To not wait at the maternity day unit

[GreenHeather271]

38 weeks pregnant, had a routine midwife appointment today and she noticed one a ankle and leg was swollen (DVT risk indicator). Suggested I call triage who told me to come in, they did my observations, sent me to the maternity day unit, and I’m now waiting for a doctor. No other symptoms, just one leg and ankle swollen more than the other and a slight feeling of heaviness in that leg. No headache, no high BP, no pain, leg not feeling particularly warm. Wait to see a doctor is apparently 4-6 hours - as bad as A&E. AIBU to leave and pick up some compression socks, keep legs elevated and come back if it gets worse or any other symptoms appear?

Just stay there. You might need their help.

Why would you risk it? Get someone to bring you some food in and a book, and just camp out there for the day.

If you left and it got worse you’re at the arse end of that wait all over again. Just stay put and get it checked.

Stay put. Yes it’s 4 - 5 hours but you are in a medical facility and they can keep an eye on you.

You don’t mess around with query DVT as they can be lethal.

Why would you go against medical advice?

At 38 weeks, there isn't a better way to spend 4-6 hours than keeping you and your baby healthy. If the staff thought socks and elevation would sort this out, they'd be glad to send you home.

DVTs can travel and literally kill you. Pregnancy is a massive risk factor. Please don’t take the risk for the sake of being bored for 4hrs.

Stay- they are probably thinking blood clot but could also be wanting to rule out pre-eclampsia. If it’s the latter at your stage of pregnancy they’ll want to deliver the baby. None of this is really “wait it out” level.

Besides, what else would you be doing at home? Just get a phone charger, a drink and a book and wait for a proper diagnosis.

Gosh all of this. I wouldn't risk leaving, personally.

You could actually die. Your baby could actually die.

Is saving 6 hours worth that? Just wait. It might be nothing, but then you’ve only lost 6 hours which is nothing. But it could be something, and you could lose your life if you go home.

You'd be really silly to leave. 6 hour wait vs potential death 🤷‍♀️ yet it's unlikely, but why take the risk.

I’d wait

You should probably stay, but it doesn't change the fact that it is shit. The NHS is not fit for purpose and so frustrating.

Providing you are certain you haven't got a DVT, and if you have, you are certain that it won't move from your leg to your lung and you're certain that pulmonary embolism won't prove fatal and you drop down dead, then yes, by all means leave.
Otherwise, be sensible.

Bloody hell, I’d be staying put.

Don't take the risk. Stay put, try to relax, and wait for the doctor. You don't have anything more important to do today than to make sure that you and your baby are OK.

Do you understand what DVT could actually mean? I would not be leaving.

I’m known as quite a relaxed mother/ pregnant person but this is not something you take a risk with.

Thanks all. Sticking it out, been waiting for 6 hours now, not been seen yet. Shift change happened a little while ago, and doc has been called to A&E so no idea how much longer the wait is, but better to be safe than sorry I guess

Well done. Hope it’s a massive waste of time and it’s nothing sinister.

That’s so frustrating OP! I really hope someone comes to assess you properly soon.

I had the same when I was pregnant with my twins, they did scan my leg and it was clear. The scan was delayed because it was Christmas Eve so I was given Clexane as a precaution but the scan was fine. But I’d have gone mad with worry if I’d not been checked out. Good luck! Xx

It’s frustrating but I’m glad you decided to stay. You can’t be too careful. I hope you get seen soon.

Hi what time were you seen , hopefully you've had some sleep & everything is ok ?

About … 26 years ago my mum had my youngest brother - towards the end of her pregnancy she had similar symptoms in her right leg, 2 weeks before she had him she was admitted to hospital for several nights due to pre-eclampsia symptoms but they very quickly decided she didn’t have pre-eclampsia at all and let her go home, she mentioned her leg the heaviness and swelling and was told it was pregnancy and fluid retention. She had my brother 10 days later, and when he was 3-4 days old her leg had turned purple, almost black and she was dragging it whilst walking , at this point she obviously went to hospital where they immediately admitted her and found a huge blood clot just above her knee that had started travelling all the way to her lungs. She had to be kept in for over two weeks and wasn’t allowed my baby brother on the ward as she wasn’t breast feeding so my dad had him at home. Was the most traumatic thing for her, and the clot was absolutely huge and she was days if not hours away from it being another story and her not being here anymore. - she has since had two more blood clots in that leg and has severe damage behind her knee on that leg, her veins are permanently damaged, she is on blood thinners for the rest of her life, and her leg is now permanently stiff and more swollen than her other. Please don’t dismiss or think it can’t be as you don’t have symptoms. At the best you are checked over and have to wait hours to be told it’s not a blood clot and sent home, it’s a pain but if it was and you didn’t catch it early the repercussions could be huge.

Morning, thank you for checking in. I was seen at 9.30pm. Doctor agreed there was some swelling and even though l was low risk for clot, age and pregnancy are factors so it was a possibility. It was too late for an ultrasound of my leg (waiting to hear if they can schedule one for me this morning), so I was given a half dose of a blood thinning injection (half dose to tide me over overnight as risk of bleeding increases if I go into labour in a short timeframe which is a possibility at this stage so a bit of a compromise) and discharged and was home by 10.30pm, and have managed to get a bit of sleep! Not a day I want to repeat any time soon - but it sounds like they were massively short staffed at the maternity day unit. One doctor only, who was running between maternity and A&E. There were expectant mothers who had been waiting since 10.30am who got seen just before me, and some new mums with newborn babies who had been waiting for at least a few hours. Some women self discharged due to the wait. The doctor who had just come on shift before I was seen was on the phone saying he had women waiting to see him - I hope everyone got seen quickly - but as soon as my injection was prescribed, the doctor was called back to A&E, so some women unfortunately may have had a long night ahead of them.