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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Pre-eclampsia paranoia

27 replies

TooImmature2BMum · 06/02/2011 00:30

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if your pee goes a funny colour when you have pre-eclampsia? I'm sure I've read that on here before, but I can't find it. My hands are swollen, but my feet aren't. I've been noticing a funny floater in my left eye for the last week, and now my urine is green rather than yellow.

Why do you always get worried in the middle of the night??

OP posts:

pinkyp · 06/02/2011 00:53

Have you got any other symptoms? I use to get 'floaters' too but not green wee...maybe phone ur midwife/maternity ward just for reassurance

differentnameforthis · 06/02/2011 04:18

Urine goes darker with PE & poo gets lighter....gross huh!

Tarlia · 06/02/2011 04:55

different I didn't know that, explains more, thank you. Not even thought to mention that, when I get the daily questions. Though I've not been asked that one and not sure I want everyone in the department hearing haha. Though I guess they can see as I do a daily urine sample, so will stay stum.

immature hope you managed to sleep. Def give your MW a buzz this morning to discuss your symptoms.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 06/02/2011 08:40

Give your MW a ring, she needs to check your BP and refer back to your booking BP.
I had undiagnosed PE this time last year. Swollen hands but not feet with tingly numb fingers, raised BP but not above what they would call acceptable guidelines as my BP is normally rock bottom.
Breathlessness and chest pain, given iron tablets even though my iron levels were just above borderline. No proteinurea untill I seized.
I eventualy had seizures at 38 weeks when in early labour. Luckily DD and I survived, but it was traumatic and the few memories I have still live with me now 9m later.
Don't want to worry you but do get this checked out thouroughly. Show your midwife this thread if you want. More need to be aware that things can happen outside normal guidelines, the bigger picture needs to be seen.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.

differentnameforthis · 06/02/2011 08:40

Mention EVERYTHING!

because if you are headed for PE, they need to know asap, so they can monitor you more often!

Good Luck!

Tarlia · 06/02/2011 08:55

Wow, five what a traumatic experience you had, I'm so sorry :(. I'm so glad to hear you and your DD are both here to tell the tale.

Don't worry different, I've been in hospital since Friday, so having lots of tests and monitoring.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 06/02/2011 09:15

Tarlia, luckily I was in hospital, if I'd have been at home don't think we'd have been so lucky.
The only thing they'd picked up was that DD's heart rate was way too fast, and mine was racing too. Had been rushed up to delivery ward to have waters broken and seized after 10m up there.
I do think if someone had looked at the 'bigger picture' it wouldn't have got that far though.
Make sure they look after you well, and don't worry about making a fuss if you don't feel well.
I lay awake feeling like crap most of the night before, didn't want to make a fuss because they were busy and short staffed.
(Was booked in for early induction due to previous fast labours and GBS infection.)
I thought my headache was due to crappy lighting in the hospital.

differentnameforthis · 06/02/2011 12:08

Five, you sound similar to my friend's sister. On her fourth pregnancy, all same father, she was fine until a few weeks before, when she started fitting.

It's actually Eclampsia when you fit. The symptoms listed, swelling/headache/protein etc are all symptoms that warn of Eclampsia before it happens, hence, Pre eclampisa. Once Eclampsia hits, it is dangerous territory! SO pleased you & your dc are safe!

I am pleased that you, Tarlia, are being monitored lots! Good Luck!.

TooImmature, how are you?

fairybubbles · 06/02/2011 12:17

I've had protein in urine since 28 weeks check and swelling of fingers and ankles. BP remains normal. My midwife gives me appointments weeks apart. I'm wondering if I should be getting blood pressure checked more often. I did ask about PE at my last check but she said high BP is always present.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 06/02/2011 12:35

Fairybubbles, what was your BP at your booking in appt, and what is it now? THAT is what they need to look at, not the friggin normal guidelines.
My BP was never at a dangerous level according to the guides, but it was skyhigh for me. It's normaly so low esp in pregnancy that I regularly faint.
Proteinurea and swelling are warning signs.
Next month I'm having a meeting to discuss my care. I think the community midwives are understaffed and undertrained in these areas. If you don't tick all the boxes, their brains don't register when they should.

Original poster

TooImmature2BMum · 06/02/2011 15:14

Thanks guys! I have a MW appt on Tuesday morning and I feel much better this morning. I read a bit more online and it said severe headaches and severe heartburn that wasn't acidy were symptoms, and I didn't have either of those, so I managed to go to sleep. I haven't had a urine test in 8 weeks because the MW forgot to give me a pee pot before my 32 week appt, so it was last tested at the 28 week one (I'm now 36+3). I think that doesn't help with the paranoia! I will tell her about the fingers/eye floaters, though, because my fingers were feeling so stiff and strange - numb is probably a good way of describing it, Five. My blood pressure has been totally normal as far as I know (she never tells me what it is, but she always says it's fine), but I will ask her to check it back against my booking BP after reading your story! My hands have gone down a bit - still bigger than usual but they don't have that weird sausage feeling anymore. Thank you all for your support!

