Pre eclampsia?

Question

I have a mate who is about 16 weeks. She is telling everyone she has pre eclampsia, that she could die, I asked her how they found out as they dont usually test that early and she said her blood pressure was 120 over 80. I dont thijnk that sounds high at all, and its amazing how many things she has had happen during the pregnancy. Its almost like she is reading a medical dictionary and quoting it or something. Am I being really unfair to not entirely believe her?

by reading a medical dictionary i mean, she apparently has been feeling it kick since 11 weeks, she had to leave work due to heavy bleeding (that she then forgot about) she saw its hand poke out at 14 weeks, she was showing at 8 weeks etc

Answer 1

i once knew someone like that,in the end nobody beleived her

Answer 2

Well i actually started having problems when my BP was 130/80. The lower margin of 80 is usually borderline, but it doesnt mean you are pre eclamptic. It just means her blood pressure has to be checked often to make sure she doesnt develop pre eclampsia. The highest reading i had at one given time was 145/100 and i still wasnt pre eclamptic. I just had higher blood pressure. But noone could probably really say. Maybe she is. Pre eclampsia develops when the kidneys, liver or placenta struggle to function. She can have protein readings in her urine, get bright flashes in front of her eyes or have vomiting and dizzyness and bloating or eodema of the feet and limbs. Thing is....that some of these symptoms are also natural in pregnancy (except for the protein in the urine). Pre eclampsia is not usually fatal - If treated extremely early her and her baby will be fine so the threat of dying isnt really high unless it was left without treatment. I really dont know, in this case it is all in your ballcourt. Just stick with your intuition.

EDIT: i saw your additional information...it does seem extremely far fetched!

Answer 3

Well that is not a preeclampsia reading at all. And why would she want to lie about something like that.. it was very scary for me and knowing that me or my baby could have had a stroke was not a bragging feeling at all. Boy when she does get it.. it'll be a major wake up call for her. She may only have some prehypertension going on.. but my readings were 190/100 at some points.. so she should Thank God that she does not have it!! Usually preeclampsia is found later in pregnancy like around 26 wks. There is alot of swelling in the hands, feet and face. Gaining extra weight quickly also. Tell her chill out.

Answer 4

It does seem a little odd. 120/80 is normal blood pressure, it's normally not considered high until around 140/90 unless they had very low blood pressure to begin with. Plus, preeclampsia doesn't usually hit until later in pregnancy (late second trimester at least). If she had preeclampsia they would have her on bedrest, possibly in the hospital, laying on her left side. The only treatment for preeclampsia is delivering the baby.

Honestly, I don't think you're wrong. There's always that small chance that she's telling the truth but it doesn't sound like it.

Answer 5

Pre eclampsia doesn't present itself that early and that blood pressure is NOT high. Also... pre eclampsia is more than high blood pressure. Someone once told me that I was reading everything from a book and was sadly mistaken. Some people do get VERY sick during pregnancy.. but it sounds to me like she is WAY pushing it. Good luck

Answer 6

It is impossible to have PreEclampsia so early in pregnancy and a baby does not start kicking till 15 weeks, it is impossible to feel a baby kick at 11 weeks.

Are you even sure she is actually pregnant and not just lying? It sounds to me like she has been doing a lot of lying about the pregnancy such as her BP being high, the baby kicking at 11 weeks and having PreEclampsia

Answer 7

i believe that 120/80 is a normal blood pressure... and i think pre-eclampsia begins later during the pregnancy

Answer 8

sounds like she has Munchhausen and baby is not even born yet. However your friend likes the attention just because you and i don't believe any of this doesn't mean you should not be supported she needs the attention for some reason so what the heck give it to her for a awhile.

Answer 9

i work in the medical field and that is a normal bp...a hypertension bp is like 140/90..then you would have to worry for pre eclampsia...and usually they will put you on bed rest . to see if it declines by its self..and no your not being unfair...