Pre-eclampsia

[MyGrassIsBrowner]

Hi all.
Currently on twice weekly monitoring with the MW for possible pre-eclampsia. I'm 37+6 today and booked in for a section in 12 days, 2nd baby.
BP has been yo-yoing during this pregnancy and only once have they picked up Protein in my urine, and they never did mention what that episode was due to.
Anyway, past few days my feet have been extremely swollen. Hands aren't very swollen and I've had no headaches/visual disturbances like they say to look out for.
I see the midwife at 4pm today for my checks but guess I'm just getting my self in a bit of a tizz if anything is picked up today as they said they would admit me straight away.
Can I ask anyone who had pre-eclampsia this late on, what were your symptoms? And if you were booked in for an ELCS did they do it right away?

Tia x

Hopeful bump x

So sorry that you didn't get any responses. How are you this evening @MyGrassIsBrowner?

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent Aww thank you for the reply!
Well, I went for my checks then got admitted as predicted my BP was high again, but I think partly to do with me working myself up so much.
Anyway, they've put me on blood pressure tablets and want me in for monitoring three times a week - but currently I've only got 10 days left now until my section. It's making life really difficult as I've no childcare and my DP works full-time and cant afford any extra time off before his paternity starts. So it's all proving quite blumming stressful now which is not what I wanted to deal with so close to my section date. The good news is that my urine and bloods were totally clear though, so god knows what's going on!

Retrospectively the midwife was convinced I had preeclampsia. Massively swollen feet/ankles at 35+ weeks. High blood pressure at appointment at 36+1. Admitted and delivered the next day.

Can they not bring til our section forward if you have for preeclampsia the safest thing it to get baby out

Hey ladies. They've put me on Labetalol and as my bloods and urine was clear they then said they were sure I was clear for pre-eclampsia 🤷🏻‍♀️ my section has been booked for 39+4 since day dot and they've not once mentioned about bringing it forward. My worry is going into early labour more than anything as I'd rather not have to rush in. My first labour was 4.5 hours!

Hi, I just wondered how you are getting on with your medication? I'm in a similar position, my section is booked for Friday 8th, I'll be 38+6. I went to the hospital Monday with reduced movements and the baby started moving as soon as hooked up lol! But they did pick up three consistent high BP readings, no urine issue and they took bloods. They had me back yesterday evening for a scan and all was well. They then had me back for monitoring and my blood pressure had got higher, three consistent high readings. They were discussing me staying over night and having section bought forward but as I didn't have any headache and I didn't feel unwell they released me at 10pm and have prescribed labetalol twice a day. And I have to go back Friday for monitoring, which is the day of my pre-op.

Anyway sorry for the ramble but as we're in very similar positions I just wondered how you were getting on xxx

Me and I was so bad I had an EMC under general at 31 weeks.
I was on so much medication I swear I rattled.

My blood pressure went through the roof but I hadn’t got symptoms as such. It was at a checkup and I was admitted and induced the next morning! I had had it through the pregnancy but was on heavy medication by the end, and so when it stopped working baby had to come! I was 38 weeks. Through the pregnancy I had blood pressure fluctuations and a bit of protein in my urine once. Occasionally headaches at home but not much and nothing to write about really. I genuinely didn’t realise how bad I was that day till they took me in, they didn’t even send me to a ward just straight to a and e to try stabilise first. My hands did swell and feet but it was the end of the day and again it wasn’t overly dramatic.

@jessicakxx hiya hun. Well, the labetalol is horrid to be honest. It makes me spaced out and feel nauseous, I'm on 2 × 200mg doses per day atm been taking it for nearly a week now. I've also been getting horrific pains in my breasts since taking it, vasospasms I believe they're called. It's not a common side effect but I've been hit with it hard and need a hot water bottle ready to go throughout the day otherwise the pain is enough to make me cry.

I've also been in and out of hospital for reduced movements and she moves as soon as I'm hooked up, sods law isn't it lol!
The midwives have been seeing me every couple of days for BP reading and urine sample. My BP has come down dramatically now but I can barely walk as my SPD is really bad and my poor feet are swollen as hell.

How are you finding it? My pre op is on Saturday and my section on Monday, I'm a little nervous now but in all honesty just want her out now I'm so fed up with feeling this ill. Xx

Oh that's so exciting you are so close!! I wish my section was Monday, like you the pain is unbearable to walk, each step I take feels like my pelvis area is just so bruised. And my legs and feet and so swollen including my puffy face. I've started taking the tablets since Tuesday and they feel like they're really knocking me out I fell asleep at 9 last night 😮 as long as it gets the blood pressure down that's all that matters.

Do you know what they do at our pre-op? Mine is tomorrow xx

@jessicakxx Oh hunnie I feel you! Have you mentioned the swelling to your midwife btw? Just with you saying you've got puffyness of your face, it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia (I'm on watch for it atm) high BP is the main symptom. If you have any visual disturbances or headache that wont go away, ring your hospital straight away though.

They've told me I'm the only elective on Monday which is a relief so all being well wont be waiting around. I go in for 8am in the morning, what time do you go in?
They said my pre-op will just be BP check, bloods, MRSA swab and PCR test.
The BP tablets seem to be working really well for me, I've had consistently low readings since taking them which is a massive weight off as I've been so stressed about it.

How are you feeling about your section? I'm nervous but honestly just soooo ready for it now!
Xx

Yes so when I went back into hosp on Tuesday the midwives commented on my puffiness and swollen legs and feet, as I was there for them to monitor my blood pressure after Monday's readings. They were going to keep me in and bring my section forward but I kept stressing that I didn't have headache or stomach pain they decided that I could go home with medication and be monitored again on Friday, tomorrow!

