| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
smariani
Starting Member
US
8 Posts |
 Posted - 10/27/2009 : 11:15:40 PM
|
I am currently 33+3 weeks pregnant with my first child. Two weeks ago my blood pressure was 140/100 at my regular OB appointment. It wasn't lower after 30 minutes so my doctor sent me to the hospital. I was monitored for a few hours. All of my labs were normal, my blood pressure dropped a lot while I was resting, baby looked great, and I was sent home with a 24 hour urine collection, which came back with 214mg protein.
Yesterday I saw my OB again. My blood pressure was 140/100 but dropped to 120/86 after 15 minutes or so. Pre-pregnancy normal for me was about 130/90, borderline hypertension, so this wasn't so bad. There was no protein. My doctor sent me home with another 24 hour urine collection and I going to see her every week now and go to L&D every week for a biophysical profile. She says I currently have PIH which could become PE.
First, I was wondering if anything was really wrong. I haven't had two blood pressure readings six hours apart that were high. I have some protein but it is still below 300, and nothing else is really wrong. I know that it could become much worse very quickly, but right now I don't really seem to be that sick. I actually feel the best I have for my entire pregnancy. I am throwing up almost every day, but I have hyperemesis and I have thrown up pretty much every day since I found out I was pregnant, so that doesn't worry me, and my nausea is actually much less.
Second, I was really committed to have a natural delivery - no drugs, no induction, definitely no cesarean, and having read up on PE for the last few hours, I'm thinking that my chances of that happening are pretty low at this point. I'm willing to change everything else, but I really don't want a cesarean because I am TERRIFIED of having surgery. Everything else I could deal with, but I'm scared of having to be induced because it has a much higher risk of cesarean. I definitely don't want an epidural for the same reason. However, I'm aware that an induction, an epidural and a cesarean may become necessary for the baby's or my health. I was wondering if anyone could give me some reassurance, because I have kind of been panicking all day. My husband hasn't been a lot of help because I don't really think he understands the risks or my fears about having all these things done. Is there any chance that I'll go into spontaneous labor at some point assuming my PIH/PE doesn't progress? |
Edited by - smariani on 10/27/2009 11:37:05 PM |
|
|
tree
Junior Member
US
316 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 12:05:37 AM
|
It sounds like they are taking good care of you and monitoring you closely. That should be very comforting. Good luck staying healthy enough to avoid a pre-E diagnosis. We are all pulling for you.
I was really committed to a natural delivery as well. I am sure that there are women on the forum who have managed to have them. It didn't work out that way for me, and I am okay with it now. The c-section ended up being much easier to deal with than the rest of the adventure with Pre-E. Most experts seem to agree that a c-section is not the first or preferred path to delivery after a pre-E (or even HELLP) diagnosis. That should work in your favor.
Try to remember that a healthy baby and a healthy Mom is all that matters in the end. Sometimes, we don't get to chose how we get to that end. Talk to your doctor to see how they will handle the situation if it comes up. You are in a much better position to have a discussion about it now than you will be after a diagnosis, when you would be feeling like complete hell and scared out of your mind. I didn't do this, and it is the only major regret I have about my delivery. I don't think it would have changed anything that happened, but I would have felt like I tried. |
Teresa
DD Mary Beth born 4/19/09 at 35 weeks due to HELLP. |
 |
|
|
MNmom
After Your Baby is Born Moderator
US
1405 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 07:48:47 AM
|
| Welcome to the forums. To answer your first question, yes, it is still possible to have a natural birth and we have posters who have had that experience. That said, I am very happy to see you are being monitored so well. Those pressures are high and you are spilling more than a "normal" amount of protein. You should be monitored. And, I agree. Have a discussion with your dr now about your birth plan, and keep an open mind. Trust me, I was equally terrified about the C-sec prospect. But, when the time came, I was so focused on keeping my baby healthy and safe, and meeting her, that it wasn't too scary at all. Healthy baby, healthy mom. |
Lori (41)
Jessica 09/1986
Arianna 05/1989
AJ 10/2003 at 37 weeks PE
Jaden 05/2006 35 weeks PE
|
|
|
|
alexa5
Advanced Member
US
510 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 08:11:13 AM
|
| Try not to be overly scared of induction....I had a slow and successful induction at 33 weeks, and delivered vaginally. They used laminaria first, then pitocin. That said it definitely wasn't "natural" because as one with severe pre-e I was on mag, had a catheter, definitely chose to have help with the pain since it was a fairly long induction and labor experience. Some people aren't on mag and all of that, so they could have a more natural experience. |
|
|
|
Trish
Ask the Experienced Moderator
2504 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 10:38:08 AM
|
I have had 3 successful inductions with epidurals even with PE. But like others have said, a healthy mom & baby are the most important things - not how we get to that point. It's hard to let go of the "ideal birth experience" but sometimes circumstances require it.
If you were borderline hypertensive pre pregnancy then pregnancy is likely "unmasking" your tendency toward hypertension. And since your BP was high & then much lower within 15 minutes it's likely becoming "labile" which just means it's bouncing around. Once pressures become labile then at some point (and it varies greatly) they will start staying high. I'm glad your Dr. is having you do 24 hour tests because that is the most accurate way to see how much protein you are spilling. Have they discussed you having NST's and/or BPP's or U/S?
|
Trish: Mommy to 3 little Princesses
Elizabeth 11/6/03, 6 lbs 13 oz @ 37 weeks for PE
Katie 4/14/05, 6 lbs 6 oz @ 38 weeks for PIH only!
