My Pre-eclampsia Story

After the 20 week mark my ankles started to swell up (by the end of my pregnancy I was the size of a house!) and I developed headaches. According to my midwives and all the literature out there it was considered normal especially when my antenatal checks were so perfect... I even went abroad on holiday 3 weeks before my due date!

2 days after my due date I woke up to some mild cramping pains followed by trickles of water. I called my husband to let him know I was "on my way".

God, we were both so excited! By the time he arrived, 20 minutes later, I was very uncomfortable. Contractions came every 4-5 minutes and were so strong that I had to focus. I put on my TENS and hopped on the birthing ball. The day went by and my contractions stayed strong, 4-7 minutes apart.
I was getting quite tired so we decided to go to the hospital. I will never forget that ride and back...to Bob Marley!

As my pregnancy was low-risk, I was supposed to have a natural birth in the birthing pool in the birthing centre with dim lights, gentle music, aromatherapy, the works!

I was examined and turned out I was only 1 cm! How discouraging! I was gutted! We were sent home where I laboured all night. The contractions were still 4-7 min apart and the same strength. I was rocking, walking, taking baths, dancing...

I woke my husband up at 7am, 24 hours after my contractions started and told him I was exhausted and we decided to make our way to the hospital.

They measured my blood pressure and took urine sample and...it all went down the hill from there..

Turns out my BP was through the roof and there was a lot of protein in my urine...The verdict - severe pre-eclampsia...

I was escorted downstairs to the labour ward and then it became a big blur.

At some point there were around 15 people in my room, I was put on so many meds, oxytocin...needles...machines...Two and a half years later and I still get teary when remembering...

The doctors were pushing epidural on me to try to lower my blood pressure. I reluctantly agreed (only my husband knows what an achievement it was on my part as I was absolutely terrified of it). Guess what, it didn't work! When they mentioned that they would have to try again, I refused. Of course, they pulled out a trump card saying I was putting my baby and my own life in danger.

That's when I (absolutely high on meds and gas and air) started to beg some doctor to end it all...

To be honest, thinking about it now, I don't even know what I meant... Well, 30 mins later I was wheeled to the theatre to have a C-section under the general anaesthetic. My poor husband was absolutely horrified. I will never forget his face when the doors closed..

My daughter was born. My husband was the first one to hold her. I came round on the way to recovery...Oh my God - the pain! I was screaming for drugs!

She was born tiny, 5lbs, and diagnosed with IUGR ( intra-uterine growth restriction). They should have delivered earlier. She was better off earthside. I still feel guilty about keeping her in for so long and starving her.

There was no bonding, breastfeeding to start with...I was hooked up to monitors, BP cuff, IV's for days. My head was pounding, I was thirsty, I was out of it. Sometimes I would hear my baby cry and a nurse would come, make a big fuss and cup feed her.

So, yeah, to sum up - it was a horrible experience. What was meant to be the best day of my life turned out into a nightmare. Family and friends can't really relate to what I have been through. All I hear is "Well, at least you've had a healthy baby".

That doesn't take away the pain and horror we've been through. My babygirl is healthy and bubbly but we are still shaken up...

Pre-eclampsia is a nasty disease that leaves its mark forever...

Pre-eclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby.

Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive disease characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.

Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms.

Basically,it's a disease of the placenta when at some point the mother's immune system can't tolerate the placenta any longer so multiple organ failure occurs, and the baby often has to be delivered very early

The most significant risk factors for pre-eclampsia are:

• Previous history of pre-eclampsia, particularly if onset is before the third trimester


• History of chronic high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disorder (including in the family)


• Obese women


• Multiple gestation


• Over 40 or under 18 years of age


• Polycystic ovarian syndrome


• Lupus or other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis or MS


• Pre-existing hypertension (high blood pressure)


• Repeat miscarriages


• Fertility treatment

Unfortunately,the 100% answer still hasn't been discovered.There are many many theories, however, today most scientists agree that the problem lies in the shallow implantation of the placenta to begin with where the placenta's spiral arteries just don't get in there deeply enough.

Experts from the Pre-eclampsia foundation state the following:

If patient developes severe preeclampsia before 28 weeks, recurrence
rate in subsequent pregnancy is 60%. One third of those will be
before 28 weeks again.

If she develops severe disease at 28-36 weeks, recurrence rate is
about 40%. One third will be at same gestational age.

Pre-eclampsia at term, recurrence rate is at 15-20%.

Based on our studies with HELLP, recurrence rate is always <5% even
for those who develop it at <28 weeks. However, these women remain at high risk for pre-eclampsia.

