r/preeclampsia

Hello all,

I’m new to this sub, and came here for support.

I was 33 years old when I had my first baby, and developed “severe uncontrolled” preeclampsia at 37 weeks. I was admitted to the hospital after a stress test and was induced. I was in labor for about 36 hours before the doctor decided that I need to have a c-section to deliver my son. I was on the mag drip and everything.

In total, I was in the hospital for 6 days and my son stayed in the NICU for 2 days after I was discharged. Looking back now, the whole thing was pretty traumatizing.
Despite all of this, I’ve been wanting another baby.

After a year or so after my son was born, I began the conversation with my OB regarding another pregnancy. She was totally against it and said she would most likely have to abort me at 20 weeks and there was a 70% chance it would kill me. Needless to say, that traumatized me even further.

My husband suggested we get another opinion so we could make an informed decision. So we did. I had an appointment last week with a new doctor and she was baffled as to why my previous doctor would give me such numbers. However, because of my age (I’m 38 now) it would definitely be a high risk pregnancy. She said I would certainly develop preeclampsia sooner and I would most likely have a pre term baby since I am now a “chronic hypertensive.” I’ve been on labetolol for about a year and my blood pressures have been in the 106/72 range. I’ve changed my diet completely and have lost weight; but I was told it didn’t matter *what* I do, that I will for sure develop preeclampsia again.

I’m feeling so discouraged right now.

For those of you who decided to go through another pregnancy after preeclampsia, how did it go for you? Were subsequent pregnancies harder?

Hi all - I had rapid onset HELLP syndrome with my first pregnancy, twin boys, in 2024. I gave birth at 30w2d under general anesthesia and don't remember the first days of their lives. The boys were in the NICU for 63 days. Luckily, they are completely fine and have caught up on all milestones despite what a traumatic time it was. I also made a full recovery and have no health issues. Since the boys were born, I've done a sh*t ton of therapy - EMDR, groups, individual CBT - to deal with the trauma.

I want to have another baby. I've consulted with three MFMs and two liver specialists about what having another would look like. One MFM was absolutely against it. The other MFMs basically said it was my choice, and I might get sick again, and I might not. Liver doc said I am cleared from her POV to have another child, I'd just be closely monitored.

All this to say, I just don't know what to do. I would love to have another chance at a "normal" birth. But that might not happen! I'd love to have a daughter. But I'm not doing IVF, so I don't get to choose. My heart wants to have another baby and do it again, but my head is afraid of the risks and retraumatizing myself. I thought my decision would be clearer now, even two years after the boys were born, but I'm still just as confused.

I am having these conversations with a therapist. But I also wanted to check with a community that understands the feeling.

Looking for everyone’s personal experiences with a diagnosis of pre-e at roughly 31-32 weeks!!
I was diagnosed with pre-e at 36weeks5 days with my first born, he arrived by emergency c-section after failed induction at 37 weeks. My second born I had hypertension but was never diagnosed with pre-e and she was delivered at 40weeks2days vaginally!!!

This third pregnancy I was diagnosed with pre-e at 31 weeks 5 days, I’m currently 33 weeks 5 days. My only symptoms have been hypertension and proteinuria so far. I’m just SO anxious as I’ve got so many extra appointments and monitoring which I’m grateful for but as someone who is a control freak, everything being out of my control is really driving me to breaking point. Pre diagnosis I had no idea what gestation I was even at as I was so busy with my toddlers I didn’t even think about it, now I’m waking up just counting the days and happy to have made it so far 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Please pass on your experiences with a diagnosis this early! 🥰

I went for the anomaly scan yesterday and was told that my risk for preeclampsia has increased to 1/68. It was estimated low at 12 weeks and the thing changed is the uterine artery Doppler reading (one side has high PI). To complicate the situation, the baby is also estimated at ~11th percentile, which is small but not extremely small. (I’m Asian btw and they say Asian mums can have smaller babies)

I was booked for extra scan at week 28 and week 32. But other than that I was given no treatment or warnings.
I’ve contacted my midwife and asked for aspirin, but they told me they usually give aspirin to people who are estimated high risk at 12 weeks, and now it’s too late for me for it to really help. She told me to monitor my symptoms.

My blood pressure is still normal at this point. I’m 36 and FTM so that may added to the risk.

I don’t know what more I can do at this moment and I’m just spiralling…

Has anyone had preeclampsia with their first two pregnancies, and not with their third? I know the likelihood isn’t very likely but I’m curious!