Allison Nicole 12/27/07, 5 lbs 9 oz. @ 36 weeks for PE, still dealing with BP issues from PP PE |
|
|
|
Veronica44
Junior Member
US
101 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2009 : 6:30:03 PM
|
I was in the same boat as you just 2 weeks ago. Faced with first a PIH and then a PE diagnosis, I had to change my dreams of the ideal childbirth. I also wanted things to go as naturally as possible. But my perspective is totally different now.
I really wasn't ready for how much it would hurt. I told the nurses at the hospital that I wanted to try to do things without pain meds. My husband was there helping me with the breathing, and we did fine with that for an hour or so - but I was on pitocin and knew that several hours of strong contractions were still ahead even *before* the need for pushing started, and I knew that I would not have the energy to push if I didn't get some help. So I asked for an epidural. I am so glad I did so, and next time (IF there is a next time) I will ask for an epidural sooner.
Induction - I was so against it before. But my condition with the PE was rapidly deteriorating - by the time I got to the hospital to get induced my reflexes were crazy - maybe I would have gotten seizures if they had waited any longer. My baby was not gaining adequate weight either due to my health issues. She is doing so much better now on the outside. I strongly feel that the induction, the epidural, and the magnesium drip were all the best choices for the delivery and postpartum. I am so thankful I had such great doctors that paid such close attention to how things were progressing. I never would have predicted I would feel this way, but faced with what could potentially escalate into a life-or-death situation really causes your perspective to change.
I wish you all the best with the birth. Keep us posted. |
Marta
Married to Ian
Mommy to Ava 10/16/2009, 38 weeks, 6 lbs 1 oz, PE
Chronic HTN |
|
|
|
glimmer
Junior Member
US
137 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2009 : 3:39:21 PM
|
I completely understand your emotions.
I had severe PE twice and managed to have vaginal deliveries without pain relief. Since I was induced and on mag, I wouldn't call it natural, but I avoided epidural and CS and antibiotics and a catheder.
Try to stay open to all options and go as much with the flow as you can. I would tell your health care provider what you hope for and your are entitled to grief if you don't get the birth you had hoped for.
As I understand the HYPITAT study, while there is an increased risk of having a CS after an induction in a normal circumstances, this is not the case for women with PE. Many experts thinks that the body knows it's good if the baby is born fast and so PE labors can be quick and uncomplicated (the delivery part itself).
Good luck.
|
|
|
|
my3tatertots
New Member
US
78 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2009 : 4:43:06 PM
|
| I understand as well and had a really hard time coming to terms with what happened after my first child was born. He was a vaginal delivery but it was induced and the OB I had wasn't very respectful of my body or my wishes. Having the right OB can make a huge difference as well as choosing a natural birth friendly hospital. My new OB is cool with natural birth but the hospital nurses are the ones that will see you through 99% of your labor so they need to be nb friendly even moreso. I made it to transition with my second induction with the dreaded cytotec and pit both causing contractions before deciding on on epidural. If it hadn't been for the cytotec, I think the pit contractions would have been manageable for me. I asked them to give me the lowest dose and they did. You mght look into finding a doula to help you through labor either way it turns out. I don't plan on using cytotec this time around if I have to be induced again. I also hope to avoid the epidural all together this time. Last time I only had it for 30 mins total and it was so nice not losing feeling in my legs so I could move around right afterwards. I didn't have it long enough to numb everything but it did ease my back pain during contractions. Good luck!!!! |
|
|
|
smariani
Starting Member
US
8 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 09:41:13 AM
|
Thank you all for the good advice. I'm feeling better about everything, and I'm realizing that all that really matters is that my daughter and I are healthy.
I saw my doctor yesterday, and so far everything is going well. No protein in my second 24 hour collection, and all of my labs were totally normal. My blood pressure at the doctor's office was 142/90, which is a little improved from last time. We are thinking that it is just a return to my normal pre-pregnancy blood pressure. My doctor is going to monitor me very closely from now on anyway though. I'm seeing her every week, and I'm going to the hospital to have a BPP and NST every week as well. She gave me a long list of symptoms and told me to call her immediately if I have any of them. So far I am symptom free and still feeling great. I'm feeling optimistic and I'll let you all know how it turns out. |
|
|
|
Mom_2_them
Starting Member
US
11 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 1:28:47 PM
|
I was very concerned with an iduction also, however I just (as of yesterday) had mine and it wasnt bad at all. Really, I didnt notice much of a difference from going into labor on my own and being induced. My contractions increased quicker then they did without induction, however it wasnt necessairly anymore painful or terrible.
Good luck...I know how scary this can be....I am living it right now. Was diagnosed PE a week ago monday, severe PE this past Monday and my son was born yesterday at 34 weeks. Its a crazy busy whirlwind life but it sounds like your doc is keeping a close eye on you and things will be ok. Good luck!! |
|
|
|
smariani
Starting Member
US
8 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 6:08:34 PM
|
| I had my first BPP and NST today and both said that the baby looks great. I am 34+5 weeks pregnant now and the baby is measuring 34+3, so that's good. Best of all, my blood pressure was only 120/80 today, so everything is looking good. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Chat | Profile
|
Register
|
Active Topics
|
Members
|
Search
|
FAQ
Natural delivery still possible with PE?