In general,laboratory values for preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome:

Renal
Proteinuria of >300 mg/24 h
Urine dipstick >1+
Protein/creatinine ratio >0.3
Serum uric acid >5.6 mg/dL
Serum creatinine >1.2 mg/dL

Low platelets/coagulopathy
Platelet count <100,000/mm3
Elevated PT or aPTT
Decreased fibrinogen
Increased d-dimer

Hemolysis
Abnormal peripheral smear
Indirect bilirubin >1.2 mg/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase >600 U/L

Elevated liver enzymes
Serum AST >70 U/L8

They say never argue with people over politics, religion or football. Well, ,they should add Dr Brewer's diet and pre-eclampsia to the list. If everytime I had an arguement with someone over this and given a dollar, I'd be a rich woman now.

How many times have I heard that following Dr Brewer's diet helped and pre-eclampsia never came back...The thing is there is no way of proving that the desease didn't occur due to the diet and not because the placenta didn't fail this time. Remember that most pregnant women do not develop pre-eclampsia and even when they do, it's unlikely to happen again.

Some of you are convinced that you had preeclampsia symptoms and the diet shook it off, like swelling, for example. However, swelling is quite common during pregnancy, and, alone, is not sufficient enough for pre-eclampsia diagnosis.

I also know of women who followed the Brewer diet religiously and it didn't work, and for some of them who, turns out, had an underlying kidney condition, it made things worse. Even if you didn't, think about it - your kidneys are working extra hard when you are pregnant, let alone when you become pre-eclamptic so why would you force them to work even harder by eating tonnes of protein?

I tell you what really gets to me. Google Dr Brewer's diet, and every website advocating his theories basically states that "the basic cause of the elevated blood pressure in pregnancy is the lack of the right kinds of food."
Statements like these are implying that the mother is not eating properly, i.e it's all our fault.

It's bad enough that his followers swear that this diet is a miracle cure and prevention while science says there is none, but also imply that it's our own fault due to poor nuitrition or whatever.

Ladies, by any means, eat healthy, especially when you are pregnant. Balanced diet and the right amount of protein are crucial.

However, when it comes to pre-eclampsia, remember that there is NO peer-reviewed research or evidence supporting a causal link between Brewer's diet and pre-eclampsia

Comes next pregnancy and we are dreading pre-eclampsia reocurring. We are determined to do everything in our power to keep it at bay.

1. Get hold of your previous maternal records. You need to know exactly what happened. Find out your blood work results, the state of your kidneys and liver. Was your placenta and the cord examined?

2. Have extensive blood works done now. Insist if they refuse. You need to know whether you have any underlying disorders (kidney, liver problems, autoimmune disease,etc). Those can be treated with various medications (e.g aspirin, Lovenox, labetalol, etc)

3. During 2 trimester they can give you a Doppler ultrasound to detect abnormal uterine artery. If something is up, they can put you on aspirin.

4. At 25-28 weeks (or earlier, depending on what your doc says) let them evaluate fetal growth. A lot of pe babies have IUGR (growth restriction). If a problem is detected, then you can have weekly (or more frequent) tests (non-stress test and bio-physical profile).

5. Should the worst happen, they will check your baby's lung maturity (amniocentesis - it's unpleasant but does not hurt that much). If the lungs are not quite ready, they can give you steroid injections. Then they will deliver.

I cannot stress enough on how important it is to watch out for the symptoms. If you feel that something is not quite right, let them know. If you feel that you are not being heard, insist or change doctors. You know your body better than anyone.

It's better to be safe than sorry!

Buy at AllPosters.com



Ours For Always

How does one measure how long it had been? By the number of sunsets or by the tears that have fallen? The sweet solitude of slumber gives way to morning-teared memories of all that used to be when I had you safe inside of me. Our time together is no more. Only God knows why you went away. Sometimes I forget you are no longer here as I lovingly whisper your name. And then I remember... and life is not the same

Debbie Dickinson

During my research I came across an amazing website - Pre-eclampsia foundation.

It is full of doctors, researchers, professors, etc. There is a forum there that I found absolutely invaluable.Suddenly, I didn't feel so isolated any longer.

The Pre-eclampsia Site
Action on Pre-eclampsia
Diagnosis and Management of Pre-eclampsia - American Academy of Family Physicians

Good articles in the press on the mechanisms of preeclampsia:
The New Yorker: The Preeclampsia Puzzle - A must read!
New York Times: Silent Struggle: A New Theory of Pregnancy

Preeclampsia stories - Personal accounts of survival and tragedy