Preeclampsia at 20 weeks!

[chamama]

I have just been diagnosed with preeclampsia at 20 weeks. The baby is is far smaller than expected. Has anyone else experienced this at such an early stage and what have your experiences been (both bad and good please).

[dons88]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your pre-eclampsia I haven't been through it myself but my mum had it a couple of years ago when pregnant with my youngest sister. She was diagnosed slightly later than you (30 weeks I think) she was monitored closely and told she absolutely had to rest at home. Her blood pressure became very high so she had a 10 day stay in hospital before being induced at 38 weeks. I hope it reassures you to know that baby was absolutely fine - 6lb 2oz so dainty but perfectly formed and mum was fine too. They were allowed home the day after the birth.

Try to rest as much as you can to keep your bp under control and listen to your doctors. Such a shame that you've been diagnosed so early in your pregnancy but I'm sure that you and your baby will be absolutely fine.

Take care

[chamama in reply to dons88]

Thanks Dons88, it is great that your little sister was fine. I wish I was further on to give my little one the best chance but I am resting and eating loads and just trying to grow this baby for as long a s possible. It is very encouraging to hear that your mother was able to delay delivery for 8 weeks after diagnosis.

[ritz21]

My mom had it with all 5 pregnancies, in her first pregnancy (30 years ago) they dint realized it to be as serious, just told my mom to eat and rest but the baby was born pre-term and did not survive.

Than came my chance - she was given some external drugs and injections to keep me growing (born blue - because of lack of oxygen) now about to have my own baby girl and doing pretty well and healthy (touch-wood). with the third one again the girl dint survive as she stopped growing even before the 20th week.

My brother was a big size pink baby again some additional hormonal injections were given to mom (he weighed 9 pounds)

My sister was slightly under-weight and had jaundice when she was born - again mom had some injections

Rest was not that easy for her she has always been an active lawyer

[Son1602]

Hiya....

I got preeclampsia at 21 weeks but wasn't diagnosed till 26. By then, my bp was too crazy so they kept me in hospital till the birth of my baby.... Which wasn't long. They had to do emergency c-section at 27+6wks as baby was not growing and I was getting more ill. My little one spent first 2 months in an incubator and one month in special care. BUT she eventually came home and she's 18 months now and so cheeky! You'd never know what she's been through. And I'm fine now too. I'm actually 21wks pregnant today.. Eek!! But I've been going weekly to the hosp since I was 16 weeks and have meds this time to try keep the preeclampsia at bay. So far so good. Hopefully now they know about you, they will be able to give you meds etc to help but be prepared for early delivery. Hope I'm not scaring you too much!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I'm a pro with preeclampsia/premmie babies lol. AND ur the first person I've come across in a similar situation. Hope all goes well for u hun.