If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

What were the first signs or symptoms (if you had any?)

Thanks!

If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

I had it with my 1st. I felt fine, but I was super swollen in my legs, ankles and feet and my blood pressure was sky high. They were amazed that I didn't feel it. I was induced just past 38 weeks because of it.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

crashing but it all started with my protein levels in my urine being high but my BP was always normal. Then slowly I started gaining a lot of weight each week and headaches began. For me, it all happened in the last tri. My vision was getting a bit funky and then within the last few weeks, my BP was high. After I gave birth, it was up to 180/100 and I was at risk for seizures so I was forced on magnesium for a week in LIJ until I stabilized. For me, it was not the obvious and unfortunately my DS was growth restricted bc of it- caused poor nutrient flow to the placenta and he was very small but super healthy.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

i have chronic high blood pressure, so i was closely monitoring when i was pregnant with DS, when i hit 36 weeks, my blood pressure started to get really high, i was having headaches, no protein in my urine, but on the day i delivered my son, my BP was really high, and i had thrown up in my sleep, sorry TMI. I was very swollen all of sudden, my hands and feet. So far at 33 weeks things have been quiet, i hope it stays that way.
i was on magnesium at the hospital, but DS was a good size 6 lbs 3 ozs at 37 weeks, never had any issues, now he's 4.

Message edited 8/19/2013 2:18:07 PM.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

Had it with my 3rd and delivered at 37 weeks. I had high BP the entire pregnancy and it was controlled by Labetalol. Even at more than the hghest dose, my BP was still high. And I started to have protein in my urine. NO swelling at all. No outward signs.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

It started at 25 weeks with a headache that lasted until delivery at 39 weeks. By 27 weeks I had spots, halos, double vision, and progressively lost vision in the middle of my field of vision. Everything cleared up after delivery for me. My son was sitting very far back and was head up, with one foot up, and tush and one foot down. His position put pressure on my spinal column/fluid and it effected by eyes and my BP. By 31 weeks I was swollen and had protein in my urine. I went on strict bed rest at that point. I had morning sickness until 7 complete months between 5-10 times a day.

If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

i didnt know i had it until i was put in the hospital. in retrospect the earliest symptoms i had were seeing floaters and major swelling. i thought the bloating was normal pregnancy bloating - i had nothing to compare it to.
i went to my 32w appt and the nurse said i gained 9lbs in 4w and the dipstick came back showing protein. i did the 24 hour urine test and it was so bad that they called the next morning and told me to go to the hospital. i ended up on hospital bedrest and delivered 5 days later at 33w1d when the pre-e developed into HELLP syndrome.
for the record i never had high BP until the day i delivered. even then my highest readings were like 150/95 or so; they weren't ever sky high, just borderline. my bloodwork however worsened quick and my platelets dropped sharply along with elevated liver enzymes and my liver began to shut down. the symptom that ultimately led to being delivered was horrible epigastric pain (think the worst heartburn youve ever had x20). it was so bad i couldn't get comfortable or sleep. i ultimately told the nurses and thats when my bloodwork came back with very elevated liver enzymes and they decided they had to deliver that day.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

High blood pressure for about a month and super swollen feet and ankles.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

i had absolutely no symptoms
i had started swelling aroun 25 weeks and the doctor said that was totally normal, and not so bad. the swelling got progressively worse, but he continued to say it was still normal.
there were a few times where i saw black spots, but that was due to dehydration. i think there's a difference between black spots and floaters. i actually posted about it, maybe Liz can find the old post lol
The only sign that finally came up was protein in my urine. I had already been swollen for 12 weeks at that point and i had mild headaches but it was related to the bronchitis. My BP was always low, but slowly started to creep up towards the end. But since I had always had such a low baseline BP, I remained in the normal range. On that last appointment, it had shot up to about 120/80 i think. High for me.
After that, I still felt fine, did the 24 hour urine screen (that was from Monday to Wednesday). I think it got worse over those two days, because on Monday, the doc was pretty relaxed and by the time the 24 hour results came in (I was in the hospital waiting for the results), he and the anesthesiologist ran me into the OR.
I'd keep vigilant about drinking water, keeping your feet up, get up slowly (which could cause spots unrelated to Pre e).

Oh and no stress!!

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

I had a horrific headache and high blood pressure. The headache was the first symptom.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

I really didn't feel like I had any symptoms. No headache, no blurred vision, no pain, minimal swelling - normal to a pregnant person.




I went to my regular check up and felt completely fine. My blood pressure went from 110/60 to 140/90 between the two appointments and there was protein in my urine, only slight swelling (normal for 7 months pregnant). My doctor sent me right to the hospital from the appointment. They kept me for about 3 hours and ran tests before sending me home. Then they had me return to the hospital 3 days later to run the tests again - said I was very borderline and to take it easy. I felt totally fine. Thanksgiving was the following week and I travelled out of state (by car). While away - the swelling got a lot worse. I had a sonogram when I returned and they sent me directly from that appointment back to the hospital (honestly, I felt fine and was annoyed to be going to the hospital again). This time when they ran tests, my protein had skyrocketed and they told me I wouldn't be going home from the hostital until after delivery. I was under the misconception that I would be in the hospital for 8 weeks. They gave me steroid shots and after being in the hospital for 5 days, I had a c-section. (This was 19 days after being diagnosed.) My daughter was 3 lbs, 13 oz at 32 weeks 5 days and spent 19 days in the NICU. She was completely healthy though - could breath on her own and drank from a bottle. She did need the extra time in the NICU to grow and maintain her body temperature. She is completely healthy now. My blood pressure did go up - to about 160/105 and my kidneys had some issues. I had HELPP but no blood transfusion - just magnesium (which was so not fun). There was a point where my feet didn't fit into my uggs. After about 6 weeks my blood pressure completely returned to normal and so did my kidneys. My actual delivery time was 32 minutes long. I was sitting comfortably in a hospital bed - no pain, just hanging out and being monitored when the doctor came for a check and said - I think we are going to have an anesthesiologist come speak to you. I was like, "should I call my husband?" They said yes - so I did. This was at 11:28AM (I checked my phone afterwards). My daughter was born at 12:00PM exactly. Overall, lots of drama, but if I had to do it all over again and I could change only one thing - it would definitely have been the morning sickness. That was really the WORST part for me. My advice is to follow doctor's orders strictly and to keep getting checked.

Message edited 8/20/2013 8:48:36 PM.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

Blood pressure. I felt fine but it was sky high and I was induced that day - I was 40 weeks 2 days. I also had high blood pressure and protein in my urine at 37 weeks, but I had been sick that day and the next day it was normal.

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

Re: If you have or had pre-eclampsia?

Swelling of the feet & ankles starting around 22 weeks, which my doctor claimed was normal. I had no other noticeable symptoms until I got a bad stomachache one day, got sent to L&D "just in case," and they delivered me immediately because my bp was super high, urine was full of protein, & liver enzymes were elevated. I never felt the "typical" things - headaches, blurry vision, etc.

If you're worried between appointments, you can always check your blood pressure on one of those at-home cuffs you buy at the pharmacy, or find a local pharmacy that has a free-standing machine. If I knew then what I know now, that's what I'd do.