Pre-eclampsia

My wife is on modified bed rest at the hospital until she delivers. She's been at the hospital for the last week and she will be 28 weeks on Tuesday. The dr wants to get to at least 28 weeks and hopefully to 30 or so. Does anyone know what determines when the baby has to be delivered during pre-eclampsia? Is it when the blood pressure is at a certain level, the protein levels, kidney or liver issues, etc? My wife's bp had been in the 130s and 140s over low 80s, 90s until today when it was in the 150s,160s until settling to 147 over 90 in the evening. My wife hasnt slept well the last couple of nights and was upset early in the day so I dont know if this may have caused the higher bp. I didnt get a chance to talk to the dr. today, but I spoke with one of the nurses and she thought that sleep deprivation may have been a factor. My wife took an ambient sleeping pill tonight to get a good night's sleep so hopefully that will help. The nurse also told me that my wife's last 24 hour urine sample was okay or better than the previous one. I need to get some answers because I really need to know how my wife's condition is faring and what to expect as far as delivery date. I dont know if the dr. could give my wife something for her blood pressure or not. Of, course we want my wife to hold the baby as long as possible. Any advice and info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Re: Pre-eclampsia

If your wife is in the hospital for preeclampsia she should be on meds already for bp, especially if her bp is that high.

They will generally deliver early if the bp is totally uncontrolled, there are signs of kidney or liver insufficiency or if the baby is in distress or not growing properly from diminished blood flow through placenta.

for your wife and baby.

Re: Pre-eclampsia

They usually try magnesium if her blood pressures are uncontrolled and very high. I delivered at 37 weeks and my bp was well into the 200's / 100's. There are many factors to pre eclampsia. The best is to discuss everything with her doctor as far as plan of action. Good luck to all of you. Bed rest can do amazing things my bps were 160/90s around 28 weeks.

Re: Pre-eclampsia

I don't have any advice... just lots of for your wife & baby!

Re: Pre-eclampsia

My guess is that its not just the numbers. Ive seen 130/90 and didnt have pre eclampsia. Its probably more about the protein in the urnine, your wife throwing up (last week) and the distress on the baby. Praying that your little one can hang out a little longer Is your wife feeling a little better?

Re: Pre-eclampsia

I dont think numbers have anything to really do with when the dr will deliver the baby. I know that they try to get you as far as they possibly can without putting the mother in danger. I had pre-eclampsia but I developed it towards the end of my pregnancy and was induced a week early, so I am not much help there.

I had issues with my bp until well after I delivered. Despite getting my meds being upped, my bp would just get higher. My bp didnt go down until I was 5 weeks post partum. I know its hard but she really needs to try and sleep as much as she can. My bp was through the roof when I didnt sleep well at night! My dr told me I had to rest or he was going to put me back in the hospital to force me to rest. Then again I mean how are you supposed to sleep well at a hospital when all those people come in and bother you??? lol

Anyway, I hope your wife starts to feel better and I pray for a safe delivery for baby and mommy.

Re: Pre-eclampsia

actually the numbers and how shes feeling have EVERYTHING to do with how long they keep her pregnant. if shes stable and nothing changes, she can stay pregnant until the baby is big enough to deliver. if at any point it becomes more dangerous for her to be pregnant than it is for the baby to be born, that's when they will deliver.

i was put in the hospital for pre-e at 32w4d. they wanted to get my to 36w although my doctor said he thought i had about 10-14 days. at that point my 24 hour urine was bad but my BP was ok. however i had low amniotic fluid and was measuring 30-31w so the placenta was already failing at that point. i was told if i had a headache or any vision changes, they would deliver me since those are signs of pre-e progressing. i was fine for four days. the night before the fifth day i went to bed with heartburn and woke up at 2am with horrible soreness under my ribs and around my back, it was so bad that i couldnt sleep. i knew as soon as i told them it would lead to delivering my baby. i waited a few hours to see if it subsided but it didn't. at 6am i told them and they ran blood. at that point my BP was still tolerable - it was in the 140-150's. but my bloodwork came back bad with high liver enzymes and low plateletsand i had developed HELLP syndrome which is a complication of pre-e. i was sent down to l&d and ended up delivering that day (33w1d) via c-section (although they were going to induce me until the sono showed baby was breech).

i dont think that they can give your wife any meds for BP while she is still pregnant. thats why she has to stay in the hospital, so her BP can be monitored VERY closely. as soon as i delivered they started giving me labetalol for BP and i'll be on it until about 6-8 weeks post partum. also, lack of sleep DEFINITELY effects BP so she needs to rest and stay calm as much as possible.

im assuming the hospital has given your wife the steroid shots for the baby's lungs?? we did this and i truly believe it made all the difference. was 3lb 8oz at birth but was only on the vent and c-pap for 2 days. shes been breathing fine ever since. i really feel the shots made a huge difference.

good luck to you and feel free to FM if you have any questions.

Message edited 6/5/2011 1:31:12 PM.

Re: Pre-eclampsia

With me it was my liver enzymes were insanely high from HELPP syndrome and I started having small contractoins at 33 weeks.. while i was in the hostpial.. if the blood pressure goes over 200/100 i know they will do emergency c section... honestly she will be so happy when its over.. pre-eclampsia is horrible .. steriod shots are a life saver for the baby!