I am currently 32 weeks 6 days with my third baby. I developed preeclampsia at 36 weeks with my first baby, but it was honestly missed for over a week. I had labs done and proteins were dangerously elevated but nobody noticed til my prenatal appointment a week later. It was my first so I didn’t have a clue what it meant - figured if it was bad, I would be notified. I was sent to the hospital immediately to be induced after my appointment at 37 weeks 2 days.

With my second, everything seemed okay until it wasn’t. At 36 weeks 2 days, I started seeing stars, had the worst headache of my life, felt off and knew I needed to go in. I was induced that day, BP was 164/112. Happened at almost the exact same point as my first baby.

This time I’ve been heavily monitored. Tons of labs, urine samples, taking BP daily and sending to the doctor, loads of ultrasounds and extra appointments. Everything looks great, no BP spikes for the most part but I know this doesn’t mean much. They keep talking about BP meds but haven’t had high enough blood pressure to need it.

I feel like most people can’t relate to the overwhelm I’m feeling at this point. I’m told I’m lucky for not having to be pregnant for so long. Having preeclampsia is lucky? 😬 or “aren’t you just excited to meet your baby and be done with pregnancy?” It’s a lot easier to say these things when you have normal pregnancies. I’ve already had a scare with one day where my BP was 175/120 at 30 weeks. Thankfully, was sent home and everything looked good. Seemed to just be stress and lack of sleep 🥲 Not sure what I’m looking for, I guess I just need to find people who can actually relate to all the emotions and fear I’m experiencing.

I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at just shy of 33 weeks with high blood pressure (146/94) and high protein in urine.

I was given 200mg labetalol and my blood pressure dropped to 122/78 - 136/89 (between these readings).

Has anyone had similar stats and what was your outcome - trying to stay positive but also realistic.

Hello everyone,

I’ve been experiencing hypertension for the last couple of weeks, my BP being around 120/90-140/90 (the bottom number is usually higher). At my last OB appt they did a non stress test after 3 high BP readings and told me I have moderate preeclampsia and want to dilate me at 37 weeks. That was when I was 34+3. They told me to watch out for severe preeclampsia symptoms.
I am 35 weeks exactly today.

What are all of your experiences with preeclampsia? How long after diagnosis did you give birth?

Thank you all, I’m a FTM.

My wife has been dealing with high blood pressure for a few weeks now. She gave birth to our newborn last week and was diagnosed 5 days after giving birth. She’s currently staying in the hospital overnight and I’m trying to figure out ways I can help/support her?

I’m trying to be strong but I breakdown in private. I don’t want anything to happen to her. She’s so great.

Thank you.

Hello!

Question about PCR for spot urine samples.

Does the specific amount of protein in a spot urine sample mean anything if the PCR is greater than .3?

My doctor wasnt worried about my urine spot test because the protein was only 33 mg/dl, and thats a 1+ on a dipstick. However, the PCR was .35 (creatinine was 96).

I was diagnosed last pregnancy based on a high PCR (though it was 1.8). Im just paranoid because it seems a greater than .3 is a diagnostic feature for pre-e (along with high BP).

No one is telling me what my BP needs to be since I have chronic hypertension so there is no "defined number" - just a general increase (which ive been have an upward trend).

Im just a little confused and would like some insight on the uPCR test and how the ratio actually works with creatinine vs the 24 hour test

PP hypertension here. I believe it was absolutely pre e, but by the time they caught it, no protein in urine. Zero heart issues prior to birth.

So it’s been about 7 weeks since since I’ve been on it and I started weaning two weeks ago.

I was on 200mg 3x a day, then I went down to 2x a day and now yesterday I started 100mg 2x a day. Was also on Procardia for like… 12 days but stopped bc it gave me insane migraines.

Google is telling me this is a significant decrease and I’m incredibly scared bc I have chest pain which also could be very apparent deadly side effect? I had chest pain even prior to weaning though so I sincerely have zero idea if it’s all related. I’ve been to a cardiologist and this is all under his plans. I had an echo and CTA which all came back normal. Chest pain could simply be anxiety and or muscular, but now I’m full blown panicking.

My BP readings have been fairly okay as well.

Anyone have stories to share of a similar experience?

Hi all ❤️ I am 9 months PP, I was diagnosed with sever Pre-eclampsia at 33 weeks (I'd been swelling severely for a while so I assume I had it before that) and had to stay in hospital as an in-patient until my baby was born at 36+1. It was extremely traumatic, I was on labetalol every 3h, as well as Nifedipine and Mag drip after my C-section. Did the painful steroid shots in my leg etc etc.

