Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Do you always have to have high blood pressure for it to be pre-eclampsia?

9 replies

flippingstupidnickname · 04/12/2011 19:44

Hi all,

I'm 41+2 and I had a headache all of last night which prompted me to get up and take my BP. It was 124/82 which is relatively high for me (normally 120/60ish)..Also a bit concerned that this was a nighttime reading when I'd obviously been resting for a while...

Anyway, took some paracetamol and went back to bed. All day I've felt slightly 'hungover' but not what I would describe as a headache as such. More of a 'delicate' head really. BP is totally back to normal but throughout the day I've noticed my face is starting to look puffy.

My question is this: If you have pre-eclampsia do you need to present with a high blood pressure? ie is it part of the defining criteria? I'm aware that I'm displaying some of the symptoms but thought that if it was anything to worry about then it would just get steadily worse and not fluctuate like my headache and BP have been doing.

I have a midwife appointment in the morning so can get my urine checked then and speak to her about it but any thoughts in the meantime would be appreciated...

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 04/12/2011 19:49

No - you don't have to have high BP. I would call the labour ward now for advice.

Symptoms of pre-eclampsia include Headache, visual disturbances, oedema - particularly facial, proteinuria, epigastric (indigestion-like) pain, high BP. 2 of any of those warrent medical advice asap.

Please - get advice now.

3littlefrogs · 04/12/2011 19:50

Plus - your BP is high - for you. 20 points above your usual diastolic reading is significant.

broccolitrees · 04/12/2011 19:55

symptoms of pe do fluctuate. i found my symptoms were bad and then improved but not to complete wellness, and then got worse than previous and then improved but not to the same level as before and so it spiralled downwards. not trying to be a harbinger of doom, and it's probably nothing, but don't discount it without being checked out

Original poster
flippingstupidnickname · 04/12/2011 19:58

Ok, thanks for that. Only have one symptom at the moment (the puffy face) so will keep a very close eye over night, if anything else occurs I'll call the labour ward, if not then I'll speak to my midwife first thing...

thanks

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 04/12/2011 20:00

I would reiterate my advice to speak to someone tonight. Just to be on the safe side.

When I worked on labour ward, I would have brought you in for a check up, with that history.

Original poster
flippingstupidnickname · 04/12/2011 20:02

Also, out of curiosity - how do they diagnose pre-eclampsia? Purely on possesion of two of those symptoms or is there a blood test as well as urine one?

OP posts:
Original poster
flippingstupidnickname · 04/12/2011 20:04

Thanks Littlefrogs think I'll give them a call seeing as my BP is slightly back up again...

OP posts:
Callipo · 04/12/2011 20:05

This can all be quite normal, but there are various things that can present with headache and now is not the time to be brave or blase. I would get yourself down to labour ward TONIGHT and get your urine dipped and a check-up. Please! I have induced preterm ladies for less. Let us know what happens.

3littlefrogs · 04/12/2011 20:09

The most important thing they do, based on symptoms, is to monitor the baby, and monitor your BP.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page