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For those of you who are in open adoption situations, where you know the birth mother during her pregnancy, I ask that you keep one thing in mind....
Help her to recognize and seek medical treatment for PREECLAMPSIA. Not all medical professionals understand this disease and how to treat it effectively. So, being proactive may help your birth mom to have a successful pregnancy and you to not have a preemie.
Because, as much as you are looking forward to being parents, having a two-pound baby is not fun.
If you have any questions, post them here, PM me, or go to [url]www.preeclampsia.org.[/url] This is an incredible organization with an active forum.
Good luck!
Sharel
(Mom to my 18-month old bio son, born at 28 weeks due to severe pree/HELLP Syndrome)
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WHAT IS PREECLAMPSIA?
Preeclampsia 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 condition 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.
Typically, preeclampsia occurs after 20 weeks gestation (in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters or middle to late pregnancy), though it can occur earlier. Proper prenatal care is essential to diagnose and manage preeclampsia. Preeclampsia, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) and toxemia are closely related conditions. HELLP Syndrome and eclampsia are other manifestations of the same syndrome. It is important to note that research shows that more women die from preeclampsia than eclampsia and one is not necessarily more serious than the other.
Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 deaths each year.
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Great thread! My son's birthmother had preeclampsia. Fortunately, she had the same thing with her first pregnancy and was receiving excellent prenatal care. We had 1 big scare when she was about 28 weeks, but she was able to make it to 38 weeks! Walker was normal weight and had no complications. His bmother was fine after she delivered.
I think it's wonderful that you posted this. We were scared silly when we found out about this....we live 1200 miles from her, so we couldn't go to the dr appts or be there to help her, other than talk to her on the phone.
Again, thank you for this post, I hope it will be informative to other aparents.:)
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Thanks, misnran1.
I am always trying to think of new people / new groups to tell about the dangers of preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, eclampsia, and/or HELLP Syndrome.
My son was born at 28 weeks because I developed severe preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. At my worst, my liver was shutting down, I was getting swelling in the brain, I developed pulmonary edema (water in the lungs), and my blood pressure was reaching numbers like 235/145.
Luckily I had excellent medical care: my OB recognized that I was getting worse and sent me on to a specialist. (Unfortunately, I did see one specialist that misdiagnosed me; thank goodness I requested a second opinion)
The signs and symptoms of pree are rather easy to miss or to mistreat. A pregnant woman must be very careful, and it is up to her family, friends, everyone to help her with that. I would have probably died (and our son too) had my husband and mother not helped me recognize how bad I was getting.
We were so lucky... I survived and so did Aaron. He is our miracle baby. He was born at 2lbs 5oz, and had to stay in the NICU for 6 weeks. He is an incredible fighter, and is now developmentally on target. Amazing!
So, do me a favor, please watch your birth mothers. Help them to recognize what is happening. While doctors/researchers don't know yet what causes hypertensive-disorders in pregnancy, they do seem to affect very young mothers quite often.
Good luck!
Sharel