the unborn baby. As long as she and baby are being carefully monitored and are on bedrest, she should be fine. These four days should be fine and she needs to take it easy and back off anything with a lot of sodium.

Question: What was your blood pressure when you were diagnosed with preeclampsia? I know that for preeclampsia you are diagnosed with blood pressure and protein in the urine. Just curious how high your blood pressure was when you were diagnosed? Thanks.

Answer: When I was diagnosed, they didn't tell me how high it was, but he said "a little high" and put me on bp medication and bed rest. Then I started bleeding, and in the hospital, my bp was between 150/95 and 119/60. It was all over the place. Now I'm on strict bed rest. The other symptoms I had were swelling (8lb gain in two weeks!), a little protein in my urine at first (it went away in the hospital) and hydronephrosis. We're hoping to get the baby at least to 36-38 weeks, since I'm only at 34 weeks, I'm looking at 2-4 weeks bed rest....yuck! But at least I get to be at home!

Question: What stage of preeclampsia am I in based on my protein level? I am 34 weeks pregnant and recently diagnosed with preeclampsia. Based on a 24 hour urine, my protein level is 464. How severe is this and what should I expect to happen from here on out?

Answer: I am not sure what level that is, but from here on out, expect to go to your ob once a week, get two biophysical profiles a week (an ultrasound), strict bedrest no gettingup for longer then an hour a day, and expect them to talk about inductions within the coming weeks. They should also give you prescription. They may try to have you go 40 weeks, but chances are they will induce so be ready for that discussion. Just take it easy, dont stress out and relax. Goodluck and an early congrats

Question: What is the earliest that you have heard of somebody developing preeclampsia? I had my 16 week appointment this morning and had moderately high blood pressure. It's REALLY early for this and I was worried. Do you know of anyone who got preeclampsia early in their pregnancy? Were their babies okay?

Answer: I developed pre-eclampsia at 25 weeks with my eldest daughter. I was in and out of hospital, as my urine was also showing signs of pre-eclampsia. She was born at 33+6, although we don't actually know that it was because of the condition. I bled heavily after her birth, needing a transfusion but again, could have been bad luck. She's 6 now, and she's fine. She has health complications but once again, she had some of them during the pregnancy so not necessarily due to the PE. Make sure you rest, and listen to the doctors, they know best. Trust your body and if you start to feel unwell in anyway, go see your doc or midwife. I hope it all goes well, stress can increase your blood pressure. Good Luck xxx

Question: What risks come with preeclampsia in pregnancy? My doctor just put me on bedrest because I have the symptoms that I'm getting preeclampsia and its too soon to induce labour. What risks come with preeclampsia? I dont know much about it, anyone else been through this?

Answer: I have been on bed rest for almost 6 weeks now for high blood pressure. I have to go to my ob/gyn and perinatologist every monday and thursday. They test every time for my protein in my urine, which has stayed at just a trace. My blood pressure is low if I am on my left side, but high if I am sitting up or up and about. I still might develop preeclampsia, but so far so good. If yours gets too bad, you will have to deliver, that's the only way to "cure" the pre-e. If it is too bad and not treated it can harm you and the baby. Listen to the doc and stay in bed, it's not fun, but will def. be worth it in December :) Edit: Also, I saw some of your previous questions about swelling, the first 4 days I was on bed rest I lost almost 10 pounds of water weight! Now that I have been on bed rest I am not swollen at all.

Question: I found out today that I have high blood pressure and possibly preeclampsia? I am nearly 40 weeks. Did you have any side effects from preeclampsia. They took my blood today, so I should find out tomorrow if they are going to induce. This is my fourth. I never had it with any of the others. Thanks for your insights.

Answer: I had it with my first side effects can include high blood pressure lots of swelling in face, hands, feet head aches blurred vision protein in urine I only had high bp, swelling and small amount of protein in urine preeclampsia can cause seizures in mom, kidney problems and other problems only cure is for the baby to be born.... after delivery the mom's body usually returns to normal I had to be induced.. they gave me pitocin and a magnesium sulfate drip... the magnesium sulfate drip is to prevent seizures due to high blood pressure... it makes you feel sluggish, tired, groggy and miserable... [sorry can't be more upbeat about it] if on magnesium you also have to lay down in bed making labor harder because gravity isn't there to assist... [if you can try to sit up at least to help progress labor] i had to stay on the magnesium 24 hrs after birth and was not allowed to be alone in room with baby until magnesium drip was stopped because the magnesium is muscle relaxer but ask you dr how he is going to induce? how bad your preeclampsia is? good luck hope your experience is better than mine

Question: Is 36 weeks full term and if so will I be induced because of preeclampsia? I am 36 weeks and according to my dr I may have preeclampsia. I have some of the symptoms so I go in on Thurs for testing. I have been doing some research and I have learned that the dr will usually induce if the mother is far along to give birth because of preeclampsia. My baby is already weighing 6 pounds 4 ounces according to ultrasound, so do you think if I test positive for preeclampsia, they will induce me??

Answer: yes more than likely they will induce you. and 37 weeks is full term.

Question: Did anyone have high blood pressure that turned into preeclampsia? Just wondering if anyone had high blood pressure that turned into preeclampsia. How far along were you when you got it and when did you deliver? Also, what were your symptoms? Thanks!

Answer: I did. 5 months induced at 35 weeks. Headaches edema swelling high bp