What do you say about preeclampsia?

[kdreher]

My sister is 35 yrs old (almost 36) and is due May 28, 2004. When I found out she was pregnant, over my belated bday dinner with her, my heart sank while I was overjoyed at the news. Lisa has a son who is now 10 1/2 and experienced toxemia with him. Because she is my sister (we are only 18 months apart) I was honest with her and told her I didn't want to scare her but she needs to be careful. It has been 10 yrs since she was pregnant, experienced a blood pressure related issue and is pregnant by another partner. I wouldn't want anything to happen to her or my soon to be NEICE (and godchild) [:)]. Lisa and her beau had genetic testing done and her doc also said due to her previous bp issues, he won't let her go over the due date. So far, she has been doing well and her b/p has been fine! As hard as it was for me to talk about my issue (and it was hard for her to tell me she was pregnant)...I had to tell her the truth and what to do for the next few months.

Kris (34)
DH, Tom (33)
Tyler 3-9-95 to 3-23-95 (26 wks pe/HELLP)

tkstevens@sbcglobal.net or kstevens@cga.uscg.mil

[taras mom]

I just found out that a neighbor is having her second set of twins; I haven't seen her in a long time, and she showed up at a party with a huge tummy. Yes, I was incredibly jealous! I was also impressed at how much she knew about preeclampsia, and it struck me how uncommon that is. I figure that by her late 30s every woman probably has at least one friend or close relative who's had preeclampsia, but it's surprising how little some women know about it. A little zealotry is a good thing!

Carol (38)
DH Bill (40)
Tara Mairichi
12/7-12/9, 2002
The Mightiest Little Angel

[eleni]

Just remember this: "scaring" a woman will not give her preeclampsia or any other life-threatening condition of pregnancy. So for those women who hear "horror stories" or interpret good advice about a bad situation as "horror" and spend the rest of their pregnancy anxious, I say "too bad." Wake up and smell the roses. If you're old enough to be pregnant, you're old enough to be responsible about that pregnancy and not live it in a fairy tale. (OK, I'm really not that crass and obnoxious, but the "don't scare her" thing just sends me over the edge.) Part of our responsiblity as survivors is to be respectful and educational to our pregnant sisters out there - friend, family or stranger. We can share information without sounding melodramatic, and we must encourage all women to take charge of their health. This is a cross-disease message that all women need to hear.

[mada]

I know how hard it is to decide whether or not to bring up the Pre-e with other women....I always feel like that is the center of conversation with me when it comes to pregnancy. I applaud you for your tireless energy for this cause and know that you will be a source of comfort for that grieving family. My heart goes out to them....

Mada Harpster

Sam 6-29-00 36weeks P.E.
Ben 11-03-01 No P.E.

[akemt]

Welcome Anne (Parker's mom)

Catherine (22)
DH Britton (27)
Emma Margaret (03/02/03) 37 weeks from PIH & oligo
Baby #2 due August 11, 2004

[annes]

I have never written in to the forum yet, but I read what you wrote and wanted to say something. I have severe pe, and before it onset, my feet were so swollen, I looked scary! One of the women in my office who is in her 60's kept mentioning it to me. I got really upset, because I was self-conscious. I read in one of the books that people used to think swelling=unhealthy, and that wasn't always the case. I thanked her later. Because she kept mentioning it to me, I kept mentioning it to my OB, at every appt., because I wanted to be able to say to my office friend " I told my OB and she said I'm fine!" My OB kept a close eye on my BP and got me into the hospital immediately when my BP elevated to high levels. I don't think you are a zealot, you are a concerned person. I never thought I could have a complication in my pregancy, but that one friend reminding me that my feet looked terrible really helped me be more aware. [:I]

Anne
Parker 7/6/03

[akemt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by annegarrett

we have to risk being called zealots, and whackos, and we have to frighten some women so that we might maybe save a few. If you are one of those women that we are frightening--know we are not doing it easily--we don't enjoy scaring you with our experiences--but we want to save you the pain and suffering we experienced so that you might not have a similar story to share one day in the mall when you are sitting with your baby. As I told the woman on the phone--don't you worry about being a total pain in the butt. You are paying this doctor's salary--that is his job. If you have to go back 10x this weekend--YOU GO--because I would rather we be called zealots and whackos--then know that we could have saved someone and we didn't--because fear of looking foolish kept us quiet.

---

Since I know the stories of ladies who had had Pre-e scared me when I read them, I'd maybe put that little blurp where anyone new to the site would read it before reading about someone who delivered at 24 weeks and nearly died...just so they know, we are scaring them for a reason.

Catherine (22)
DH Britton (27)
Emma Margaret (03/02/03) 37 weeks from PIH & oligo
Baby #2 due August 11, 2004

[angelical]

When I talk to a pregnant woman - - friend, relative, stranger -- I usually say "Okay, I HAVE to give you my preeclampsia speech. If I don't I'd never forgive myself if you got it without understanding!" I do feel like a zealot, but if I lost a friend because she didn't know....... [V]

Thank you, Anne, for giving us the courage and the direction in this fight we are all in.

Sharel

------------------------
Sharel & Kevin
Aaron - 28 weeker
Born 5/2/02 due to preeclampsia & HELLP

Our miracle boy is doing great!!

[aimeejane]

Anne, I struggle with that whenever I talk to a pregnant woman I don't know. (The ones I know have heard it many times already! LOL) I usually end up telling my story, if the situation warrants. I figure it's better to scare someone a little than to risk having another pre-e mom as uninformed as I was up until I had my seizures. Maybe we are zealots, but we're zealots doing what little we can to save lives.

Thank you for everything you do! My thoughts will be with you and the family on Saturday.

Aimee - 28
Dh - 30
Ds Nicky - 3/24/00 (28 wks - eclampsia)
Ds Kalen - 7/10/03 (36 weeks - preeclampsia)

[taras mom]

Keep fighting the good fight, Anne![:)]

Carol (38)
DH Bill (40)
Tara Mairichi
12/7-12/9, 2002
The Mightiest Little Angel