to ask for pregnancy advice? I'm not feeling great.

[GoodNewsTwo]

34 weeks pregnant and had some blood tests back. I have:

• high BP found in my appointment
• protein in my urine
• very anaemic
• urinary tract infection

Now I think to myself, no wonder I have been feeling like utter shit. I'm run down, tired, exhausted in fact. Feel like I can't breathe properly as baby is so high up. Can't stand the idea of being pregnant for another 6 weeks. Suffering from GAD and worsening OCD.

Anyone any tips on how to make the last few weeks more comfortable? Does everyone go through this stage where they're done with pregnancy? Don't get me wrong I am so happy to be having a baby and after numerous miscarriages, one very late, I am so grateful. I'm also feeling like utter shite and don't know how I'm going to get through the next 6 weeks...

Are they keeping an eye on the high BP and protein? I don't have much advice as I didn't get as far as your stage due to severe pre eclampsia but I hope they're monitoring you xx

Are you still working? Growing another human being and working will be exhausting.
Are you taking iron tablets for the anaemia?
When is your next midwife appt to check your bp?
Getting through until the end just takes patience which is easy for me to say I know! Have something to look forward each day - a bath, a piece of cake, shopping for baby clothes, meeting friends etc. That will help to focus on things other than how you physically feel.

I can't help medically but would you benefit from ante natal yoga? I'm really not a natural yogi but even I found this wonderfully relaxing and balancing. In fact I would nod off at the end of the class all the time!

@xJessica nope, they're absolutely rubbish. She said it's only borderline (though my Systolic has jumped more than 40 and diastolic 30). It's not super high, but it's definitely jumped up from normal. Suggesting I need monitoring. My midwife didn't actually notice it had spiked until I pointed it out and she had an 'oh yeah' moment. Hands and feet swelled up and I went to the MLU to get checked out. She said considering the jump in bp I should be monitored, but my midwife is away for 3 weeks so I have bought my own blood pressure machine and am just doing it myself.

@Chocolatecake12 I am. I only have 4 weeks left so am pushing through!

I am taking iron tablets, I have to now until baby is born.

Next midwife appointment is in 5 weeks. I'm not being looked at properly for my jump in BP at all. I should be.

I think it would all be easier if I wasn't working but I just can't afford to give it up just yet!

High BP and protein in the urine can be a sign of preeclampsia, I also had this quite severe...was ill for about 2 weeks and had my DS at 32+5.

As xJessica said I hope they’re monitoring you x

Are you not seeing a doctor? You need to see someone. They will often deliver at 37 weeks for pre eclampsia and you need extra scans etc! Not a monthly review!

If your MW is shit then get booked in with the GP.

Some surgeries have the (more hi tech) self service BP machines as well.

If in any doubt get yourself in for monitoring.

You definitely sound at risk of pre eclampsia. I had a small jump in blood pressure snd midwife had me in for weekly checks and send me for extra monitoring.
Your midwife sounds really lapse.
If she is not specifically available you should be able to get an appt. with someone else in team.
I think you should be calling tomorrow and asking for appt.

@mrbob ok, full story...

My BP is usually about 85/60. It always has been. It's jumped to around 130/90. It's not too high, but it's high for me and it needs to be looked at considering how much it has jumped.

My midwife didn't notice because it didn't technically count as high BP. Again, it's high for me and a difference like that should be monitored.

Notes said I had protein in my urine. I didn't actually know this until I read my notes. Then got a letter from hospital with a prescription.

Because I have a uti, this is the reason that has been put down for having protein in my urine. Doesn't mean I don't also have one eclampsia.

Hands and feet swelled up to crazy size so I went to MLU. They took my blood pressure, said it was high for me but not too high (but I do need to get it monitored by community gp). Community gp is on leave for 3 weeks. I can't get hold of her and there doesn't seem to be anyone in her place who can give me an appointment. I'm taking my own blood pressure daily, have had to spend money on a machine, it went up to 150/95 today. All I can do is chart it.

