Pre-eclampsia

RE: Pre-eclampsia

Hello Wendy,

I too, suffered with PE when expecting my son. It was at the very latest stage of the pregnancy. It was detected at my last ante-natal appointment. I had to be kept in hospital and was told that I would be induced the following day. As luck would have it, I went into labour naturally at 9pm that evening and gave birth naturally at 10.10pm the following evening. I didn't need a CS, thank goodness (the thought of being cut open freaked me out, and it still does.) I only needed a little help from a set of Anderson's.

I asked my doctor who was looking after me, what had caused the PE in the first place, since I took great care of myself when I was pregnant. He told me that sometimes the placenta breaks down and the nutrients, tissue, etc end up in the mother's urinary system to be flushed away. It is a serious condition, which can result in the deaths of mother and baby. It usually happens during the later stages of pregnancy, when the placenta is coming to the end of its life and purpose.

It made me realise the value of modern medicine, Wendy. If it had been another century, my son and I would have died.

Love,
Patsy.
xxxxxx

RE: Pre-eclampsia

Hiya

There is lots of research going into this (Tommy's the baby charity do a lot) and it is now know as PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension). They are looking for a restricted blood flow link from the placenta.... if you have PE or PIH in a first pregnancy they know they do a dopler scan on subsequent pregnancies in the 20 weeks period approx and this checks the blood flow in and out of the placenta and gives a risk assessment based on this. In my second pregnancy my dopler was bang on normal and I had large amounts of vit E & C and also Aspirin and no PE/PIH developed.....yippee...

T
x

RE: Pre-eclampsia

Hi
Yes Tiger bee is right Pre Eclampsia is caused by a problem with the blood flow from the placenta to the baby.
It can be very dangrous for mother and baby. and can only be helped by delivery and getting the placenta out.
although occaisionally women develop pre eclampsia and eclampsia after delivery.
Just because you had it last pregnancy though does not mean you will automaticlly develop it again next time , you are obviously at a greater risk so will be kept a good eye on. also just because you have had a cesarean section first time means that you cannot have a norrmal delivery next time around.
Glynis

RE: Pre-eclampsia

Just thought I'd my story to this.....I got PE too it was dignosed at 33 1/2 weeks into the pregnancy. I'd got to the hospital at midday and by 3pm I'd had my baby girl by emergency c section. Luckily she was fine 4lb 8 oz and didnt need any special care, but for two weeks after I was completly ill, my blood pressure would go down at all.

So, when I fell pregnant again, my Gp put me on a low dose of asprin and kept an eye on me more so that usual. this pregnancy went very well, not only did i go full term but I went two weeks over due, I was booked in to be induced by labour happened naturally.....he was born a healthy 8lb. I think as a result of the asprin, it had a direct result on me not gettining PE again.

Just a note, my mum suffered from PE when she was having me........it's something to bear in mind for my daughter too, when her time comes for having children.

RE: Pre-eclampsia

Well how can i resist a birth story.......

I got it too with my first was hospitalised, monitored, carried my jug of urine round but all was well. Although my baby i was told was small only 6 pounds.

Second child i developed it again, was sent to hospital, had my jug of urine, had more scans and told my baby was not devloping properly, his little tummy was sunken instead of round and tubby, was told my placenta was breaking down???eventually induced three weeks early and again was told my baby was small only 5 pounds this time.

Third child, was told i would have to be monitored every two weeks, had extra scans and again was told my baby was small. Developed mildly high blood pressure but no probs at all.
Had my dopler and still told my baby was small.

All ended well with an 8 pound baby!!!!!

So much for small!!!

Never worked out why i got it twice and then nothing on the third time round??

My sister also suffered with pe with her daughter.

Beth x

RE: Pre-eclampsia

Hi again

Thanks for your replies on this one.

It's a subject that comes up every so often since I had my son almost 13 years ago and quite a few people I know have suffered from it (one with both her pregnancies). My son was 4lb 15oz at birth and was in SCBU for 48 hours as he was having difficulty maintaining his body temp. He was on anti-biotics because I'd poisoned him (that's how it was explained to me - how bad did I feel??). It was the Paediatrician that made an appt for me to see the consultant to discuss my concerns. He was more protective of the 'management of my case' than satisfying my need to know the physical reasons!

After I'd posted this thread, I looked it up on Google (can't remember which site I read now). It was extremely informative and gave me the answers; everything you have said:). However, one thing I remember the consultant saying, which I didn't read on that site (could have been there but I probably missed it), was this:

I told him that my Mother had 'toxemia' when she had me (1960 and she was VERY ill). I was her second child. Her first pregancy, 16 years earlier, with her first husband, had been fine - home birth etc etc. He said that maybe if she'd had the second child (me) with the same man, she wouldn't have developed it. ?????????????

It wasn't the best of consultations and felt as though I'd wasted his time. I think his parting shot was ' ... look forward to seeing you when you're pregnant again ...'. My blood pressure took simply ages to come down and it was with the help of my homeopath that it settled.

To top all this off, I got chicken pox when my son was 10 weeks old and then he caught it off me. I still kept on feeding him though.

Anyway, we decided against having anymore babies - Mum had me when she was 41 and I don't think she found it easy - she assured me that I'd find it easier because she didn't have all the gadgets (she means automatic w/m and microwaves - bless her).

Thank you once again for your replies. It's prompted me to drag something up that's bugged me for ages on and off and I've now had my simple mind satisfied.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY FOR TOMORROW TO YOU ALL!!

Love and hugs
Wendy 🙂

PS When I read the thread on Teenagers, I'm flippin glad I've kept it to one - LOLOL. Good job you are braver than me!