35 weeks and things are starting to go very wrong

[joanna1990marie]

Just been for my routine check up with mw. My little bundle has spun into a breech position and my bp was 157/97!!! They're visiting me at home in 2 days for another bp check, but I'm very scared! Has anyone else has preeclampsia and what were your experiences with it?

[Rico08]

Hope you're feeling ok.

I had per-eclampsia with my Ds but so far (touch wood, fingers crossed etc) everything has been ok this time.

I had high blood pressure towards the end of pregnancy with Ds, and thinking back I would have been about 35 weeks too. I used to get quite stressed about the BP tests which did not help, I hate having it done, ut all that did was mean I had to have it tested again.

I was admitted to hospital for one night from the day care unit at hospital, and they prescribed labetalol (spelling?) to control the blood pressure.
I was then admitted again 2 1/2 weeks before my due date and ended up being induced. I has Ds at 38 weeks.

It does not mean to say this will happen to you, but at least it has been spotted and you can have regular checks to make sure all is ok. I think it's good that they are visiting you at home I wish they had done this with me so I was more relaxed.

Try and take it easy and let's us know how you're getting on.

[joanna1990marie]

Im absolutely terrified, will post again on Friday after they've bee.

[LadyMedea]

Try not to panic. It's good that its been picked up and now they can monitor it. You could get a home monitor which means you'd be able to keep and eye on and it maybe get less stressed about it.

The max recommended blood pressure according to the NHS clinical knowledge summaries is 150/100 for pregnant women, so you aren't all that bad yet. For non pregnant peeps they like to keep it under 90.

I've got pre existing hypertension so I'm always checking mine!

[Zara1984]

My BP went up to similar levels at 38 weeks. I was in hospital a few nights, and prescribed labetelol. Was induced at 40+1. I was on medication till DS was 8 weeks old.

Try not to worry too much, it's very very common, esp in first pregnancies. They are keeping an eye on your baby. As one of the specialists said to me (one morning in hospital when I was bawling my eyes out - I had a big bleed too), if anything was very seriously wrong you would be in theatre ASAP. I was totally freaking out as this all started on my first day on mat leave....!

They may do regular ultrasounds to check on baby and his/her weight gain. If they think they might need to induce you early or do a section early they may give you steroid injections to mature baby's lungs. Not saying this to scare you - just telling you. It's all very normal. My neighbour (pregnant same time as me and our due dates were 2 weeks apart, also had high BP, was also induced but at 37 weeks b/c baby was not gaining weight) had these injections. Both her and my DSes were 100% fine, they are happy and healthy in every way!!

I know it's scary but everything will be fine, honest xxx

[sydlexic]

I had preeclampsia, I was taken into hospital for the last six weeks of my pregnancy, everything was fine.

[csmm]

In a similar boat to you. Blood pressure started to go up a couple of weeks ago (am 37wks now). MW has been coming out every couple of days to check it. Had to go to day assessment unit today as had jumped up again. All blood tests are fine though so they're just going to keep monitoring me. Seems like it might be just stress related - this is my 2nd dc, had no problems with the first but currently trying to sell a house which has me totally strung out. Like Rico I get stressed by the tests, which probably doesn't help my BP!
As long as they're monitoring you it'll all be fine, and if you have headaches/disturbed vision/stomach pain or nausea call your mw.

[ReadytoOrderSir]

If you had pre-eclampsia, I think that they would have admitted you... So take heart! You need to have high BP and protein in your urine and signs of oedema (swelling), all at the same time.

You will be closely monitored and get the right care. I was diagnosed at 28 weeks with DD and 26 weeks with DS - both are fine! :-)

[alwayslateforwork]

Mine was higher with dd1, and I had to go into the hospital and sit on the monitor for them to pull a trace for an hour a day by the last few weeks. It was all fine. She's fine.

Honestly, try not to worry - a lot of women have high blood pressure towards the end of their pg - it doesn't necessarily mean pre-eclampsia or any additional intervention, but they will monitor you. And worrying will do you no favours - just make your BP higher, and then the white coat syndrome will kick in.

Try and chillax. Feet up, take it easy x

[alwayslateforwork]

[syl1985]

I'm not having high blood pressure, but the opposite. I brought a sphygmomanometer for I think it was 10 pound at the local chemist.

