Need Advice, Please

[strauberry5]

Hello! I just found this website and forum! What an amazing group of women you are! I need advice for my brother and sister in law. They are pregnant with their first child and are living in Satiago Chili right now. She is not quite 20 weeks and they called yesterday very upset and crying. They went to their appointment yesterday and he told he she had signs of preeclampsia so she should go home, take it easy, and take aspirin every day. Of course they got online and started readin things and are now in a panic. I am not sure what her symptoms are or how severe, but I wanted to know if anyone has been diagnosed with pre-e that early in their pregnancy and what some advice might be for them. I believe they are going to see a different doctor today. Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

[sam10]

Hello and welcome! I am sorry you had to find us for advice for your brother and his wife.
Usually PE is diagnosed at 20 weeks at the earliest, but we've had some posters here who were diagnosed around 19 weeks or so. PE is diagnosed with blood pressure readings 140/90 or greater, measured on two separate occasions six hours apart and Proteinuria (protein in the urine) of >300.

I suspect your sister-in law is being sent to be seen by a high-risk OB (MFM, also called peri) to evaluate her further. If PE is suspected, they should check her BP, her urine for protein (a 24-hour urine collection, dips are not as accurate), her reflexes, and do a blood panel. Here is also a list of the most common symptoms: http://www.preeclampsia.org/signs-and-symptoms
They should also check the baby's growth.

Have your brother or sister-in law let you know why the doctors suspect preeclampsia?

I hope I could help with some basic info, but perhaps some others will chime in soon.

Let us know if you hear back from your family. Keeping my fingers crossed and sending along some hugs.

[kerisue]

*Of course your sister-in-law should follow the advice of her doctor who know her and her situation as I do not*, but aspirin and bed rest (if that's what "taking it easy" referred to) are controversial as treatments for preeclampsia. Some studies have shown aspirin to help, but mostly those have been moms starting it earlier than 20 wks.
As for getting diagnosed so early (if she's really be diagnosed)- I've seen some moms get diagnosed with PE and then do fine staying pregnant for quite awhile longer, but for others the time from diagnosis to delivery is very quick, it depends on the person. Encourage them to get on here and post questions too!