PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for September, 2001: Re: (Severe?) Toxemia after delivery

Re: (Severe?) Toxemia after delivery

From: M. Kelly Shanahan, MD, (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 7 Sep 2001 00:35:06 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: Carlos: "(Severe?) Toxemia after delivery"

At Thu, 06 Sep 2001, Carlos wrote: >
>Hi there,
>
>My wife delivered an 8lb 13oz baby boy on Aug 23rd. She delivered
>naturally, but had an elongated and difficult labor in which she
>developed toxemia on day of the delivery. Labor lasted four days.
>
>On the day of delivery, she had protein in her urine, elevated blood
>pressure (160/101), hyper reflexsive, and bad swelling. She was given
>Magnesium Sulfate to prevent further problems, and the staff decided to
>give her Pitocin via IV in order to speed labor along and get baby out
>sooner.
>
>One week after delivery, and she still has severe swelling in the
>genitals, legs, and feet. She still has high blood pressure (154/98
>today), and is now walking around with a cathodor to drain her bladder
>as she cannot control it.
>
>She cannot care for the baby because she is in such pain/discomfort that
>she is basically immobile. This has her extremely depressed. She is
>breastfeeding him, which helps, but she expected to feel BETTER after
>having him, not WORSE.
>
>I want to know if there is anything that can be done to help her body
>recover, and if the persistence of symptoms is something to worry about.
>We've been to the OB, who's opinion is that we should wait it out longer
>and see what happens. I'm concerned for her that she might develop more
>serious complications (kidney damage). All he did was insert the
>cathodor and prescribe vicodine.

with blood pressures that remain this high, we often begin antihypertensives (meds ot lower blood pressure). SHje needs to be monitored closely -- preeclampsia and even eclamptic seizures can occur even after delivery >
>On the upside, baby seems healthy -- he was born flacid, but only
>remained so for about 15-30 seconds. I'm told he sustained no organ
>damage and is perfectly fine. I believe them, but in the back of my
>mind I worry about brain or other organ damage, as he was totally flacid
>on delivery and blue as well.
>
>Please help.
>
>Thanks.
>Carlos

-- M. Kelly Shanahan, MD, FACOG South Lake Tahoe, CA

author, Your Over-35 Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide available in all major bookstores and on-line at amazon.com

****Responses are for educational purposes only and do not construe a doctor-patient relationship. This does not replace a face-to-face consultation with your own doctor.****

***Private e-mails will NOT be answered***

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