I thought this might be a good place to reach out and get some input. I just got back from the dr and got some disturbing news. Yesterday, I had to go to the ER because I had bad "holes" in my vision. I was told that my BP had skyrocketed. They watched me for a few hours, and after it went back down the spots left and they released me. MY doc saw me today and said that I have the beginnings of preeclampsia, and I had a mild stroke according to my MRI. It's ok, but I'm only 23 weeks and this only gets worse as my pregnancy goes on. I'm only 25, so I'm really not thinking age is a factor here.

This is my 5th pregnancy. It's hard to surprise me. I've never had anything like this happen, and would love to hear from someone who has been there. Right now... I'm a little nervous.

I had something sort of similar... my BP shot up and they put me on bedrest for the last 4 weeks of my 2nd pregnancy but I was never hospitalized or anything like that. I had to go to the doctor 3 times a week for the last month and when I wasn't at the doctor, I was supposed to be on bedrest. i didn't take the advice the first week and it continued to climb and I start to bloat up big time. They told me again... Bed Rest... or that's it and we're hospitalizing you so I finally listened. It was hard with an 16 month old running around so I just took it slow, my daughter was still born 2 weeks early but everything turned out ok. I can't offer any advice to you given how early you are in your pregnancy but I would definitely suggest taking it slow. I hope everything works out... I can't imagine having to care for 4 kids and go through a difficult pregnancy.

I'm so sorry you're having problems with your blood pressure with this pregnancy. I had preeclampsia with both of my pregnancies. You are correct about the age, because I was only 19 and 22 when I had the high blood pressure during those pregnancies. I was fortunate with my first that I was able to just be considered a high risk pregnancy during my last month and had to visit the doctor more often. With my second, my pressure had been fine, until 2 weeks before her due date. I was suddenly struck with the worst headache of my life and was rushed from my doctor's office to the hospital and immediately induced because my pressure was so high. I decided I was happy having one boy and one girl. It was in my best interest not to have anymore with my preeclampsia history. My mother also had preclampsia when she was pregnant with me and they put her on bed rest her last month and was allowed to only eat 800 calories a day. I am sure they would never advise that calorie limit in this day and age for someone in the same condition! I wish you the best with your pregnancy and hope everything goes well for you.

My baby is 5 months old, and I had Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) the last 2 months of the pregnancy. I was on bed rest, and my doctor was sure I was going to develop pre-eclampsia, but I was very lucky that I didn't.

Here are some things I learned:

1. Bed rest WORKS! If your doctor tells you to do it, then do it, at all costs.

2. Everybody knows to avoid salt to keep your blood pressure down, but my doctor also told me to avoid sugar and refined carbs. Yeah, that pretty much leaves meat, fruit and veggies, and whole grain. On the positive side, I only gained 12 pounds the entire pregnancy

3. Do a google for 'foods that lower blood pressure'. Cucumber is one of them. Also drink lots of water.

4. Being immersed in water (not necessarily swimming) somehow has a lowering effect on blood pressure.

Take it easy and take care of yourself and that tiny baby! Call your doctor right away if you have a headache, or feel like you have the flu, see spots, or have pain under your rib cage on the right side.

Not only bed rest, but I was told to lay on my left side as much as possible. (that was 11 and 16 years ago, may have changed). Bed rest does work tho, daughter had to be induced 5 weeks early with me on medicine to keep it down. Son I did what I was suppose to and I got to carry him till he was ready

Thanks for all of the advice guys. This is so foreign to me. I had both of my girls really early. I remember them saying that my blood pressure was high but my water would end up breaking really early a couple of days later. The BP was forgotten at that point.

I'm on moderated bedrest. Where you lay down on your left side for 30 minutes every few hours. This isn't easy at all with four kids and a full time job! With Katie I was on complete bedrest for early labor for 4 weeks.... so this is at least a step below that.

I have two specialists appointments next week. That should shed some more light on everything.

Oh if our kids only knew what we went through to get them safely in this world!

I had preeclampsia when I was pregnant with my daughter.. I was put on bedrest at 6 months. Told to do nothing but lay on my left side. I was going to the dr twice a week. Was checked out and was given stress tests every time. I was told to watch for bad headaches. Well I got one it was worse than any migraine that I have ever had. I ended up having to be induced and had my daughter a month early. Hang in there it's tough but you can get through it if you listen to what the dr says..

This happened to me when I was pg with my DD. I was 26. Went to the ER, and my BP was actually normal. I was alter diagnosed with Migraines with Aura. At this point in time, I get daily auras (spots, holes, shimmering stars) on a pretty much constant basis, but no headache. My neuro says I am fine. So, just something to think about.

check out www.preeclampsia.org they have awsome info on this.

I had pre-e at 36w with my last one. I ended up having to be delivered at 36w 2 days because my blood pressure wouldn't go down at all even with meds.

Do tell your doctor if you have a headache across your forehead that does not disappear with meds. Do tell your doctor if your vision keeps messing up.

My ob told me that salt intake has nothing to do with pregnancy high blood pressure. But with this pregnancy he did say to have an extremely high intake of protein to try to help. Here is the website with the diet he gave me. http://www.bradleybirth.com/PD.aspx

And remember sometimes no matter what you do, it doesn't always get better. My ob said delivery of the baby is the only cure. I pray you can make it long enough for the baby to be born healthy.

Thanks for the wisdom guys. You all have been great. Riana- thanks for the site. It's really helpful. Butterflyjuju- The diet looks a lot like what my doc recommended only expanded. Thank you for the info.

Things seem to be leveling out some... hopefully it'll conitnue that way. It's all in God's hands now.

Thanks for caring guys... it means a lot!

I was on bed rest for the last 3 months of my pregnancy with DD #1 with high bp and with DD #2 I found out at wk 30 that i had had 3 mini strokes. The dr. put me on baby asprin! Fortunately both girls are healthy and happy (they are 11 & .

My baby boy just turned 7months.. I had him via csection at 33 weeks due to high blood pressure .. I was having non stress test done 2 a week on top of seeing the dr once a week.. I would see lightning bugs as I desribed them to the dr quite often..went in for a stress test and felt fine nurse comes in takes my bp and says turn on your left side..couldnt get it to go down after about 2 hours the room started spinning my bp was 209/113 ... I was on lovenox due to a blood clotting issue(s shot in the belly each day) so they had to put me to sleep 30 minutes later Jake was here 5lbs 3oz we stayed in the NICU 10 days.. still have bad headaches and high blood pressure to this day.. I will pray for you and your little one..follow drs orders..