OK, any doctors or nurses out there?  I need some information here.

My daughter Chris is 37 weeks pregnant, due date of July 27th.  She has developed high blood pressure and has protein in her urine, along with a lot of swelling (edema) in her extremeties - mainly her legs and feet.

She went to the doctor last Thursday for her regular check-up, and the doctor sent her home for bed rest until today.  Today, she still has high BP and protein in the urine.  Her blood tests show that she does not have preeclampsia, but the doctor is saying that she has all the signs that she "could" get it.  They put her back on bed rest until this Thursday, when they will do another ultrasound to see how big Maegan (my grandbaby) is, more blood and urine tests.  If the baby is ready, they may induce labor in hopes that she doesn't get preeclampsia.

Question - If she does get it - what health issues does it do to Chris, and what harm can it do to Maegan?  I've been researching it on the web, but everything is written in terms way above my head.  Can anyone tell me in "layman's language"?

Thanks

Sandy

Hi Sandy
I had pre eclampsia with all three kids and eclampsia with Jasper. Pre E is all that you listed and just requires alot of monitoring as the danger is of it turning to eclampsia which can be fatal. Basically, its like becoming allergic to the baby and the only "cure" is delivery. I had to have an emergency section with Jasper as it did turn to eclampsia but up until that point it was just daily monitoring and bed rest for me too. I was in hospital with it with all of them but was allowed time at home as well, if it hasn't actually turned into pre E yet then being home is a good thing. Rest, legs UP and some good books or DVD's for mommy!!

It is scary but it sounds like they have it well planned and everyone knows what's happening so thats good. I had three very healthy babies with perfect apgars and I was as right as rain too so all will be well.

love to you all

Helen xxx

Helen, you are a wonderful woman!  I started reading up on preeclampsia and when the words "possibly fatal" showed up, I couldn't read any more.    It scared me s**tless.  I've been in tears for the last hour.  I didn't know what to do.  Should I jump in the car and drive to be with my daughter?  Should I trust her doctors?  Should I trust her and what she is telling me?  

God!  She's 30 years old but she's still my baby.  I'm still crying, but it's from the relief that you gave me with your response.

I can't thank you enough.

I love you, and will forever!

Sandy

Sandy I'm here in the US as you know, if you want to talk I'll pm you the # here or you can pm me yours and I'll call you

I love you
Helen xxx

Oh and just one more thing - I had pre E from 28 weeks with Jasper - he was born 11 days late and it was then, 11 days AFTER the little turd was due that it turned to eclampsia - so don't worry!

Hi  Sandy

I do not want to scare you but my daughter got eclampsia with her first baby, she was 18 at the time.  She was sufferring with swelling but in her face as well, she didn;t look well at all, I looked up pr eeclampsia and did a check list with her for all the sysmptoms, turns out she was sufferring with them all but did't want to cause a fuss , Eye sight going. dissyness, bad headaches etc as well as the swellings .Next morning I went with her to her check up , where I told the nurses and doctors all her symptoms, they checked her over decieded she had pre eclampsia.

She was to be kept in for the week-end but the baby was develived preety quickly that night . She then went on to develop full blown eclampsia and was in intensive care for 5 days.  It was a very scary time , but also it is very rare for woman with preeclampsia to develop it.

Your daughter is being monitered and doing just as she should, bed rest .  It seems more and more women get this, and mostly they are all ok the baby just has to come a little early thats all.

Just keep a close eye on her and if anything changes get her checked straight away.  I am sure she will be fine, but I have a fear of this illness now like you would not belive.

My daughter did not get it for her second baby thank god

Thanks Tanya,

I'm just a little bit scared as a Mom with her 30 year old baby going thru this.  The information you shared was very informative and I'll keep tabs on my daughter's condition.

Thanks again for helping me.  I'm becoming a very nervous Gramma

Sandy

Sandy, I can't tell you much about the Pre E, and Helen and Tanya did a much better job of it than anything I could do.

I am curious about the protein in her urine though;  do you know if they said it was ketones?  When I was pregnant with Ayden, my last, my blood pressure elevated several times, and more that 20 points above my normal (which I was told was the number that they watch for - 20 points higher than normal and above is where they start looking at the Pre E issues) but each time my blood pressure would resolve itself when I followed bed rest - and the swelling would go down as well, not completely, but enough to make everyone happy.  

What didn't make them happy was the ketones in the urine.  At that point I was 3 weeks away from due date, and because I had historically had big babies (8lbs 6, and 9lbs 8 1/2) and Ayden was measuring to be a fair size himself, the urine had them concerned.  Turns out I didn't have Pre E after all, but had started gestational diabetes - albeit at a very late stage.  Because it was so late, they chose not to do anything and to just monitor me, and had me watch what I ate a little more carefully.

All went well, and Ayden came along just fine - just like his sister, impatient to get out and was start to finish 2 hours, weighing in at 8lb 16.

So if the protein is actually ketones, then perhaps it's possible she is starting late stage gestational diabetes?  I am no expert, and Helen has given you better info than anything I could, but if by chance it's ketones in the urine, then possibly it's the gestational diabetes and she is doing exactly what she needs to do, and the only thing really that can be done, medically, at this stage.

