Anyone have preeclampsia early?

I'd listen to Melissa. And stop "preparing for bed rest." I'd take it easy now. Easier said than done with little kids, but we do what we have to.

I was on bedrest from 21-36 weeks with DS (for preterm labor). It was a long 4 months, but he was born healthy and was only in the NICU overnight until his blood sugars stabilized.

I had a friend with it about 15 years ago. She was pretty much on bedrest until she delivered early. Her blood pressure would go up as soon as she stood up. But she had a healthy little boy. Just early, but I don't remember how early. But I know he wasn't in the hospital for long. I'm not sure that helps, but it's always good to hear good outcome stories!

I was 30 weeks. Put on strict bedrest, and induced at 35 weeks on the dot. Unfortunately, even with medication my blood pressure was high enough it restricted blood flow in the umbilical cord and he was IUGR from 32 weeks on. Thanks to insulin dependent GD, he was still 5lbs 13oz and 18" though. Spent a week in the NICU.

It's been almost 10 years for me, but my youngest was delivered at 33 weeks due to preeclampsia. I had a similar story to yours. First baby born on time, second induced at 37 weeks because my blood pressure was climbing fast. With my third pregnancy, my blood pressure started to rise around 27 weeks. My dr didn't put me on bed rest at that point, but told me to "take it easy". I honestly wish I would have put myself on bedrest. At 31 weeks I was hospitalized, but we lived over an hour from the hospital or I think they wouldn't have made me stay. They gave me steroid shots at that point. My blood pressure continued to climb, and they made he choice to deliver at 33 weeks. Dd was in the NICU for exactly one month. She was never a sick baby, just a small one that needed to learn to eat and breathe at the same time. She is now a happy, healthy 9 year old.

If I had to do it again, I would seriously pull back my activities when my blood pressure first started to rise. I wonder if I could have held off another week or two if I had stopped trying to hurry and get everything done, and spent more time resting. I don't know if it really would have made a difference or not, but my doctors at the hospital were somewhat surprised that my home dr hadn't put me on bedrest.

Hang in there! It was a long couple of months, but it all turned out fine in the end. I have several friends that had preeclampsia, and I don't know of any that had a negative outcome. Good luck and keep us posted!

I delivered my second baby at 33 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia. This was 18 years ago. I was put on bed rest the week before, but my blood pressure just kept going up. They were more worried about my health at the time. My son weighed 6 pounds at birth and only spent a short time in the NICU. I was in the hospital for 4 days. They had no idea why I had it so severely. I was also pre-eclampsic with my oldest son, but gave birth at 38 weeks. Several years later I was diagnosed with Lupus. That was probably the cause of the problems I had.

Take an easy, and try not worry.

With my first, it started at 34 weeks and they took her after a couple of days in hospital. With my second, it started at 24 weeks and I was in hospital on bed rest for a month. Always had to lie on right side- it was terrible. One night I was in pain- don't even remember what was hurting- 30 years ago- checked blood and liver enzymes were elevated. I had an emergency C-section that night. She was a 28 weeker and weighed 3 lb 15 1/2 oz- they wouldn't put 4 lbs on her birth certificate! She stayed in NICU for awhile- she's a healthy young lady today.

You and baby will be fine- try not to worry!

I had eclampsia w seizures w my first delivery at 35 weeks. He was delivered in the ER.

For the second child, seven years later, we were watching more carefully and yes, I was hospitalized at 30 weeks when the seizures started again. Spent 6 weeks baking him in the hospital. On magnesium hell. He was delivered at 36 weeks.

I've never had seizures when not pregnant, before or after. I was fortunate that with the second child we lived 15 minutes from a wonderful maternal fetal specialist and a reputable research hospital. First son weighed four pounds at birth and has life-long issues. Second weighed five pounds and has no residual issues.



Hugs.

I had it with both pregnancies:  first time diagnosed at 30 weeks, delivered at 33 weeks; second time was on bed rest due to pre-term labor, went into labor again at 35 weeks where the pre-eclampsia was diagnosed when I went to L&D, but the labor activity went away so I was induced the next day.  My 33 week'r is now 21.5.  She spent 15 days in the NICU, mostly because of protocols around pre 34 weeks not getting a bottle/breast, but IV/nasogastro nutrition.  She never had any medical issues.  35 week (son) never spent time in NICU but I was kept in the hospital 2 extra days because my bp wouldn't go down.  He's 17 now.  While he has high functioning autism (Aspergers), I am not sure you could say his early delivery is related.  My husband shows some signs of the condition, I believe.

Just know that the technology today is so great that even a 28-30 week baby has really high chances of doing very well despite the early delivery.

{{{{ hugs }}}

Let us know how things are going as you can.

Edited:  to remove my old thinking based on Melissa's newer info/input

Thanks, Melissa. It has been really interesting to read this thread and learn how pre-eclampsia treatment has been changed over the years. It feels like just yesterday that I was in the hospital with littlest dd, but the kid is almost 10, so it makes sense that things have changed!

I started showing signs around 28 weeks and was monitored for a couple of weeks before I was admitted to the hospital at 30 weeks. Like you, I just kept thinking, it's way too early, she's not ready. I was released the next day to bedrest at home.

It was mid-December and I was nesting and hadn't finished my Christmas shopping or decorating and I also had an 8-year-old special needs child. I am not going to lie, some days when my husband (at the time) left for work I would get up and clean up a mess that I couldn't stand to look at all day. He and my mom caught onto that pretty quick so she came up to babysit me. Other than doctor appointments I didn't leave the house, other than the one time I was pretty sure I was losing my mind and my dr. told me I could get out long enough to go to get a haircut.

I ended up having an emergency c-section on January 20th at just under 35 weeks. DD was 4 lbs 8 oz and overall pretty healthy. She spent 7 days in the NICU. She is 10 now and you would never guess she was a preemie.

I will be thinking about you, I know this is a scary, uncertain time. Hopefully your older children are of an age where they can be a little self-sufficient and maybe even fetch things for you if you are put on bedrest for the duration.

Just a quick question: were others of you told not to get pg again because of pre-eclampsia? My now 13 year old was taken at 37 weeks because I developed pre-eclampsia and I was told "don't get pg again." Is that really outdated thinking? (she was my fourth - trust me, we weren't having any more!)

Your niece was given a steroid injection (or two) before being induced. 6 weeks earlier is 34 weeks. A 34 weeker typically would not need surfactant. Most 34 weekers do not need vents, but do need to learn to eat, maintain temps and grow! It's always amazing to see such tiny babies doing so well!