Pre-eclampsia (Pregnancy Complications)

Name: kalliemaile

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Product:	Pregnancy Complications
Date:	17/08/04 (2904 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Consistant medical care, Regular updates on your babys development, Alot of scans and alot of chances to see your unborn child

Disadvantages: unpleasent symtoms, stress, and fear of problems with your baby and its safety, life threatening for you and your unborn child

I was very excited when expecting my first baby, however as a young mum I knew I was more at risk of complications than other mums.
My preganancy went fairly well untill I was around 26 weeks pregnant. I suddenly found I was becoming dizzy and feeling sick quite often, I put it down to being pregnant, afterall the pregnancy guides I read did all say that nausia was normal in pregnancy. Soon after I started to get awful pains in my ribs, I put it down to the baby kicking and maybe bruising me. I had an ante-natal check at 28 weeks. As with all appointments I took my urine sample and the midwife was concerned that there was a high level of protein in my urine, she then took my blood pressure, it was very high. "have you been feeling ill at all"? she asked me, I told her that I had been feeling quite ill and been getting pains, she told me she thought I may be developing pre-eclampsia. I then had to go to the hospital so the baby could be monitored. I was taken to the delivery suite for around 4 hours where I was continuoisly monitored and blood tests were taken. Then I was taken to the ante-natal ward where I stayed the night. The results for my blood tests were back the next morning and confirmed that I did not yet have pre-eclampsia, I was told I could go home but would need weekly checks of my blood pressure and urine. I was also told to contact my midwife immidiently if any stmtoms I had worsened.
The following week when my midwife visited she did the checks and then asked me if the baby had been moving alot, I realised that it had not but thought maybe it was just getting a bit big to be able to move around alot inside me. Again my urine had protein in it and my blood pressure was high. This time when they sent me to the hospital I had to stay for 4 days because although my blood tests were still ok my blood pressure did not go down and protein remained in my urine. I had to do a 24 hour urine collection to try and find out what was wrong
and eventually I was allowed home as all they could detect was a urine infection.
I was then monitored 2 daily for the remainder of my pregnancy and was admitted to hospital another 6 times each time I would stay for a number of days, be monitored and eventually be let home, I was having blood tests weekly waiting for one to come back to show pre-eclampsia so that the doctors coyuld act upon it, but they always came back negative. I was advised to limit activity and get lots of rest but the stmtoms continued, I also had weekly checks at the hospital which each time included a scan.. Then at 38 nweeks I went into the hospital and my blood pressure was dangerously high, I was given my blood tests which were rushed through and confirmed I had pre-eclampsia. The doctors induced me that afternoon and my son was born the following morning. The symtoms disappeared immediantly following the birth.
Having pre-eclampsia was a horrible experience and I dont think expectant mums are really given enough warning about the signs or told who is most at risk. With me it took a long time to develope properly but with some people it can appear very quickly and be life threatening so its important to know your facts....

1. Women most likely to get pre-eclampsia are: young mums under 20, older mums over 35, first time mums, mothers who have experienced pre-eclampsia before ( although the risk is only slightly higher than with other mums) , you are also more at risk if you have children with different partners eg. if you have 2 pregancys with a partner but your 3rd baby is with another partner you will be at higher risk of developing pre-ecampsia.

2. The signs of pre-eclmpsia can be the following, pains under the ribs, dizzyness, high blood pressure, protein in the urine, headache, nausia, vomiting, hot sweats, lack of movement from your baby.

3. Pre-eclampsia can cause various problems, of course there are all the above which will cause discomfo
rt but it also puts your life and your babys life to be in danger. The mother or baby may have fits, the mother in extreeme cases can also go into a coma, and in the worst case mother or baby can die.

4. There is no cure for pre-eclampsia other than delivery of the baby, however there are ways doctors can control the condition, this may include daily controled use of asprin, bed rest, an constant monitoring.

5. sometimes it is necessary for a baby to be delivered via ceaseraen section if the pre-eclampsia is causing great risk, also like with myself induction may be needed, an epidural may also be offered as it often lowers blood pressure.

6. Pre-eclampsia is a very serious condition and any concern should be reported to a health care proffesional, dont be afraid that nothing will be found, nothing was found initially with myself but eventually it became so serious that my baby was delivered within hours of diagnosis.


I found having pre-eclampsia a very upsetting experience but medical proffesionals were very good and helped me through it, I am now expecting my second baby, he is due in 2 1/2 weeks and so far there have been no problems so fingers crossed, this time all will go well but I am keeping a good eye out for any signs.

I have rated pre-eclampsia as the worst as it is a horrible experince, I have also not reccomeded it to people as it was so awful although I dont think these ratings really apply to this situation.

My advantages although there is really nothing good about the condition, focus on the few positive things I could dig out.

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