I can't imagine the anguish over potential complications with your own baby having a baby, but hang in there, all will be well, I can feel it - and to be safe, I'll be sure to say a few extra words for Chris and Maegan.

Hang in there, and keep us posted.

Cat

Sandy as Mums we are allowed to worry about our babies no matter how old they were.  You should have seen the fussing I did when my daughter was pregnant with her second baby, she had so many scans and tests and was monitered so well she nearly lived at the hospital.

I know everything will turn out fine and soon you will be a proud grandmother, I am  looking forward to the photos that will appear soon.

Just keep thinking postitive thoughts and remember your allowed to be a fuss pot , its your job.

Postives vibes being sent to you all

:)

Bed rest seems to still be the best thing for preeclampsia. I had it with Mike. 3 1/2 months of bed rest, the last month in the hospital. Then again, I was barely 18 - they said that was why I had it. Mike turned out to be a big baby - 8 pounds, 8 ounces - and like Helen, was born by emergency c-section (not because of the preeclampsia tho - he was just to f'ing big to fit out!) There were no lingering consequences for me or Mike, and didn't have it with Teresa.

It's good that they're monitoring her and the baby.

Magnesium.  If the doctor has not put her on a magnesium supplement, I would ask why.  There are many possible causes for eclampsia, but magnesium deficiency is a common one, and treating this is one option that is generally safe and often effective. Giving one big intravenous dose to treat eclampsia has risks, but making sure someone has 100% of the RDA divided over the day is pretty safe. Check it with the doctor.

Fish oil may also be of benefit for prevention - not sure about treatment once it develops.

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Sandy....
Any updates on your daughter....sure have you all on my mind.

Love ya,
Jackie

Update!

OK, here's where we stand as of today.  After being on bed rest since my post on the 7th, Chris went in to the doc again today for more blood tests and an ultrasound to see how big Maegan is.

Results are pretty much unchanged.  Her BP is still high, she still has protein in her urine, and is considered borderline Pre-E.  The ultrasound showed Maegan weighing in at about 6' 12 oz, which, to me, seems like a good, safe size for delivery.  However, they put Chris back on strict bed rest at home until Monday.

Cat - no, I don't recall Chris saying anything about ketones, so I can't really answer that one.  What are ketones?  Never mind, I'll google.

Anyway, Tarey and I have been packed for days.  We've called the kennel to board the dog, called them to cancel, called them back to board, now calling to cancel again.  They must just love us!

Also, have called the hotel to book the room, cancel the room, re-book the room, and now canceling again.  They just love me too!

I've told my employers I'm gone, I'm back, I'm gone, now I'm not gone.

Actually, as much as Chris really wants to get this delivery on it's way, she's taking this delay better than I am.  

I'm too old for this s**t!  :)

Sandy

Quote:

The ultrasound showed Maegan weighing in at about 6' 12 oz

That's how much I weighed when I was born. Of course, my folks were married 9 months and two weeks before that, so who knows when I was really conceived.

Sandy,

thank you for the update. :)
I hope it all goes well in the end and you all can relax.

Sanna

wrote on Jul 10^th, 2008 at 4:03pm:

Quote: The ultrasound showed Maegan weighing in at about 6' 12 oz That's how much I weighed when I was born. Of course, my folks were married 9 months and two weeks before that, so who knows when I was really conceived.

Brew, sweets, does it matter?  Your parents did a great job whenever they conceived you!

Chris will have been married about 10 months when Maegan is born, if Maegan is born on her due date of July 27.  If Maegan comes early, like any day now, we're looking at about 9 months and about three weeks.

Love ya

Sandy

I'm just saying...nobody really knows how long I was in the oven except my mom. 6lbs 12oz sounds pretty good to me.

My folks always told me that I was conceived on April Fool's Day, and that explained a lot. ;D

I like July 27th for a birthdate.  I am partial to it tho.  It is my husbands birthday.  lol.  Serioiusly, I am glad to hear that she is still holding her own and safe.  Sounds like she has a great dr. on top of things.  Ultrasounds I dont trust to determine babies weight.  When my twins were born they keept telling me (I had ultrasound done every week from 4th month on to full term) that they both weighed only 2 1/2 pounds each and that I needed to wait to deliver them longer.  When I had them they were 5 1/2 pounds each. I just knew they were bigger than what they were saying.  

wrote on Jul 10^th, 2008 at 4:55pm:

I'm just saying...nobody really knows how long I was in the oven except my mom. 6lbs 12oz sounds pretty good to me. My folks always told me that I was conceived on April Fool's Day, and that explained a lot. ;D

Yes, it certainly does, Brew!   ;D

Karla!  5-1/2 lbs each?  You were carrying around 11 lbs of baby?  You have my utmost admiration.  You, dear, are a jewel to have gone through that.  Congratulations!  I also think Maegan is bigger than 6-1/2 lbs.  Her daddy, who is short and skinny as a rail, weighed in at a little over 9 lbs at his birth.  Chris weighed 6 lbs 5 oz at hers.  Hmmm?

Sandy