Preeclampsia and what it means for future pregnancy

[junipermuse]

With my 1st (and so far only) pregnancy I was diagnosed with preeclampsia when I got to the hospital to deliver at 41 wks. I had an episode of high blood pressure at 37 wks, but after a few days of bedrest it went back down. The day I went into labor, my bp was normal in the am at the drs office, but that night when I got to the hospital it was skyhigh (I wish I remembered exact numbers, but it's a bit of a blur)and they ended up putting me on magnesium. For the last part of my pregnancy I was very swollen especially in the legs and hands, I had gained 70lbs by the end much of which was water I'm sure. I never had any headache or blurred vision. Deep down I had a real hard time believing it was actually preeclampsia. I was very stressed about having the baby in the hospital, and part of me felt that they sudden jump in bp was due to the stress of being there. I was started on Mag before they even had the results of the urine test. I assume they found protein in my urine because they kept me on the magnesium through the whole labor and for 24 hours after labor, but I was never told this explicitly. I suppose I was lucky that in after 15 hours I birthed my baby vaginally, instead of ending up with a c-section. But I was strapped to the bed, given an (unwanted) IV which caused me a lot of discomfort, I was forced to stay on my left side throughout labor, and I was made to wear a bloodpressure cuff constantly going off every 30min throughout the whole labor. The insisted on giving me pitocin to counteract the effects of the magnesium, and after all of these interventions, and disappointments I quickly caved into the epidural.

I think a lot about wanting it all to be different next time, I feel like I really want to avoid a hospital birth, but I am so worried that it will end up the same. I feel like I need to have a homebirhth if I hope to make it different next time. Is there a chance what I had wasn't really preeclampsia? Maybe just high blood pressure from so much water weight. Will I be able to have a homebirth with a history of preeclampsia? I feel like if I end up with preeclampsia again and have to be transferred to the hospital I will be so dissapointed, I don't know how I will deal with being let down again. What can I do to prevent preeclampsia in future pregnancies? I'm sorry this is so rambley. Thanks for any advice.

[mrsfatty]

I had gestational hypertension with my first son--and it was officially diagnosed at 33 weeks--month of bedrest, went into labor at 37 weeks, put on mag, forced to stay in bed--the works (similar to your experience)...

This pregnancy (my due date is today--I am still pregnant), I did not develop the hypertension. My bp is a bit on the high end--but my toddler is with for all my appointments so we consider my bps taken in office to be "Active" bps instead of "resting" bps.

To read about the differences between PIH and preeclampsia, see: www.preeclampsia.org

It's important to note that you didn't cause your pregnancy induced condition.

I don't know what else to say or how to support you...just know that it doesn't mean if you've had it once you'll always have it (some women it does, though)...

[wifeandmom]

Whether or not you had true pre-eclampsia, your blood pressure was obviously high enough to warrant mag, and that's significant. They don't just routinely give women mag during labor without reason to do so. It is not safe for you OR the baby to have uncontrolled high BP during pg or labor, as it increases the risks of all sorts of problems for both of you.

As for future pg, whether or not you'll develop high BP and/or pre-eclampsia again is anybody's guess. If it was truly pre-eclampsia, it is much less common in subsequent pg compared to first pg, but you will be at greater risk than women who did not have it in their first pg at all.

I had pre-e with my first pg (twins), not even the slightest hint of a problem with my second pg, and had it again with my third pg. It was actually worse with my third pg which is not typical (it's usually worst with the first pg from what I've read). Thankfully my BP did not get to the point of needing mag though, as I've heard that is some nasty stuff.