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Unfortunately, I'm an expert on this subject. I was pulled out of work a
month early and put to bed.
High blood pressure alone is called Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. It happens
more often in first pregnancies than in subsequent pregnancies.
This is not the same as pre-eclampsia, however high blood pressure is one of the
symptoms of pre-eclampsia, so they watch you carefully for other symptoms
to develop (swelling, headaches, etc - there are other notes that cover this,
like the previous reply. I'm not all that familiar with it).
The problem with PIH is that it is hard on the placenta. It can cause the
placenta to age prematurely, and so the baby's food and oxygen supply can be
reduced. In the worse case, they have to induce labor, because the placenta
can no longer support the baby.
There can be wear and tear on the mother's organs too, if untreated, just like
regular high blood pressure. And, if blood pressure goes high enough, you can
have a stroke. They usually montor you closely during labor, since blood
pressure rises during physical stress.
My midwife told me that she suspects I have a latent blood pressure problem that
will appear at some later time in my life, and pregnancy gave me an early
warning. Knowing ahead of time means I can prevent it from becoming a major
health problem.
High blood pressure is defined to be 20-30 points over normal for the systolic
pressure (first number) and 10-20 points over normal for the diastolic pressure
(second number). For example, if you normally are 120/80, 120/90 or 140/80
would be cause to watch your pressure. I am normally 115/75, so the midwife
became concerned when I hit 130/85 or so.
But, the good news is that PIH is very treatable, usually just with bed rest.
Sometimes they prescribe drugs to help reduce the blood pressure. I heard
recently there has been some success treating this problem with one
baby aspirin a day and I'd ask your provider more about that.
In my case, I spent two weeks still working, but I had to lie down for an hour
three times a day, and then log my blood pressure (Health services at ZKO were
wonderful. They were great about me using their beds, taking my blood pressure
and giving me emotional support).
After two weeks, my blood pressure was still climbing, but very slowing. It went
to 160/90 (I think), and they pulled me out of work on Short-term Disability.
I was put on total bed rest. At first I was told I could get out of bed (or
off the couch) for one hour, three times a day. Then later, I was told I could
get up anytime I wanted, but that the more time I spent lying on my left side,
the better off the baby would be. Basically, this was to help me psychologically
not physically. (having freedom anytime I wanted it made it easier to
lie there). For the first few weeks, I had to take my blood pressure several
times a day, and call the midwife immediately if I went over a certain threshold.
I became very sensitized to blood pressure cuffs. I swear my pressure would
jump if someone walked in the room with one.
They usually do non-stress tests on a weekly basis to monitor the baby and the
placental aging, too. It is also stressful on the parents - as my husband put it,
you can only break even on a NST, you can't actually pass.
The best news of all - women with PIH usually have short labor. As the
midwife put it, "It's like your body says, Enough is enough, and ejects the
baby." Elise was born in 3.5 hours total, from first pain to separation.
So, if this is happening to you, take heart. It's not the end of the world,
altho it feels that way at first. Follow your medical providers instructions and
advice, and it will be ok. If you want to know more, or talk about it, feel
free to send mail or call.
Pat
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| Mild Preeclampsia implies the following:
1. Hypertention with a rise in blodd pressure on two occasions at
least 6 hours apart.
2. Weight gain of more than 3 pounds/week during the second trimester
or more than 1 pound/week during the last trimester.
3. Slight generlized edema (water retention)
4. Protein in the urine (0.3 gm/l)
Severe Preeclampsia includes the symptoms just listed as well as
the following:
1. Hypertension with a blood pressure of 160/110 or more on two
separate occasions 6 hours apart with patient at bed rest
2. Protein in the urine (5gm/24 hours or more)
3. Diminished kidney output
4. Severe generalized headache
5. Visual problems (blurred vision or other visual changes)
6. Epigastric pain or nausea, vomiting
7. Irritability, emotional tension
Eclampsia includes the symptoms of severe preeclampsia and one
or more of the following:
1. Tonic and clonic convulsions or coma, with the coma possibly
following an unobserved seizure unrelated to other seizure
disorders
2. Hypertensive crisis or shock
******************************************************************
I experienced all of the symptoms of severe preeclampsia before
the birth of my last child. A seisure kit was by my hospital
bed and was checked for completeness every half hour until 18 hours
after my baby was born. My vitals (pulse, respiration, refexes,
blood pressure and eyes) were checked every 15 minutes for 12 hours.
I was on Magnesium Sulfate to help control the blood pressure.
This is something the medical profession takes pretty seriously.
Jodi-
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I would be very proactive about taking care of myself and if the
doctor feels she should be on bedrest and that's it's just a matter of
getting the paper work signed, I'd stop work immediately, call in sick,
check with the STD group, and spend my bedrest harrassing either or
both doctors to give you at least a sick note untill the STD forms can
be signed. Toxemia, pre-eclampsia can be serious. I had it early
stages with my first pregnancy and I was out immediately to see if
symptoms would level off or subside. I had an elevated blood pressure
though, so before it got out of hand, I was out of work and off my
feet. Better bed rest at home than at the hospital. I've done both.
Where goes your friend work? If at DEC or another type company, the
STD group usually give s you a week or two to get the paperwork to them
and even then they call you to see where you stand before cutting off
pay, but a regular old sick note should make her manager happy for the
time before the paper work get done. It does sound like it going to be
a very long pregnancy though. OB's usually like you to get to 37 weeks
for obvious reasons, but maybe they aren't really worried becasue they
BP isn't high(er) yet.
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