Urgent: How can you tell if fingers / face / calves swollen 'enough' to be pre-eclampsia?

[Stardown]

DP is 30 weeks pregnant and in the beginning of pregnancy had high blood pressure and a bit of protein in urine.

The last couple of days she has been feeling a very odd tingling sensation in her left arm, not pins and needles but more like pressure, and achey almost like flu-type symptoms (but no other flu symptoms). She's also had some possible Braxton Hicks, lots of episodes last 3 days or so of tightening across tummy, very hard spots, and lots of pressure.

This morning she said her face looked different and I think it looks a bit puffy but not hugely - fingers also are looking a bit puffy and calves?

We have felt baby move - is that indicative that it's not pre-eclampsia? DP's mum had suspected PE as DP was born at 23 weeks. DP also has Gestational Diabetes, baby has single umbilical artery, and reduced amniotic fluid - we had a scan this week which showed he was growing okay.

Should we go to hospital, phone midwife in the morning, or just wait until next appointment on Wednesday with the specialist??

[Stardown]

Should say have not had protein in urine or high blood pressure since 20 weeks.

[muslimah28]

i definitely wouldn't wait until wednesday. the only way of knowing is with a urine test as far as i know. perhaps you could phone the hospital (their no should be in your notes) and get some proper medical advice? or phone the mw in the morning. i don't think anyone here will be able to say whether your dp has PE or not, you need a medic to check her out.

[redandyellowandpinkandgreen]

The tingly sensation sounds like carpal tunnel which is common in pregnancy and associated with swelling. She needs to get a urine test and her blood pressure checked though I would say.

I am puffy with high-ish BP and protein in urine but am just being regularly checked. I am meant to seek medical help if I get headaches, see flashing lights, am sick or get pain under my ribs so keep an eye out for that and seek immediate help if she has any of those symptoms.

[StrikeUpTheBand]

Go tonight. You don't even have to have all the symptoms for it to be preeclampsia. Trust me, I've had it twice and the first time noone diagnosed me for a week...I'm afraid it didn't have a good outcome . 2nd time I didn't even have swelling. I never had visual disturbances.

Please, take your DP to get checked out. It is a very dangerous condition and the midwives and doctors would rather see you 20 times and it be nothing than you stay away wondering and worrying. Phone up in advance and say you are concerned and when you go in bring plenty of things to keep you both comfortable and things to read. But do go, just in case. It's probably nothing, but just in case.

Hope that helps.

[StrikeUpTheBand]

PS 1st time I was 23 weeks, 2nd time I was 29 weeks and eventually had DS at 31+3. He was fine and now a healthy 3-yr old but I wish I'd gone in sooner with DS1 .

[onimolap]

Go straight away, or at least ring up now if you have the number for the obstetric unit at the hospital she's under.

[Sparklies]

I would get it looked into asap.

BUT - it could very well be nothing as that was how I felt from about 28 weeks with my first. My ankles were so puffy you couldn't see the bone and my loos-ish wedding ring came off at 32 weeks. I had the carpal-tunnel-esque sensations as well. My blood pressure was normal and nothing was wrong.

Do you not have a home blood pressure monitor? Might be worth investing in one if things do turn out to be alright just for reassurance/to alert you in the future.

[BitOfFun]

Just get it checked out medically straihtaway. We can't possibly tell,and pre-eclampsia is relatively common (I had it) and rather serious.

[MrsShrekTheThird]

also would say if you even suspect then get checked asap. I only had slightly podgy-feeling fingers, nothing else to see, and had PE. DD's movements were ok at the time as well, she was born just before 37wks. I had sky-high blood pressure and protein as you mention.

[Julezboo]

Please get her checked out ASAP. I had swelling and my midwife ignored it and although my baby was born at 31 weeks and is fine now (8yo) I wasnt so lucky and became very poorly.

Please get her checked out tonight x

[bruffin]

I was very swollen, i couldn't get any of my shoes on, my ankles looked like elephants. I also had high blood pressure from 32 weeks and was then taken into hospital where I stayed for nearly two months. I was induced when DS was 38 weeks and my blood pressure shot up again and I started getting protein in my urine. I felt ds move all the time.

I would ring midwife long before wednesday.