JBNYC - UPDATE

[JBNYC]

Hello All:

I wanted to provide everyone with another update regarding our ongoing battle with PE:

First, let me give a huge thank you to the moderators on this forum, the mums and dads that participate and to all that visit to be educated!

As you know, my wife was diagnosed with PE at 33 weeks. She had a mild case and reported for bed rest immediately after a 3 day stay at the hospital. We did everything possible to keep PE at bay. Changed her diet, increased her fluids, very strict bed rest. Our goal was to make it past the averages and deliver at 37 weeks. All went well, her BP's reduced from 150's/95's to 125's/60's and 70's her protein numbers came down from 600mg on the first 24hr catch to 230mg on the second. Everything that we were doing was working and we were thrilled.

One piece of advice that the moderators on this board always shared is that PE can strike at any time and can get very ugly, very quickly. It is a piece of advice that I kept with me. A piece of advice that made the difference.

On Tuesday morning (9/4) my wife's BP's were almost perfect - 110/75's. With only 2 days to go until week 37 we were going to make it. 2 hours later her BP was 165/110 and was not coming down. We were shocked..."is the BP monitor broken? And then that piece of advice sounded alarms throughout my head. It was that piece of advice, which the moderators on this board pound into our heads, that made the world of difference. By the time we got into the cab the L&D department, our OB and the High Risk MD at ***** all knew we were on our way and why. It was that piece of advice that lead me to create the "Ugly Card" with a list of everyone that needed to be called if the BP's got bad. We arrived at the Hospital and escorted past L&D triage and into a delivery room. Within minutes she was hooked up to fluids and we began the conversation regarding induction. (It was not much of a conversation by the way, more of a here is what we are going to do - say yes.)

We began with Cervidil which was inserted within an hour of arriving (4:30pm). We waited 12hrs for it to take effect. Cervidil is monitored in 12hr stages. If nothing has taken effect in the first 12 they wait an additional 12. Thankfully for us, it took hold in the first 12. Two hours later we started Protocin (6:30am) ..... and then the long, long wait. Dilation did not seem to be progressing and we were stuck at about 1cm. At 3:30PM we began the epidural followed by the insertion of a cervical ripening balloon. This seemed to jump start the process again. Now on our second bag of Protocin (Oxytocin) she was closer to 4cm. At 9:00pm they broke her water. And we waited again. The next few hours were a bit of a blur. We seemed to have made it past the 5cm mark and all involved said the additional dilation would happen quickly. The next part is all a bit of a blur....

Sometime around 2:30AM my wife complained of horrible nausea; nausea like she had never felt. Add to that she was freezing cold one moment and boiling hot the next. Panic set in and I rushed into the hall like a mad mad - "My wife is sick, my wife is sick, somethings wrong." Now before you laugh at me, remember this is our first and we are working on hour 33 without sleep. I found the charge nurse and began to ramble. She looked me dead in the eye and said 'She's ready". Ready for what? oh *.......

You know the rest....... at 4:27AM, four hours into the first day of our 37th week, New York City got it's newest city kid - Charlie Hudson {last name withheld} was born. 6lbs 1oz.

After coming home we returned to the hospital 5 days later. Charlie's billirubin numbers had spiked and he needed phototherapy. Which work tremendously. I don't know if there is any cause and effect between PE and billirubin but it's worth looking into. We were told that because he was early, because he was a boy and because he suffered bruising during labor he was three times likely to have high billirubin. If you are delivering early, be well versed on billirubin numbers. I've red that 80% of readmission to hospital after birth is due to billirubin.

Anyway, the moral of this story: The moderators on this forum are tremendous and listen to the advice they provide. In our case, if it was not for them, we could have been facing something entirely different. Cryan (moderator) - from my family to yours, thank you for all that you are doing to educate others about PE. Your work is important and I wish you tremendous success as you continue this journey.

[trish]

Congrats on the birth of your son! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so happy the information you received here was so helpful and empowering. We love Caryn and all the wisdom she shares here.

[MomTimesThree]

Congrats!! Welcome to the world lil' Charlie! You've been born into one awesome on it family!!

[Raposa]

Congrats! Glad the induction went alright. Sounds like you guys didn't need any NICU time.

When I was induced at 37 weeks, my boy was lit up like a little glow worm a couple of days afterwards, but not badly enough to need the billirubin lights. He got over it when my milk came in. I think it's just how early they are.

[sam10]

Congratulations! Welcome baby Charles Hudson! What a nice name!

I am glad that all worked out and all are well. Please remember to keep an eye on PE symptoms up to 6 weeks postpartum!

[alviarin]

Congratulations!!!! Thanks for the update!

[caryn]

Welcome Earthside, Charles!!

(And you are quite welcome!)