How did OB monitor you during 2nd pregnancy?

[bethgirga]

I am currently pregnant (22 weeks) with twins. I had PE and HELLP during my first pregnancy. Neither got extremely bad - I actually felt a lot worse AFTER I had my first (Nicholas) via c-section. I was placed on bedrest at 35 weeks due to high BP reading and then induced at 37 weeks. Even though I did not have it severe the whole experience was extremely scarey and I was scared weeks after or months after I had Nicholas.

Now almost 3 years later, I'm pregnant with twins. I feel like my OB isn't paying enough attention to screening me for HELLP/PE. She had me do lab work, 24 hour urine, the whole thing at about 8 weeks. Now she said that they won't check my labs and urine again until 28 weeks. I don't even pee in a cup when I go to my visits. Yesterday I was feeling light headed, sick to my stomach so I called my OB. The nurse just said "sounds like normal pregnancy stuff" and I said I was sort of worried because of my past history of HELLP and now being at even a higher risk with twins. She told me not to worry because my BP readings have been fine. I know that BP readings are not necessarily an indicator for HELLP.

I guess my main question is, is what did your OB's do during your second pregnancy to keep a very careful eye on you?

Thanks!

[Nadenet1229]

Is this a maternal fetal specialist? I had severe pre-eclamspia and severe HELLP syndrome at 21wks 5 days. It happened so fast that they doctors heads where spinning. They thought for sure that I must have had an underlying condition with how fast it happened but all the blood work shows nothing. The maternal fetal specialist on call that night is 99.9% sure that Joseph had a chromosone defect because he had severe cleft lip and clenched fists.

I have had a talk with my OB at the hospital and again 2 weeks ago and she stated that when I get pregnant again she will referr me to the maternal fetal specialist and they will both keep an eye on me through out the pregnancy. From friends who have had this particular specialist, they said he responded to all symptoms and checked everything. Did a lot more ultrasounds too to make sure things were going okay.

So I would think your doctor would refer you to a specialist and monitor your progress, but then again, I would be paranoid through the whole pregnancy after I nearly died the first time. So they will have me up their rears from sheer paranoia the next time.

[grantk]

I'm in my 30th week of a second pregnancy. My first was HELLP at about 28 weeks, daughter was born 3 days after I was admitted to the hospital, and she is fine now (2.5 yrs old).

With this pregnancy I'm seeing a MFM. I have zero trust in my old doctors, and feel they missed the onset of HELLP at an appt I had a week before I was admitted to the hospital. With this dr. I had labs and 24 hour urine done around 16 weeks or so (baseline). Then they told me they would re test at 32 or so weeks... but I gained about 3 lbs last week so I repeated the 24 hour urine this weekend. They are great at taking any concerns I have seriously, and said if I wanted to do the 24 hour collection because of the 3lbs, they were fine with that. My BP has looked great so far, and they have me pee in a cup at every visit. I also started going every week around 27 or 28 weeks.

You may want to talk to your doctor about her plan... I would definitely have them test your urine for protein at every visit. I also have a home BP cuff/machine so I can test that whenever I get nervous. With twins, I would think they would watch you pretty closely.

[lilysmommymindy]

Remember that you can always have a second opinion. If you feel like something needs to be checked out, then advocate that you be seen. Don't worry about bothering the dr, it's their job! I thought with multiples you'd be seen mire often anyway, but with a history of pe and HELLP you should be comonitored by a mfm and your ob. Keep us updated on your pregnancy! Take care!