I think they caught it early enough to manage through the tablets hopefully, although I wouldn't be opposed to having my section earlier as I'm ready for him to be here now, so uncomfortable!

Oh that's amazing that you're the only one! Even if there is an emergency you'll likely still be done by late morning! Mine says to get there for 7:30, but no idea how many are on the list!

I'm just so wanting him here now so I know he's healthy, the last few weeks I'm finding myself worrying about him so much. He's also breech still, which isn't a problem cause I'm having the section but I just hope there's not a reason he hasn't been able to turn 😫

@jessicakxx I feel like I'm in exactly the same boat as you in that they caught it early. I'm thankful for the blood pressure tablets but they still make me feel a little woozy which has been proving difficult when I'm looking after my 18 month old on top of all my ailments! It's been so so hard.

They said they only generally do one elective a day (my hospital is a very small one) which I'm thankful for but have noticed they've been super busy anytime I've been admitted. Can't fault the staff though and feel like most of them know me now and are all looking forward to meeting my baby as well 😆

Hopefully with bubs still being breech you'll be prioritised. I wouldnt worry too much about him being breech, sometimes it's just one of those things, it could be something as simple as he's just very comfortable as he is! Haha! Mine has been transverse/oblique throughout and only the past couple of weeks has she turned but boy do I know it, my pelvis is super super heavy now and tbh it's more uncomfortable than when she was transverse!

Are you worried about the spinal or anything? Heard so many say that spinal is a walk in the park but the cannula is what hurts. Tbh though I've never had a cannula in my hand before but I've got no fear of needles and quite a high pain threshold so I'll be interested to know if it's as bad as people make out lol. Sick of bloody having needles inserted into me though I must say. I've lost count of how many blood tests I've had taken this pregnancy! Xx

Did the tablets make you feel sick? Yesterday i found they made me exhausted, today I'm tired but I feel so nauseas 🤢🤢

To be honest, I've not looked too much into what exactly happens at the section. I'm not too worried about the procedure or anything, I'm just so anxious about the baby being okay so that's taking up all my worry space at the moment 😂

I think I have had a cannula before, I've had a breast augmentation and is that the thing that goes into your hand to feed you the medication? If so, it is uncomfortable but it's over so quickly! So don't worry about that :-)

Xxx

@jessicakxx I'll be honest I've been feeling sicky on and off for the past two weeks and my acid reflux has been terrible! Popping antacids like sweets! I feel really off today actually as it goes. I've also been getting horrific pains in my boobs (I'm naturally large chested and my bump is huge this time which isn't helping but it's to the point it makes me cry. I have been wondering if it's the labetalol but I hand expressed a load of colostrum earlier when it happened and the pain dissapeared! So wondering if it's a build up 🤔

Oooh you've had a breast augumentation I want a breast reduction! 🙈 wish I could afford it. My boobs in this pregnancy are currently a 38J.. bloody ridiculous lol. Hoping to breastfeed as well and will probably smother the poor girl 😆

Xx

@jessicakxx do let me know how your pre-op goes! Xx

Hi lovely, it went well. Couldn't have covid test done as it has to be done within a few days and my op isn't until next Friday! So have to go back weds for that.

But had bloods done, mrsa swab.

Then got took into a room with midwife who explained what will happen on the day. Gave me the meds to take the night before and morning of. Told me when to last eat etc.

She said masks aren't needed during the op I'm so relieved. Partner can be with me from the minute we get to hosp at 7:30 and visit hours are until 8pm now which is amazing as I thought he'd only get to be with me in recovery.

He just has to do a lateral flow within 48 hours.

One thing I noticed when I've re read the notes is you mustn't shave your pubic region within 48 hours of the op! I'm glad I read the notes again because I was planning to shave the night before! So just reread your pack when you get home!

Good luck xxx

@jessicakxx aww lovely I'm so glad it went well!! Amazing that your partner can be with you so long. Sadly at my hospital he can be with me in recovery then can come to ward with me then has to go and rebook a two hour slot later on providing a neg LTF.

They told me I'm the only elective booked in on Monday so unless an emergency comes in before me I'll be out of theatre by 11am which is madness lol!

I've just re-read my notes and it says 'they may need to trim your bikini line' so I'll make sure to double check on that tomorrow, I cant even reach the damn thing atm anyway as my bump is huge and I've got a feeling my incision will probably be a lot higher than most because of it. My notes also say I need to shower in the morning before I go in which I would have done anyway.

I'm getting so excited now but fully convinced something is going to go drastically wrong for me. Im such an unlucky person lol. Xx

Good luck with your pre-op let me know how you get on xx

@jessicakxx had my pre-op it was nice and easy, PCR test, mrsa swab and bloods taken and then a debrief with the midwife who was lovely and reassuring. The whole procedure sounds such a calm experience for them it's just another day in the office she said. I'm feeling strangely chilled about it all now. She did actually say if me and baby were all good and I was back on my feet quickly I can have same day discharge which shocked me! But I will take that with a pinch of salt lol. Xx

Good luck ❤️ update me when you are both well and rested xx

@jessicakxx
Macy Olivia Louise welcomes into the world at 11:06am this morning, 8lb 14oz.
The section was magical, literally magical!
I fully convinced myself I was going in that theatre to die I was so scared. Couldn't have been further from the reality and the staff were truly incredible. I'm so happy ❤

Congratulations she is gorgeous. How was your first night? How're you feeling today xx