When did they diagnose you with preclampsia?
Posted by admin on Jan 5, 2009
I’m 30 weeks. I’ve only gained 15 pounds. My blood pressure (after getting up and off and back up on the doctors table) was 150/88. 2 minutes later it was 130/83. However, the doctor didn’t care about the second time they took it and started talking like I already had preclampsia and took blood to run a bunch of tests. I am not retaining water as far as I know. The amniotic fluid is "Perfect" she said….so what the heck? There have been a few times earlier on that my blood pressure was like 142/90….but I’ve always had high blood pressure. With meds and stuff now it’s been okay. So why is she talking like I’ll be on bed rest not to far from now? What were your symptoms when you were diagnosed?
I was diagnosed with pre-elampsia at the end of my 5th month, of my first pregnancy. I had hypernemesis in the beginning of the pregnancy, and had lost close to 20lbs. I only gained a pound or two over the next month or so. Then at my appointment close to the six month mark, I gained 18 lbs in 2 weeks. I was swollen, really swollen. I was having headaches, but I have always had migraines and did not realize this was a symptom. They found protein in my urine and increased liver levels in my blood work. I was miserable and gaining weight very fast, even with bedrest. It sounds to me like your doctor is being cautious, so just do as he recommends until the test results come in and they can determine if you have toxemia. But, with my other pregnancies I had high blood pressure and swelling and a few other complications, but it was not considered toxemia and I was still put on bedrest. Just wait for the test to come back in before you get worked up about the possibility of bedrest. It may be that you are just fine and you can return to normal. But, if you have it, take your doctors advice and follow the bedrest. It is what is best for the baby. When I was first diagnosed, they were discussing the possibility of inducing labor as early as almost 7 months. But, with bedrest and constant monitoring, we were able to hold out until term. Good Luck!
With both times I had pre-eclampsia I retained lots of water.
High blood pressure can be dangerous, with or without water retention.
I had no idea how dangerous until my 4th was born. My bp was high off and on throughout my pregnancy. Labor started with my water breaking and we went right to the hospital. I was having labor difficulties (he wouldn’t drop) and sitting on the OR table to have a c-section when the placenta *completely* separated (it is call an abruption). They got him out with 2 minutes and we are both fine now, but had we not been on the table when it happened we would have lost him. Had we not been in the hospital, I would have likely died.
Sorry, don’t mean to give you a horror story, just want you to know it is serious to have high bp when pregnant. Please take care of yourself and do whatever the doctor tells you.
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Mom of 4 great kids.
I was diagnosed with pre-elampsia at the end of my 5th month, of my first pregnancy. I had hypernemesis in the beginning of the pregnancy, and had lost close to 20lbs. I only gained a pound or two over the next month or so. Then at my appointment close to the six month mark, I gained 18 lbs in 2 weeks. I was swollen, really swollen. I was having headaches, but I have always had migraines and did not realize this was a symptom. They found protein in my urine and increased liver levels in my blood work. I was miserable and gaining weight very fast, even with bedrest. It sounds to me like your doctor is being cautious, so just do as he recommends until the test results come in and they can determine if you have toxemia. But, with my other pregnancies I had high blood pressure and swelling and a few other complications, but it was not considered toxemia and I was still put on bedrest. Just wait for the test to come back in before you get worked up about the possibility of bedrest. It may be that you are just fine and you can return to normal. But, if you have it, take your doctors advice and follow the bedrest. It is what is best for the baby. When I was first diagnosed, they were discussing the possibility of inducing labor as early as almost 7 months. But, with bedrest and constant monitoring, we were able to hold out until term. Good Luck!
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I was diagnosed at about 6 1/2 months. Blood pressure was a little high, 140/7? range, regularly. I was already being monitored closely w/gestational diabetes, so was in 2-3 times a week by 7 months. My blood pressure never did get too high, and my daughter was fine on the regular scans, luckily, so I wasn’t put on bed rest. I went in for my regular appt. on the day I was 37 weeks, and my blood pressure was a little more elevated than usual. Between that and the diabetes, they decided to do the C-section that night to prevent any problems. I never did get the swollen/water retention thing.
So far this time (about 18 weeks) my bp is good. My Dr. told me just last week that they worry when the systolic (higher) is regularly over 150, or any time the diastolic (lower) is over 80. So it might be the 88 to 83 and previous 90 that has them concernted. Good luck to you both.
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High Blood pressure, my left arm hurt, shortness of breath. It was horrible for me. My daughter was taken 2 and1/2 months early, because mine got so bad the Dr was scared for both of our lives. I lost my second child because of it, I am not trying to scare you but if the Dr says bed rest then do it. My heart and prayers are with you.
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I was diagnosed with preeclaspia in my first pregnancy when I was about 32 weeks pregnant. My blood pressure was up and I had a significant jump in weight (like 8 lbs. in 2 weeks) due to water retention. My urine also showed spilled protein. My doctor had me do a 24 hour urine collection to determine how much protein was spilling through (a tedious and gross process by the way). At about 36 weeks my doctor had me go to the hospital for a stress test to make sure the baby was doing okay… I wore those belts around my belly and laid in a hospital bed for an hour while they monitored the baby’s heartrate and movements. I ended up going on bed rest from about 36 weeks until the end of pregnancy, and was fortunate because the pregnancy went full-term and I had no further complications. My doctor also asked me to purchase one of those blood pressure monitors and wanted me checking my blood pressure every 2 hours.
My best advise is to follow your doctor’s recommendations where preeclaspia is concerned. I was annoyed at the time with all the precautionary measures, and the bedrest sucked, but in hindsight, I’m glad my doctor was as stringent as she was. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and preeclampsia is a serious problem, which can escalate into horrific outcomes with little to no warning.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!!
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