My first post...

[maamaa]

Hi everyone, I've been lurking on this site for a while but this is the first time I am posting. I have really appreciated reading everyone's posts and stories. They have helped me a lot during my current pregnancy. By way of background, in my last pregnancy, I went in for a routine OB appointment at 24 weeks and that was the first time I heard of preeclampsia. (Guess I was pretty clueless.) I lasted 3 more weeks before the doctors decided my condition was severe enough that I needed to deliver right away. My son was born at 27.5 wks via c-section and was just over 2lbs. He stayed in the NICU for 10 weeks. The whole experience and my recovery after was just awful and I really wasn't sure if I wanted to risk getting pregnant again. My blood pressure also never went back to normal so I now have chronic hypertension.

Fast forward a few years and I am pregnant with a little girl. I was pretty anxious and worried at first but finally started to relax with this pregnancy after the 27 week mark, since I was initially most anxious about developing PE even earlier than last time. I am now at 32 weeks and things have actually been going well so far. I have been taking labetalol, folic acid and LDA since becoming pregnant. My BPs have been pretty stable, especially in the 2nd trimester. However, this week (at 32 weeks), I've started getting some higher readings (130/80s) and a few have creeped into the 140/90 territory. So far no protein in urine and no other symptoms, although I have noticed some swelling in my feet recently but that might be a normal pregnancy thing? My doctors are aware of my situation and I am going in for weekly NSTs/fetal monitoring and am confident that I am getting good care. However, I'm just so disappointed that this may be happening again. Right now, I have a scheduled c-section in mid-August (at 38 wks) and was really hoping to make it until then. Of course, I am extremely grateful to have made it this far already, but I really was hoping for an uneventful pregnancy this time around, given that it will most likely be my last time getting pregnant. I also want my daughter to be healthy and chubby from day 1.

If anyone has any advice or words of support, I'd really appreciate it. Just feeling a little down and anxious right now...

Thanks,
Vivi

[mommy2marley]

Vivi,

I wish I had words of advice, but I will be thinking about you and your little girl in hopes you make it until your scheduled c-section.

[MomTimesThree]

I totally understand the disappointment that comes along with realizing things might not go as smoothly as you'd like. This is also our last pregnancy and I've been feeling very defeated that I couldn't do it right. Momma's here have reminded me, and I'm sure they will you too, that it's not our fault. Even when things are getting bumpy we can still rock our pregnancies by following all our treatment plans and doing our best.

I'll be crossing crossables that your BP stop rising and you cruise along to your scheduled c/s!

Lauren

[sam10]

Welcome to the boards and congratulations to making it to 32 weeks without any issues. A subsequent pregnancy is no walk in the park and we all hope to sail through it without having to deal with PE at all. The reality is nobody knows and/or can predict if PE will hit again or not. As many have said before me, it is one day at a time, one moment to the next. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that your will make it to 38 weeks without any major complications.

[wooleybear]

Thinking of you at this time! From your post it sounds like you will be ok, have faith and keep your head up!

[momo]

Hi maamaa

just thought I'd write in to say that I'm in a similar situation to you. My first baby came at 31 weeks when HELLP set in suddenly and with this baby they noticed that the blood flow to my arteries wasn't good so they were on the lookout for some sort of trouble again. All has gone well until last week (31 weeks) when my blood pressure decided that 160 /110 would be a fun place to be and they put me on labetalol. This worked great for three days but blood pressure has now started to rise again. Like you I don't currently have protein in my urine or bad swelling so I'm still optimistic that I might make it to a good due date (real due date 5th Sept). Will be keeping fingers crossed for you too - let me know how you're getting on...