post partum pre eclampsia.

[sunset]

If I am in the wrong place please let me know or move it.

My friend has just had her first baby one week ago she now has been diagnosed with pp pre eclampsia. we are in Japan where typically the docs tell you nothing plus she is not sure what to ask anyway.
They gave her meds and told her not to bf but she wants to bf so she is not taking the meds. She has been told to stay in ned, which is not a problem she is with her kind PILS who can make sure that happens.

She called me and asked me to find out what I can.

Can anyone tell me about this condition, what she can expect, what she should be careful of. Is it okay to refuse the meds etc?

All and any advice is welcome.
TIA

[ksera05]

Okay, if she has postpartum preeclampsia I'm about 99% sure she does NOT want to refuse the meds. pre-e, whether pre or post, is a serious condition.

From http://preeclampsia.org/FAQ.asp
Can preeclampsia occur after the baby is born?

In some instances, preeclampsia does not show up until during the delivery, or up to two weeks post-partum. While this is less dangerous for the baby, it is actually the most critical time for the mother. Any of the above signs and symptoms should be cause for concern, and the mother should immediately contact her health care provider.

What does preeclampsia do?

It can cause your blood pressure to rise and puts you at risk of stroke or impaired kidney function, impaired liver function, blood clotting problems, pulmonary edema (fluid on the lungs), seizures and, in severe forms, maternal and infant death. Because preeclampsia affects the blood flow and placenta, babies can be smaller and are often born prematurely. Ironically, sometimes the babies can be much larger. While maternal death from preeclampsia is rare in the U.S., it is a leading cause of illness and death globally for mothers and infants.


HOWEVER - there are blood pressure medicines out there that are perfectly safe for breastfeeding (Labetalol being the one I'm on, for example) and she does NOT have to stop breastfeeding. If you check out http://kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html there is an entire list of safe bp medication.

hope that helps!

[maxmama]

If it truly is preeclampsia, the elevated pressures are a symptom, not a cause, and treating only the BP will not treat the PE itself (though it can be important to lower BPs on their own). Magnesium sulfate (IV) is still standard of care to prevent eclampsia in women with PE, so I'm surprised she's not on an IV.

And, as the PP said, most BP meds are fine to take with BF.

[sunset]

Thank so much for your help Mamas. I will relay the info to my friend. I'll also try and find out what meds they are offering her, the thing is many meds available in North america are not available here.
I spoke to her after posting yesterday and she said her BP was down and the headache was gone.

[boscopup]

A friend of mine had PP pre-e, and she had some heart issues with hers and had to have heart meds along with the bp meds. There was at least one heart med she absolutely could NOT breastfeed with, but thankfully was only on it for a few days. I think your friend needs to find out what the meds are, look them up (motherisk.org or talk to an LLL leader or LC - they have a big drug reference book they can look in). She can find alternatives and suggest them to her doctors. I know my friend's bp meds were all ok for breastfeeding, although the one she was on longest caused a drop in her milk supply.

[EStreetMama]

I think the PP's have given a great description. The magnesium sulfate is to prevent seizures. Nothing really treats Pre-E (other than delivery of the baby usually), they just use different medications to control the symptoms.

The magnesium sulfate is usually only a 24-48 hour protocol, and I was allowed to pump and give the baby my milk on that.

Not sure why they are telling her not to breastfeed, unless it's other meds. Or they think she'll get more rest.

I think the most important thing for her at this point is to clarify her meds and establish breastfeeding, get lots of rest, take iron supplements if she's anemic and watch her blood pressure. Her BP could remain abnormal for weeks or months. She should watch for symptoms such as headache or abdominal pain for the next 2 weeks.

She's probably feeling like she was hit by a train from the headache and the mag. I hope she gets lots of help and support and some sleep. My headache would keep coming back if I was not getting enough sleep. Easier said than done, of course.

Let her know that she is not alone--kinda rare, though!

[sunset]

Hit by a train is exactly how she described it.
Thanks for the info, I have passed it on to her. her mother also had it apparently and she doesn't fit any of the other criteria for 'at risk'.
She is going to speak to the doc today about the meds/mag etc and the bf.

One of the problems here is that docs REALLY don't tell you anything or explain anything and when it all went down she was really in no fit state to ask/know what to ask etc.

She is feeling much better now though especially with all the info you kind Mamas have provided.
Many thanks


ETA My friend spoke with the doc and he gave her the hypertension meds and I checked it on the kellymom site ( thanks for the link Ksera05)
and it is okay for bf. So as long as the headache doesn't come back it looks good.
Thanks again for all the help

[ksera05]

Originally Posted by sunset

She is feeling much better now though especially with all the info you kind Mamas have provided.
Many thanks

YAY!! I'm glad she's feeling better.