That hospital stay was the most beaten up I have ever felt in my life, it took me so long to even recognise myself in the mirror when I finally got back home...

I have always pictured myself having more babies in the future (the dream is 3) but I am so traumatised and scared to go through the same again :(

I just wanted to ask what everyone's experience was with subsequent pregnancies? Were they healthy? Did you have preeclampsia again? Did you do anything to attempt to prevent it?

I would love to know your experiences if you're open to sharing? ❤️

Hi everyone,

TLDR; if you feel dreadful on one med, you can change! Feels so obvious but I didn't notice how bad I felt until the change

I had gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and now chronic hypertension (lol). During pregnancy and immediately after I was on labetalol and nifedipine. I was eventually switched to nifedipine only 20mg 2x per day. I am breastfeeding and also under NHS care.

I thought it was kind of fine - no headaches, no sickness, so I soldiered on. Except I was taking the pills an hour apart and still having to lie down in between them because I felt so weird and worried I would faint. I was running, but with this tightness in my chest which I assumed was to do with my fitness. Running was SO TIRING.

I saw a consultant for the chronic hypertension and was prescribed another med and now I feel AMAZING?? I can run just fine, I don't feel like I will faint, it's only one pill. I didn't even get the side effects of this pill (ankle swelling, headache) and I am still breastfeeding. I was so worried I'd get worse side effects I was afraid to ask to change - but I forgot to consider that I might have less side effects / a better life.

So in conclusion - you don't need to be a nifiedipine/ labetalol girlie if it's not working, ask your doctor to help!

So I had a super scary experience today (Im ok, baby is ok). I was working and then all of a sudden it felt like my chest (left side) EXPLODED, breathing was difficult, I could barely even move to grab my phone to call 911. By the time I got in the ambulance my blood pressure had lowered to 159/117, and by the time we got to the hospital it was technically high, but not scary high. I just got released from another hospital stay yesterday.

The hospital today did an EKG and they said it looked perfect, awesome super happy to hear it. I was able to review my blood work (and am going to forward it to my OB), but my platelets went from 344 to 266 (from Wednesday to today), which is a significant drop from where they usually are, even though technically still in the normal range. My AST went from 9 to 23 and my ALT didn't increase too much, but from 12 to 14. I know this can all happen pretty quickly.

The doctor on duty when I came in said it looks like everything has progressed into mild preeclampsia. Im going to wait and see what my OB says, obviously. Just this week has been pretty nerve wracking, especially because I am alone 80% of the time. My husband works an hour away, my dad works an hour away, my step mom works an hour away, I work from home in a small town (2k people). On Wednesdays my son is with me, and this past week I had to ask my dad to leave work early to come and get him from the hospital because they admitted me. So now the plan is for my husband to take him to daycare on Wednesday's, and as long as I don't have to go to L&D I can pick him up.

Im ranting now, but I am a bit scared, my husband is scared. He was upset he was at work when it happened and I was all alone.

Hi everyone, I just found out a few days ago that I am pregnant. I am exactly 5 weeks along. My first pregnancy was back in 2018 and produced my son. I was very very sick my entire pregnancy. Never technically diagnosed with HG, but threw up many times a day for months on end. In my 35th week, I developed Eclampsia. It practically appeared overnight. Ever since this event, my kidneys have slowed way down and I was ultimately diagnosed with chronic kidney disease a year ago. When I found out I was pregnant earlier this week, I called my OB right away. She sent me for blood work and I have to go every 48 hours. First round went well with progesterone 37 and HCG 1200. But my kidney values were elevated. I am anxiously awaiting today's results. I have to keep going every 48 hours until my 6 week ultrasound and visit. Has anybody dealt with a similar experience??? Either severe preeclampsia/or eclampsia which resulted in lasting kidney damage, and then conceiving again? Did you have a normal pregnancy the 2nd time ?? I am SO nervous and just want confirmation that everything is ok. How do you keep yourself sane waiting for every lab result, as well as waiting for your 1st appt?? Thankfully they aren't making me wait til 10 weeks like they typically would in a low risk pregnancy. My phone is glued to my hand waiting for that mychart notification after my labs. I am also waiting to hear back from nephrology to see what they want me to do. Waiting is not easy!!! Any advice is appreciated.