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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

visual disturbances at 39 weeks

27 replies

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 02/05/2011 15:35

Hi, i have for the last hour been experiencing blurring of vision which is making it hard to read and flashing in my left eye that comes and goes. I have no swelling, no headache and no abdominal pain. I rang the ante-natal ward and i am to ring them back in an hour if the disturbances haven't stopped. Does this sound like it could be pre-eclampsia? Or is it unlikely without the other symptoms? Thanks in advance!

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MumInBeds · 02/05/2011 15:44

Take no chances at that stage, call your midwife or delivery suite for advice. It will only take them minutes to check you over so will want to see you.

MumInBeds · 02/05/2011 15:45

Sorry, I missed that you have called, do follow the advice to call back if it doesn't go.

OrangeBernard · 02/05/2011 15:46

Get your bp checked ASAP. Be insistent, don't take no for an answer.

omletta · 02/05/2011 15:55

I wouldn't want to panic you but without doubt you must go and get your bp checked. Are you near an A&E? If so I think you should go. Often pre-eclampsia has no symptoms, an hour can make a lot of difference.

Georgimama · 02/05/2011 15:55

I hope you are already on your way there. Don't ring again and get fobbed off. Go. I would rather "waste their time" than take a risk.

A girl I worked with had this at 38 weeks, she went to delivery suite and they did a C section within the hour.

isthismadness · 02/05/2011 15:59

Yes you MUST get your bp checked. Ignore midwives advice and go to a&e or delivery suite. I am medical

Original poster

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 02/05/2011 15:59

My vision is getting a bit better now, I will ring them now though and see what they say, thankyou

OP posts:

joshop · 02/05/2011 15:59

Visual disturbances are definitely a symptom of pre-eclampsia. I don't know if they could mean anything else or whether it can't be pre-eclampsia without the other symptoms.

I started just generally feeling crappy a couple of days before the pounding headache began, followed by the flashing. It happened to me at 29 weeks. I was put onto a strong dose of magnesium sulphate. I was pretty out of it. Had emcs. I was in hospital for a week and ds was in special care for 8 weeks, although he is fine now.

Maybe just flashing is a sign that the pre-eclampsia is relatively mild. I would prefer to be admitted than to wait for things to get worse. You might get away with lower dose medication and there might be time to deliver baby in a less traumatic way.

It's great that s/he is full term if you have got pre-eclampsia. I'll keep my fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.

Original poster

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 02/05/2011 16:05

I have just rang ante-natal and they arew going to get a community midwife out to check my blood pressure, which is good and will put my mind at rest :)

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Georgimama · 02/05/2011 16:07

If she hasn't turned up within an hour please go to the delivery suite. Don't ring, just turn up. I don't want to panic you but this is very important.

Original poster

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 02/05/2011 16:25

they have rung me back, i have to go onto the ward as they thought i had already delivered, that is why they were sending the midwife out

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Georgimama · 02/05/2011 16:28

Good luck.

theonlyhb2 · 02/05/2011 16:29

good luck (and try not to kill them, they thought you had already delivered!!!! Pffft!)

RainbowShite · 02/05/2011 16:49

good luck!

Original poster

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 02/05/2011 21:49

Hi, I have just got back from the hospital. My blood pressure was a bit high when I got there, was 138 over 98, but has gone back down now, bloods are fine, babys heartrate is fine so they have just said to ring back if I have any more visual disturbances or headacheas etc. They told me that on the trace it is showing that I am having contractions! So thats quite exciting and baby is now engaged so not much longer now hopefully :)

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Georgimama · 02/05/2011 21:56

Glad to hear things are OK. Please don't hesitate to get straight back there if you are worried at all. I may be a complete pain in the arse but I am big believer in not giving people the opportunity to fob me off. Just turn up.

MumInBeds · 02/05/2011 22:23

Have they said to go back at all other than if you have more symptoms (or contractions)? With a BP that high, even if it has gone down again, I'd want to be checked again tomorrow regardless.

MummyElk · 02/05/2011 22:25

hope all ok now...
I had migraines for the first time in my life with my second pg, at about 38 weeks.. v odd. started with the weird visual stuff and then sometimes ended in headaches, sometimes not....
drs and Mws thought just pg stuff. hormones are funny things.
but keep a close eye on it all - and good luck not long now

RainbowShite · 02/05/2011 22:32

Make sure you know the symptoms of pe and go straight back if you get any of them. That bp reading was quite high

lucamom · 02/05/2011 22:32

I've had the same thing 4 times in my life - twice the nights I went into labour with my sons, once whilst breastfeeding and again last week (I'm pregnant). I've been told it's migraine, although I don't have any pain with it, just have blurred vision in my right eye for an hour or so. My SIL used to get them every month, just before her period, so it seems hormones to blame yet again!

Original poster

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 03/05/2011 09:18

Hi, no they have not told me to go back unless I have other symptoms, but they do know that I will be seeing a midwife tomorrow and will get my blood pressure taken there. I was wondering if it could be hormones as I used to get migraines with visual disturbances when I was a young teenager. I'm getting lots of braxton hicks and have the worst growing pain in my leg, and cannot stay of the toilet ( too much information, sorry! :D) so hopefully labour isn't so far off. Thanks for all your messages :)

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domesticslattern · 03/05/2011 09:30

Pain in your leg?
Ring them back and tell them. Don't worry about wasting anyone's time.

Original poster

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 03/05/2011 09:41

The pain is like a growing pain that gets worse at the top when I walk, would it not just be the baby pressing on a nerve?

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Georgimama · 03/05/2011 09:44

I doubt it. A pain in your leg is "other symptoms". I really think you need to go back and have your blood pressure taken again. I would be pushing for being admitted in your shoes tbh. Your blood pressure shot up, ok it went down again but you don't know what it is now, you have visual disturbance and now pain in your leg.

Eclampsia is a life threatening condition which can take hold very rapidly. VERY rapidly. I don't want to put the frighteners on you but this is very important.

Original poster

QueenOfTheMadhouse · 03/05/2011 10:04

I have just rung the ward, and the midwife said it may just be the way the baby is lying and wont be anything to do with blood pressure and that if I'm concerned I can ring my GP. I guess its likely to just be the babys head as he only just engaged yesterday and the leg pain started shortly after.

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