Oh arse, 40 weeks, visual disturbances, headaches and raised blood pressure. Being sent to hospital...

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

what will they do to me? The midwife said it was just for more tests, but what does that mean?

don't know but just wanted to wish you luck.

This sounds like pre eclampsia. They will want to do several blood pressure tests over an hour or so to check your levels and more than likely a 24 urine test to check for protein. I had this but at 35 weeks. I was delivered by emcs at 36 weeks. It is likely tho for you as you are 40 weeks they will prob induce you fairly quickly. Is your bag packed?!! Good luck

take everything with you. depending on the result of the tests they might need to get baby out straight away.
good luck!

They will be checking for pre-eclampsia with urine tests and maybe a scan. They can bring your bp down with tablets in late pregnancy. They will see if they can bring it down and under control and then they may let you go. If they can't bring it down or if the baby sounds in distress, then out she/he comes!!!

How are your ankles?

They'll probably (based on my experience of high blood pressure but no other symptoms that you mention) monitor baby's heartbeat and your BP over an extended period (a few hours). I was eventually admitted to be monitored (at 37 weeks) then, at 38 weeks, they decided to induce me as my BP had not gone down despite medication.

I was gutted as was planning home birth (hate hospitals), cried a lot as I wasn't "ready" to have a baby (it was my first!) but everything was fine and I had a normal labour and brilliant midwives. Try not to worry!

Well you are showing symptoms of Pre-Eclampsia and worst case scenario is that they will induce you as the only cure is to give birth.

Other than that, they may put you on complete bed rest to try and bring your BP down and relieve the symptoms. They will test for protein in your urine if your MW hasnt tested for that already, it will be in your notes. More info here

Forgot to say, good luck

I'd been so proud of myself for my b/p being "normal" through this pregnancy. At about 34 weeks with my first, my b/p was 140/90 and I was signed off, and ended up with a section (but mostly because she was breech).
Nothing in my urine was detetcted. Hospital bag all packed anyway. Just waiting to go in for the hospital appointment now. My headache is really painful, though my eye sight has settled down a little now.

I had a very similar experience 6 months ago. They will test you for pre-eclampsia, if you have it they'll probably need to induce straight away so be prepared with your bag etc. Theyy should be able to give you meds to bring your BP down at this late stage.

Good luck.

You can take paracetamol for the headache, it took the edge off for me at least.

Thanks everybody for the comments. Am slightly freaking out but trying to maintain a "its all fine" attitude. DH works 70 miles away and doesn't take his car, so is currently on the train home, going to meet me at the hospital.

Everything will be fine. You'll be in the best place if there is anything really wrong and at 40 weeks baby has likely finished 'baking' and will be fine to be delivered if need be. Keep us posted x

A few points that you might like to know.

They'll probably try labetalol to lower your BP as this is the safest med to take whilst pg. My pre-eclampsia got worse after delivery and the labetalol wasn't working so I had to take enalipril to prevent eclampsia, this meant I couldn't breastfeed as the tablet affects the milk and isn't safe for baby.

You won't be able to have the injection to bring on the third stage with raised BP so will probably be given something else (sorry can't remember the name of it now) through a canula which they will insert in the early stages of labour.

I doubt they will allow an epi if you have pre-eclampsia, so prepare to go without if you weren't already.

Hope none of these poin ts scare you, just thought you might like to be prepared. If you have any more qs please ask and I will try and answer based on my experiences.

BloodyCB, I thought that epidurals lowered BP and were given to women with PE?

Good luck. I was the same with both Dc's at 37weeks. I was admitted, monitored bp, bloods and urine from noon till 3ish and then iduction began after a few baths I had my waters broken followed by a bouncing baby boy!

Just try to keep as calm as possible, and remember there are far worse things than inductions and sections.

I bet you have your new bundle of joy by tomorrow and all is well.

x

Really Bogeyface? I was induced and begged for an epidural but was told no way due to my sky high bp. I didn't have epis or high bp with first two so don't have any other experiences to go on, will research more now though. If what you say is true I will bloody sue the hospital

I was allowed gas and air (made me sooooooo sick on first puff) or pethedine as BP was too high for anything else.

I did have to laugh with DC2 when told I could have a half dose of pethedine as I used the same with DC1 and they don't want anyone to become addicted! I wonder if they will allow me some this time...... almost 7yrs later!

I am sure I read about Epidurals being recommended for PE, but I fully accept I may be talking out of my rather generously proportioned behind :o

Epidural would lower BP but with the blood tests they'll be checking your clotting - If you platelets are low (sometimes goes with high BP) you can't have one because of the risk of bleeding.

Good Luck.

I hope everything is fine with you Elf.

I had an epidural when I had pre-eclampsia. I had to go into hospital at 33 weeks and was on bed rest, and very regular checks for 10 days. Then suddenly my bp hit the roof, lots of people scurried about in a slightly worrying fashion and I was induced (had epidural) and gorgeous ds was born in a bit of a hurry at 35 weeks. He was fine. I was just very glad that I was in hospital so that they were able to deal with everything.

I had the same with dd, though I managed to cook her for a little longer! I was in hospital on bed rest for about 3 weeks before she was born at 37 weeks. She was fine too and I didn't have an epidural for her.

Good luck, you'll be in the best place for you and your baby!

Oooh, interesting to hear about low platelets risk: I did have an unexpected problem in this area with ds, but shan't go into them here!

I was fine, he was fine. Same with dd. I'm sure you will be fine too!

Well, I got to the hospital a little earlier than the appointment, still with a banging headache, though fortunately the visual disturbance had stopped (on the way to the community midwife in the morning when it started, the flashing lights were so bad I couldn't see cars on the road, fortunately wasn't driving!!).
They got me on a trace machine and I stayed on that for 40 minutes, they were happy with babies heartrate and movement levels, though lying down made me feel sick (but then I had hardly eaten anything because I've been sick, so feeling faint and sick could have been hunger). They came and took my blood pressure twice during the trace, both times had gone down to 135/85 which they seemed happier with, especially as midwife hadn't detected anything in the urine, they wrote in my notes I was asymptomatic.
While there, they decided to give me a sweep (am under a consultant anyway, given prior section, so was due to have a sweep on Monday at the hospital). They let me go, saying I had to go back if I got any different symptoms, or they got worse.
Still have a headache, though its not severe. Eyesight has been okay since the first episode.
thanks for all the posts, did calm me down before I headed to the hospital.

phew.

keep a good eye on symptoms and movements and reeeelaaaaax (while you can)

Glad to hear it.... now let's hope the sweep works! Get your feet up and relax. x