This isn't the first time I have been let down by my midwife and won't be the last...

She also forgot to take my 28 week bloods, and didn't do a urine test at my last appointment. Hasn't weighed me at all (I weighed myself the other day and realised I've put on too much weight) - she's rubbish. I'm so disappointed and she is one of the causes of my bad anxiety.

I agree you’re showing early signs of pre eclampsia & in your position I wouldn’t be waiting 5 weeks for another appointment.

If I was you I’d see my GP for another BP check or go straight to the MAU for a proper review. Even if they still say you’re within normal range it’s better to be checked & you’re never wasting anyone’s time.

Take care & if you’re worried or your symptoms worsen go straight to the MAU.

You sound at risk of preeclampsia so do be careful and go in as often as you need.
Also if the iron tablets constipate you start taking lactulose / fig syrup/ prune juice like there’s no tomorrow, it’s the last thing you need!

I think you should see your GP too OP, sad to say but the NHS is under too much strain atm and people are slipping through the net. If you feel you should be being monitored then you probably should, don’t be afraid to push for it.

But she should have told you what to do if it went higher! Did she do bloods? Your hospital should have some sort of place you can go for these sorts of things. Or a doctor available? You REALLY need to be reviewed again in the next few days

MAU! That’s the place. Working overseas now and had forgotten what it was called

I think it's the change in BP which is significant, not how it compares to normal ranges. My BP is pretty low so when it went up it would have been classed as fine for most people.

Can you call surgery tomorrow and tell them you've been told you need BP/swelling monitoring and ask WHO is going to do this. I don't think it's enough for you to do it - they need to review you as whole and not just your BP.

Can you go back to mlu and explain the situation, your concerns, and your current care plan (ie not being seen for another 5 weeks)? Surely they’ll have ti do something about it, and will be better placed than a GP to get proper midwife care for you...

Is an MLU a maternity assessment unit at a hospital?

You need to listen to yourself, you've said it yourself, YOU NEED proper monitoring. And you're right, it's about the difference in numbers, not what the number is now. 30+ point jumps is too much but with the protein as well, you need far more guidance. I'm astonished you've already got swollen ankles and haven't been set a plan. The hospital I worked at said that once I started having that level of symptoms, it was no longer a midwife led pregnancy and I saw an obstetrician.

I had similar numbers and was scanned/ bloods once a week, and then twice a week... and then stayed in and was induced.

Anyone you can ring, make an appt to see, walk in?

I know you can't afford to stop working, but actually I'm not sure you can afford not to.

Meanwhile, keep a log of your bp results, and look out for seeing stars/ black dots in front of your eyes, feeling woozy.

Are you taking antibiotics for the uti?

I managed to get from 30 to 38 weeks, but in hindsight I should've fessed up earlier.

I’d be concerned in your position, too.

V slow typing, but yes to all advice above!

@mrbob nope this is another thing, haven't had any bloods done!

My uncle is a GP and he is furious. You guys are just solidifying exactly what he's told me.

I have antibiotics yes, thankfully!

I genuinely believe that my spike in anxiety has been caused by the care, or lack of, that I have received throughout my pregnancy.

My legs suddenly swelled up at 35 weeks really bad. I'd had my blood pressure and urine taken three days before and told all was fine. I then started vomiting constantly with violent pain under my ribs and could not sit or lay down. I rang midwife and they didn't want to know . Called gp who said get down to a&e. I was induced the next day due to sever preeclampsia and had dd a day later.

Oh and the doctor at a&e rang through to the midwife unit saying I needed to be admitted immediately. The midwives on the unit put the doctor on hold so they could rant about "another one coming in early that didn't need to be here" except they forgot to put the doctor on hold . No wonder they were extra nice when I arrived at the maternity unit

Pressed too soon! If I were you I'd get on the phone to your gp as your midwife(s) seem useless! This is yours and your child's life at stake.