how urgent is pre-eclampsia?

[woowa]

As the title really! If i have symptoms which match those on the pre-eclampsia list, do i need to rush to hospital and have a section immediately? Or is it one of those things where we could both survive a few days without knowing? I'm 36 weeks, have a couple of symptoms (though they seem to be fading now that i feel less worried!), and a scan tomorrow anyway, so wondering if i should feel fine that i have to wait about 18 hours to have my blood pressure checked?! Thanks

Ring NHS Direct and speak to them. 0845 4647. Put your mind at rest else you won't sleep tonight and you're blood pressure will be through the roof tomorrow.

It does require urgent treatment so ring to make sure.

Phone the labour or antenatal ward and ask. One of the advantages of people having babies at all hours is that you can contact the hospital at any time too.

i rang the maternity assessment unit and they said to take paracetamol for the stabbing pain and call back in an hour...I don't have swelling or headaches or blurred vision, so I think they thought I sounded like i could wait til scan tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!

What symptoms are you having? When was your bp last checked? Urine?

It can be managed in its early stages and it can be extremely serious and progress quickly. Depends on the individual. If you suspect you are having symptoms, I'd call your medicom/number on your notes/delivery suite/whatever number you have now and ask advice.

i suppose it's more that if they tell me i'll be ok til tomorrow, will i really be ok til tomorrow, i genuinely don't know how quickly pre-eclampsia moves once it starts!

Call your midwife straight away, don't wait until morning, just in case. There should be one on call 24/7, they may send someone out to check your BP and urine or they may ask you to come in for monitoring.

occasional stabbing pain in right side under ribs, breathlessness is all i've had off the list of symtoms, btw. Haven't had pain for over half an hour now though. thanks all, i'll keep an eye on the pain, seems the best way to gauge it at the moment.

oh, and BP and urine have been normal all the way through, but i have placental notches which means a higher risk of pre-eclampsia, but, as far as I can work out not extremely high risk.

I've been admitted 3 times so far for possible pre-eclampsia and it's not a question of immediate caesarian, they'll probably keep you in overnight, monitor you and give blood pressure medication if necessary. It's not a big deal.

They keep emphasising to me to go straight in, though, even if I don't have many symptoms or I don't feel too bad; it really can progress quickly and is very serious, both to you and the baby, so you're far better off getting everything checked just in case.

Normal urine and BP before doesn't mean they're okay now.

Go straight in if you haven't already. Pre-eclampsia can sometimes develop and progress very very rapidly and can be life-threatening for you and baby.

[Not an expert but a survivor of severe pre-eclampsia which went from mild to life-threatening in 24-48 hours]

Please go straight away I know someone on life support at the moment as they decided to ignore the symptoms. Her body is slowly recovering and baby is fine but it was touch and go for a while.

Get your BP and urine checked NOW. I had pre-eclampsia and is escalated within hours and I became very ill.

I'm sorry, I really don't mean to scare you but it is not something that should be taken lightly.

It doesn't necessarily mean a section immediately but it's best to err on the side of caution with this one.

Wishing you all the best, OP.

How did you get on woowa?

woowa, any news?

Hoping all is ok

sorry, first opportunity to be on here today! Was ok overnight, went in for scan, BP and urine completely normal, all clear for another week til next scan at 37+1! Thanks for the advice and concern, I am on high alert now, and have been told to go in if i'm worried about movements, or anything else. Baby currently beating on my bladder, so not overly concerned about movements!!

woowa I'm glad this is (so far) going okay but to add a note of caution, I had PET twice and developed actual eclampsia after having my first child and had partial liver failure as a result. I was all for waiting and seeing, but you cannot muck about with PET. Mothers and babies in this country die of this every single year.

Yes, make sure you know all the symptoms and stay aware.

Just to echo flash and whomoved - treat suspected PE with the utmost caution - it's extremely serious, one of the main causes of maternal and neonatal death worldwide. I don't want to scare you and I'm glad you checked out OK, but please do be aware of the symptoms and call your MW or maternity unit immediately if you get anything you're worried about (or even just not sure about).

will do!