Pre-eclampsia at 25 weeks, need advice

[Kristinm]

Hi all. I am 27 weeks tomorrow and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and put on bed rest two weeks ago. I am currently going to the dr 2 times per week to check my BP and urine. Was anyone else diagnosed this early? If so, did you deliver really early?

It seems like everything I read is from people who are diagnosed at later in their pregnancies and end up delivering a few weeks later. I know my doctor doesn't have a crystal ball, but he won't give me a strait answer on if I am likely to deliver super early or a little early or what.

Please help!

Thanks!
Kristin

[angieb]

No crystal balls here either, but the average time from diagnosis to delivery is 2 weeks. Keep in mind that's just the average though, which includes people like me who are diagnosed and delivered the same day, and people who may make it 10+ weeks. If you haven't gotten much, or any, worse since you were 2 weeks ago, that's pretty encouraging that you may be one of the women who is able to limp along for awhile.

That being said, if they are only watching your blood pressure and urine, I would want them monitoring the baby's growth and doing nonstress tests (NST's) pretty soon and regularly as well, to make sure the baby is doing okay in there.

[Rubbie78]

Agree with angieb, and also have them check your blood for your liver enzyme levels which leads to HELLP syndrome. Do you have a blood pressure cuff at home to check often?

[MomTimesThree]

I'm one of those long and lingering pre-e cases. With our 2nd we met criteria at 29 weeks, with our 3rd at 25 weeks and it just lingered on not changing too much until the last few weeks. Like the previous posters we kept very good tabs on myself and baby, which included twice weekly NSTs, 24 hour catches every other week (in our 3rd, every week in our 2nd) and weekly blood draws with both. With our 3rd we also took BP meds which I credit with being able to hold on as long as we did since our BP was MUCH more labile and so much earlier on.

Keep posted, here's hoping you have many more uneventful weeks of pregnancy ahead of you!

[Kristinm]

Thanks all for your advice and stories. Each time I go he measures my stomach, listens to the heart beat and I have had extra ultra sounds. He has also done blood work for liver enzyme levels.

He has not done a NST so I will ask about that.

Thanks again!

[sam10]

I don't have much else to add other than NSTs are not reliable before 28 weeks, which is probably why you haven't had one yet. Here is some info on NSTs.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenat ... stest.html

[Kristinm]

Thanks for the link and info. I'll be 28 weeks Thursday!

[princess purr]

I'm one of the bad stories.. I was told I had pre-e at 25 weeks, was admitted to the hosp, everything elevated quickly and I had to have my daughter at 26.5 weeks, sadly she only lived two days. It is very encouraging though that you are still home, and at 28 weeks you are at a much better point then I was. Those few extra weeks make a HUGE difference.

[misspagan]

I'm a little late to the conversation but just wanted to give you some encouragement. I was diagnosed w/ pre-e at 27 wks & put on bed rest at home. This was back in 2000 & I didn't have much info or understanding about pre-e but my dr still kept a good eye on us. Although my baby was small at birth, we were able to hang on until 37 weeks with no long term issues for me or my girl. She'll be 13 next month! Hopefully you'll also have a wonderful outcome as well.