It's nice to be able to check your blood pressure yourself when you don't feel well or just check it on a regular basis.
Your midwife will measure it once again in two days time. But your blood pressure will vary throughout the day.

For example:
Last week an ambulance had to take me to the hospital. I absolutely HATE needles.
They kept an eye on my blood pressure the whole time. It was a bit low. Then I saw the needle...
My blood pressure went right up! and back down after they had done the blood test.

Things are not all going that well for me in this pregnancy. All they were able to find was that I've a low blood pressure.
I'm going to start a dairy tomorrow.

I'll write down what I do and how I feel. I'll also check my blood pressure on a regular basis.
This will give me a lot more information then just a one time check and discovering that it's low.

Maybe starting a dairy is something that might help you too. Then you can see if your blood pressure is always high or only during certain moments of the day.

I hope that things well go well for you and your baby!

Take care,

Sylvia

[crazyhead]

My big sympathies. I think that the most important thing to say is that at 35 weeks, if the worst came to the worst (which it probably won't) and things weren't looking better in a couple of weeks, they could induce you and your baby will be term and it'll be fine. What you really don't want is to develop preeclampsia at 23 weeks. Take care, I had a lot of worries last preg and it was horrible xx

[Zara1984]

How are things going OP?

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

At 35 weeks honestly you and baby will be fine, if they were that concerned they'd have kept you in. With DS my blood pressure steadily rose as did protein in my urine from around 32 weeks, I had extra checks to keep an eye on things. I was hospitalised at 35+2 after my BP shot up to 200/110! I was due to be induced at 36 weeks, DS had other ideas and arrived at 35+5, completely fine, hadnt had steroids and was home after 3 days.

[joanna1990marie]

Well I am currently in hospital being checked for a pulmonary embolism! Im absolutely shittin myself. No preeclampsia though

[alwayslateforwork]

Well, i guess the extra check ups flagged something potentially dangerous that was unrelated! Fingers crossed they are being overcautious - a lot of people find they get breathless and uncomfortable chest late on pg, so hopefully the alarm is for nothing x sending peace and relaxing vibes. Try not to worry.

[joanna1990marie]

It's because I get alot of palpitations which I mentioned when they were doin blood tests, they did an ecg which brought up some abnormal changes which are suggestive of PE, they are scanning my lungs on Monday and also doin an ultrasound of my heart yo make sure it is structurally sound.

[alwayslateforwork]

Palpitations are more common during pg - can't remember why? I have a heart murmur which they monitored (I had issues with valves when a tiny)

Good they are checking you out - when did the palpitations start? They can be triggered by stress too?

Fingers crossed for no PE - hope you are having a calmer day x

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

I think it's just to do with your heart having to work harder in pregnancy due to all of the extra blood. I developed a heart murmur during a previous pregnancy which I know I didn't have before (had an ECG a year earlier), it had gone by my 6 week check.

Hope you're ok OP and not worrying too much.

[joanna1990marie]

I had palpitations before I was pregnant, or what some may call ectopic heartbeats, but I get atleast 1 every 10 mins now, and chest pains but im not sure how related to anxiety that is?

[alwayslateforwork]

It's so tied up, I don't think it's possible for any of us to guess, tbh. I know I get that sort of thing on a hormonal cycle, too. And I know when I start fretting about it, it gets worse.

Are you still is hospital,mor are they doing it all as an outpatient?

[joanna1990marie]

Just got out of hospital yesterday evening, no blood clot thank fuck god. Goin back on Friday for an echocardiogram and then get results the following Tuesday.

[HolyFocaccia]

I have had pre eclampsia twice, second time round I had HELLP syndrome as well.

I would be very reassured that they are keeping a close eye on you. My DD2 was born at 35 weeks and was fine just needed help with feeding.

Try not to worry.

[alwayslateforwork]

That's good. Fingers crossed for uneventful rest of pg. I have to say that going in and out of hosp for monitoring for weeks was a pita for me, and I did end up with an ELCS, but everything was fine.

Good luck with echo.

[joanna1990marie]

Thanks, quite worried about it, im one of the idiots that googles symptoms and stuff and now im convinced I have cardiomyopathy or a scary arrhythmia!