Signs of Pre-eclampsia

[JoshMumsnet]

We asked Clare, a midwife, to go over the signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia, which affect around 6% of pregnancies.

Do any of you have experience of pre-eclampsia?

[birdling]

I had a terrible pain under my ribs. I ignored it for several days, thinking it was gall stones or feet in ribs. Then i had a routine midwife appointment and my blood pressure was sky high with protein in my urine. I was sent straight to the hospital and didnt come back out for 2 months!
I didn't have any flashing lights and not much swelling so I had no idea beforehand that I'd got preeclampsia. This was my 3rd baby, too, but I hadn't had it in either of the other 2 pregnancies.
I rather enjoyed my hospital stay, it was a nice rest 🤣

[Boulardii]

No actual symptoms other than high blood pressure and protein in urine. Baby was quite small despite making it to term. Blood pressure really rocketed after birth, but only on medication for a short period.
Midwives are really geared up for monitoring for this condition, which is just as well because when untreated, eclampsia can be fatal to the mother.

[Somuchroom]

My midwife didn’t check me on my 36 week appointment because “I had been fine all the other times.” I raised the fact I thought something wasn’t right as my entire body swelled in 15 minutes, I couldn’t wear shoes and had to take off my rings. She told me it was normal. Baby came 3 weeks early. By then I had eclampsia. 2 days after the birth that’s when I crashed. Had seizures. My DH was warned I could have a stroke at any minute. Pumped me full of something. I was in high deendancy unit for a week, discharged myself. On medication for months. I’m now having treatment for PTSD. Please insist that your midwife checks you properly. It was my first baby and I trusted her when I should have trusted my instincts.

[Boulardii]

Crikey, somuchroom, that is awful. I’m so sorry you had such a dangerous and scary experience, and wish you all the best with your recovery

[KissyThief]

I had blood pressure problems and an emergency c section because of pre eclampsia with my first.

For me flashing lights is my big warning sign, but nausea and a slight headache were distinctive in both. If your heavily pregnant and a headache isn’t going away and feel ill, call the midwife.

[LindaLa]

I had it with both of my pregnancies.

I was told it's rare to develop it twice.
I had no symptoms, I was kept in hospital at 36 weeks and induced at 38 weeks with both.
BP immediately back to normal.

I do have a question though.
Whilst there a doctor said that preeclampsia is passed through the fathers side and as my children's father was born early due to it, that's why I developed it.
Is this true?
Does that mean my son but not my daughter, is likely to be part of a preeclamptic pregnancy?

[sayWat06]

I had a very easy pregnancy but the last couple of months my feet and legs became huge! Midwives not too worried as was hot weather. Did get blind spots in vision but paid no notice to them, wasn't until I was at a midwife appointment at 41 weeks they picked up protein in urine and was kept in hospital (was in early labour at this point).