Need advice..what would you do?

Question

I am 36 weeks, 2 days pregnant. I had preeclampsia with my other child & now I am showing signs of it again. I went to the doctor today & my bloodpressure was 138/90. Although it's not quite hypertensive, it's higher than normal. No protein in my urine but I have had other signs- swelling that never fully goes away & I get swollen very quickly from the slightest thing- just being up & walking around the house or doing a small household task. I have been laying down most of the time, the doctor hasn't put me on bedrest though. I also have had 2 very bad headaches in the last 2 weeks that each lasted between 14-16 hours before going away (after taking tylenol 4 times). I also gained 6 lbs in the last 2 weeks, I'm assuming from fluid retention, as I have not been overeating. The doctor is concerned & feels that he may have to deliver my baby early. He told me to go to the hospital this weekend if it gets worse...but I'm wondering how am I supposed to be the judge of that?!

I know the home blood pressure cuffs as well as the blood pressure machines at CVS, Walgreens etc are not very accurate. Also, how do I define "worse", when I have yet to see someone pregnant have swelling as bad as mine has been? I almost feel like the doctor is leaving this up to me! He said the baby is over 6 lbs & I'm assuming his lungs are developed enough . I'm afraid that I will miss something or missjudge & something bad will happen to my baby. What should I do?

Answer 1

pre-eclampsia is most common with first babies, so it's possible you do not in fact have it. if you've got no protein in your urine, i wouldn't worry too much. the one high blood pressure reading in the doctor's office can also be attributed to other factors (like anxiety) especially if other readings have been normal. swelling in the third trimester is also fairly common and doesn't necessarily imply preeclampsia. the headaches are a little concerning- have you been trying to restrict your fluids because you're worried about the fluid retention? if so, those might just be dehydration headaches.

here's what i'd do if i were you: don't worry about the swelling, but continue to monitor your blood pressure. if the bp is consistently elevated, go back to the hospital- they should at least check for proteinuria again, and probably get bloodwork as well. if the headaches recurr, also go back. if you get right upper abdominal pain, go back- it could be liver capsule swelling, a late sign of preeclampsia.

good luck - hope things turn out well.

Answer 2

It's time to have a baby. You know how awful pre-eclampsia can be, and that baby is mature enough to do just fine in the outside world.

If it were MY baby and MY body, I'd be on my way to the hospital, asking for an induction.

If you have any intention of having an epidural, ask for it early, because if your platelet count starts going down (as can happen with pre-eclampsia), it might not be safe to do it.

Good luck, I hope you have a quick labor and painless delivery!

Answer 3

as with above, if you feel any worse, don't take chances. increased frequency or duration of the headaches etc. i'd say with your medical history, it's better safe than sorry. i think the baby is considered term by 38 weeks and 36 weeks is definitely viable. so, if anything changes for the worse, go to the hospital! hope it all goes well, and congratulations on the eminent arrival of your baby!

Answer 4

Listen to your body. If you start feeling worse than when you were in the office, go to the hospital. Feeling worse can mean anything that makes you not feel right. Your body should tell you it feels worse.