OP posts:

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 06/02/2011 15:21

Glad you are feeling better and had a good night sleep, but I think you would be better off at your stage of Pregnancy speaking to the labour ward today, not waiting to your Tuesday appt. I had pre-eclampsia with all three pregnancies and I know it's much better safe than sorry. Please don't wait till Tuesday.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 06/02/2011 16:53

TooImmature, you should be able to see your BP on your hand held notes.
I too would phone labour ward if you still don't feel right. If you go to be checked out, more than likely you'll be back home again soon, but better to be safe than sorry.
Did your midwife not ask you for a sample when you were there. Not on to not be checking, negligent in their role really.

jaffacakeaddict · 06/02/2011 21:44

TooImmature - if you feel at all unwell tomorrow please do phone the midwife. You don't need to have all the symptoms to have PE. Many people only have some of them.

differentnameforthis · 07/02/2011 06:01

fairybubbles

How are you feeling other wise? It is true that you can have protein present & not have PE, I did in the first few months of dd2's pregnancy. I was worried that it would turn into PE (as I had it with dd1) but it didn't!

Also, swelling of hands/fingers/feet is somewhat normal in pregnancy/

Look out for

headaches that don't go
flecks in eyesight
swelling in the face
high abdominal pain (like heartburn, but meds don't touch it)

helenlouisey · 07/02/2011 08:56

Hi, can I just add that I had pre eclampsia with my DS, he was eventually born by emergency c-section at 33 weeks, I had very few symptoms , my blood pressure was high, my hands, feet and face were swollen, it wasn't until right at the end, 2 days before he was born that I had very low levels of protein in my wee, and then I had severe chest pains during the night he was born, my liver was failing, and my son was delivered a few hours later. also scans showed by son wasn't growing properly, but the only symptom of this was that my bump was slightly small. I had no

Definitely make sure they check your wee for protein and look at what your blood pressure is now compared with your booking in blood pressure. Please don't take any chances. Hope you're feeling ok

fairybubbles · 07/02/2011 11:52

fiveisanawfullybignumber and differentnameforthis

I have just checked my notes and my BP has actually come down since my booking appt

it was 121/64 when i was about 13 weeks and at 33 week check it was 100/58 (is this on th low side? midwife didnt seem concerned)

I generally feel ok with no other symptoms except i did have one terrible headache about a week ago, it was during the night and kept me awake.

I had a scan at 33 weeks as midwife said I was measuring at 30. Scan showed baby to be fine, growing well and just at or slightly under average size.

I have another scan nxt week when I will be 36 weeks, this one prebooked as my DS was born at 42+ weeks and was only 7lb.

helenlouisey that must have been so frightening for you having to deliver at 33 weeks. How is your DS now? I will def be careful to get checked if any other symptoms appear. Thank you for sharing your experience.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 07/02/2011 12:42

fairybubbles, yes it is low, but not dangerous or anything. My BP is usually like this when I'm PG. Tend to get lightheaded and feel faint, especially if combined with low iron count.
Last PG my BP was regularly about 128/78 which is very high for me, but still within normal guidelines. Obviously went a bit higher (but not as high as expected) when I started fitting with Eclampsia.
It's good that your MW is keeping a close eye on you, if your BP does start to rise though, question it.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 07/02/2011 12:43

helenlouisey, glad that you and your son are ok now.

Tarlia · 07/02/2011 15:18

Anyone reading this that has suspect symptoms, please get checked asap. My pre-eclampsia has gone from mild yesterday lunchtime, they let me home for the night on the condition I came back for monitoring today and would be induced Friday at 38wks. Over night things got worse and when I came back today, they monitored me and re-admitted me as it's now classed as severe and I will be induced first thing tomorrow at only 37+4 .

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 07/02/2011 15:32

Take care Tarlia, try not to worry as that makes things worse. Have a giant unMN type (((HUG))). Make sure you spend lots of time having baby monitored too, once DD's heart rate was regularly (ie Base line) over 180) they started to worry.

If you are at all worried make them take notice. Don't worry about being a pain, you are a priority case. After my first seizure I was begging for a section, they wouldn't do it and I had another seizure whilst being treated with Mag.
Have they got you on magnesium sulfate yet? If not ask them why not! What is their plan for monitoring you? Should be 15m BP checks. The damned cuff never left my arm for 3 days but it was a bit too little too late in my case.

37+4 should be ok. You'll have a dinky baby that lasts longer in their first outfits, but you're only a week before I had DD. Do you know if you're having a boy or girl yet?
Keep us updated.x

chelstonmum · 07/02/2011 15:41

Tarlia, I had severe pre-eclampsia with both dc's. Both were born at the 37wk mark, (37+0 and 37+2)weighing in at 6lb6oz and 7lb each.

Good luck. x

fairybubbles · 07/02/2011 18:35

Tarlia good luck for tomorrow. You must be so glad you went to get checked out. Do let us know your news and enjoy those precious first moments with your little baby.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 08/02/2011 08:26

Good luck for today Tarlia. Hope it all goes smoothly.x

AlpinePony · 08/02/2011 08:31

Good luck Tarlia - all I can say is, try and get your head around the fact you may end up with an emcs. An emcs isn't a bad thing at all and ensures the safety of you and your child - but it does seem to scare a lot of people. I had an emcs at 36+5 following a failed induction (BP 185/125) - me and baby both fine but a shaky few hours. :)

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