Questions for STMs that had pre-e with their first

[wicked22]

Hello Ladies, My first was born 8 weeks early due to sever pre-e last year. I'm currently very newly pregnant (maybe 4 weeks) I'm just now experiencing some blurred vision. I have already called to book a appointment with a new OB and waiting for a call back. My old one is currently out of network because of stupid insurance issues. Is this something to really worry about this early or am I just being overly cautious?

Again I'm waiting on a call back for an appointment and left a quick history, just looking quick mommy advise.   

[buckeyes]

You are probably being overly cautious. Have you checked your BP?

[laurasuzanne2006]

Too early. It occurs after 20 weeks

[littleowl913]

I'm sure you're being overly cautious but you should get your BP checked. If you don't have one at home, you can go to a CVS or the equivalent near you. Since I had severe pre-e last time, I'm under the care of a MFM doctor because I'm automatically considered high risk because of the previous pre-e diagnosis. You should start looking for one if your new OB office doesn't have one in their practice.

[laurasuzanne2006]

Jun 10, 2015 19:52:40 GMT -5 littleowl913 said:

I'm sure you're being overly cautious but you should get your BP checked. If you don't have one at home, you can go to a CVS or the equivalent near you. Since I had severe pre-e last time, I'm under the care of a MFM doctor because I'm automatically considered high risk because of the previous pre-e diagnosis. You should start looking for one if your new OB office doesn't have one in their practice.

This can depend. I'm not seeking high risk care unless I start showing signs and symptoms

[wicked22]

Thank you ladies for your replies. New OB didn't seem concerned and he's not a strictly a high risk doctor but has experience with previous pre-e patients. They do have 4 high risk doctors on staff if I need to switch though. There is just so much running through my head about how quick everything happened last time that I get nervous about little things.

[anonymouseliza]

I was only mild pre-e right at the end (though elevated bp from 20 weeks on). Right now, my OB just has me monitoring at home and my MFM isn't bothered and happy to leave all the monitoring/concern to my OB (he's mostly there for the IC/cerclage). If I get concerned, I take my bp, but mostly, it's been a non-issue. My BP was very elevated when I went in for my cerclage, but that was just nerves, apparently. It was back to normal after surgery.

[Divefrog]

Jun 11, 2015 11:14:25 GMT -5 laurasuzanne2006 said:

Jun 10, 2015 19:52:40 GMT -5 littleowl913 said:

I'm sure you're being overly cautious but you should get your BP checked. If you don't have one at home, you can go to a CVS or the equivalent near you. Since I had severe pre-e last time, I'm under the care of a MFM doctor because I'm automatically considered high risk because of the previous pre-e diagnosis. You should start looking for one if your new OB office doesn't have one in their practice.

This can depend. I'm not seeking high risk care unless I start showing signs and symptoms

+1 I didn't have high risk care with my first delivery until they admitted me to the hospital to deliver,a nd really that was only consultation. My midwife still was my primary provider.

I specifically inquired after delivery whether I would be considered high risk, or have any special monitoring requirements the next time I because pregnant and I was told no. My midwife will monitor my BP and look for protein in my urine as she would any of her patients.

[crimsonandclover]

It's too early for pre-e, but you should still keep an eye on your BP. With all the extra blood your body has to produce in 1st tri it can made your BP drop, maybe leading to blurred vision. Also, I remember reading in my Mayo Clinic pregnancy book that because all the fluids in your body are changing, it can lead to a change in pressure in your eye, which can then lead to blurred vision. If it's that, they say it will return to normal at the latest after delivery.

I had HELLP with my first, btw, and nothing happened with DD2. I'm now pregnant with LO3 and hope I can avoid it this time around, too! Good luck to you!

[crimsonandclover]

Estimates range from 20-28% (approx) on your chances for getting it again. Your chances are higher the worse and earlier you got it.
There are different opinions on whether anything can help prevent it in women who have had it before. Some say heparin shots, some say baby aspirin, some say neither really does anything. The university clinic I go to and my OB are of the opinion that baby aspirin started before 16w reduces your risk by half - so 10% instead of 20%. It's a very high level university clinic, and I assume they have studies to back this up, although I've never seen any myself. It's worth talking to your drs about, though.
One extra bit of info you should know: Somewhere out there are studies that say you only have a 2% (approx) chance of getting it earlier than you did the first time. (Or something like: 20% of women got it again, 10% of those got it earlier). However, the high risk OB in the hospital I saw said that "earlier" in my case meant before 30w. I had DD1 at 34w1d. I was pretty surprised about that because there is obviously a huge difference between 30 and 34 weeks! But officially, it only counts as "earlier" if it happens before 30w (if you got it after 30w the first time around). So that's just as a heads up when you're looking at statistics.