Pre-eclampsia mentalling thread

[Fishandjam]

A place to come and kvetch/worry/chill for anyone at risk of developing pre-eclampsia in their pregnancy. We have buckets for those still feeling sick, cushions for those who are just plain knackered, and crisps and ginger beer for everyone else. Come and say hi!

I got PE at 37 weeks with my first. Was induced at 38 weeks due to my blood pressure and protein in urine getting worse.

Now 16 weeks with number two and told high risk yet even though im supposed to see a consultant ive not even had a letter. i mentioned it last week to midwife and shes chasing but can i ask when do you normally see consultants xx

Just wondering if anyone else suffered with pre-eclampsia post-natal rather than anti.

I had borderline high blood pressure in the last trimester of my twin pregnancy, but managed to get to term, then on day 8 post natally blood pressure shot up ridiculously and I spent next five days in hospital. Finally a combination of meds got it stabilised. My consultant said it was unusual and she couldn't have predicted it. The same thing happened again after my last pregnancy, though it stablilised quicker. Obviously I'm really glad it meant the babies were never at risk but I was sad I was too ill to look after them for a while.

I don't know of of this happening to anyone else is it uncommon?

Hi Emphaticat, no it's not common, but I was told that the 72 hours post partum are the most risky. I have read that it can be up to a week after, though I can't remember where

Hi Alamaya, I went to my GP as soon as I got a BFP, and demanded asked for an obstetric referral, but that was because we had just moved and I didn't know what the procedure would be in this area. Also, I knew I had to be on aspirin from at the latest 12 weeks, as I had had early onset severe PET the first timg, but the GP wouldn't prescribe until I had seen the team, so I just had to keep hassling them until they picked me up. I spoke to the hypertension team on the phone before I saw them and they advised the aspirin then and there and I ended up buying the first lot over the counter. My the midwife still had to chase the official referral though, and whilst I was under the hypertension team, I didn't actually see the Consultant until 24 weeks. Generally though PET begins later and less severe with subsequent pregnancies (although not always the way).

Emphaticmaybe * sorry

Alamaya your history sounds similar to mine, raised BP at 35 weeks, increasing proteinuria and ELCS at 38 weeks. I didn't have the awful seizures or anything that others on this thread have had, so I think I'm considered a moderate risk rather than high I think?

Only found out I was pregnant at 17 weeks, but I've seen the consultant (well, her registrars) at 18 (which I suppose would normally have been my 12 week booking in appointment) 20, 28 and next week at 35 weeks.

There's a lot of good info on this thread for what to look out for, and it seems by definition PE cannot occur until 20+ weeks (have I understood that correctly?)

Anyway, I guess you'll have an appointment for your 20 weeks scan which will probably be combined with a consultant appointment, does that sound right?

Sorry, it's just anecdotal and it will probably vary by area, but it lets you see how my hospital - St Mary's Manchester - approach this scenario.

I found this discussion and would like to ask you something.

I am not 36 weeks pregnant with my second baby. My first pregnancy went really well, no problems. I did not even know about pre-enclampsia.

In this pregnancy my BP has been low, around 100/60, until last week when my midwife noticed my puffy legs and my blood pressure was 150/100 with trace of protein in my urine. She sent me to daily unit for measurememts. Very strange experience, I must, say, that was. My blood pressure was measured six times with 10 minutes waiting period. The highest one was 138/86. The others were little bit lower. In the report the midwife put only the four lowest ones, so that it looks I have low BP. She found also only trace of protein. She said several times that she cannot understand why the community midwife was so worried about me. She send me home and told me to go and get my BP measured again in one week at GP's.

I don't have any other symptoms apart from pitting edema on my legs. My hands are swollen and some fingers numb but that bad as my legs. I have had pain under my right shoulder blade after eating occasionally but it seems to be constant. Apart from that I am feeling fine. I just don't know should I worry and get my BP measured earlier tha next friday. The community midwife was worried but the unit one let me understand that I my BP is fine (although to me it seems high compared to 100/60).

Bansku I would definitely get your bp checked before Friday. Pitting oedema and a considerably higher bp needs to be monitored, particularly with upper quadrant pain. I can't understand why she didn't record 6 figures if 6 were taken . Call the day assessment unit again and explain the situation, and tell them about your pain. It will probably mean another trip down there, but better safe than sorry. I would speak to your community midwife agsin, who seems to have some sense. Tell her what the DAU said, and ask her to chase it up. She was obviously worried for a reason. Did you see a doctor on the day unit??

Community midwife first wanted to send me to day unit, but when she heard there is no doctor on that day, she decided to send me to Triage, where they had a doctor. I went to triage but they were busy and I was there with my toddler son, so they said I can go to day unit, so I don't need to wait. At day unit the midwife put me the automatic cuff and baby's heart beat was recorded. Baby was fine. Before the last BP measurement she said lay calm so we get good results. Very odd. They did not take any bloods either.

I have been wondering if manual cuffs can give different results to automated ones.

Midwife is visiting my GP's office only on fridays. I don't know if the normal nurses do theBP measurements. I am not really impressed about day unit and don't want to go there.

banksu in my area there are drop-in MW clinics at some children's (Sure Start) centres throughout the week so people can pop in between MW appointments. Might this be the case near you?

HamblesHandbag: Thanks! I checked the SureStart centre near me and they have midwife there on wednesday. I could go there.

that's great!

To be honest banksu that is v similar experience to me and all has been fine. My highest BP readings have even been above yours, around 148/96. (my normal bp is 100/70ish). If several measurements are taken and they aren't consistently high then they don't consider that PE. Trace protein is also nothing to worry about, it has to get above a +1. I have had pitting edema in my feet since about 27 weeks.

If you are worried then by all means try to see someone else but the pain they would be worried about would be under your right ribs where your liver is located. hth

Fishpond: The thing which wories me that in my last pregnancy protein tests were all clear and my BP never rose above 120/80. I was swollen but there was no pitting. Also, I was not really convinced that everything is fine, because if the behaviour of the midwife at DAU.

I think I will see someone if my swelling gets worse and probably visit the midwife at surestart. I have been thinking I have gallstones because if the pain. I might go and check that one at GP's.

Sorry I misread where your pain was, but right shoulder tip pain could be gall stones which can also have serious implications in pregnancy, and they do need to be a bit concerned about this. Again, swelling is common in pregnancy but pitting is concerning and you should have had some blood taken.

I am not saying these things to scare you, but if you have any doubts, you should speak to someone, even if it is only to allay your concerns.

I think i have all sorts of symptoms. The high blood pressure just came really out of the blue because I have been suffering from low BP. I saw stars and feeling faint when getting up strairs or standing up. Actually, I knew my BP was higher last week as I could stand up without feeling faint.

Like visual disturbances. I see loads floaters, which I started to see already at week 22, when I was having headaches everyday and I was really tired. I was laying on sofa days on end having headache and watching floaters. I told my midwife about my tiredness and headaches (which paracetamol cured). The reason was low hemoglobin and headaches went away and tiredness, too, after I started taking iron.
Back pain started at that time, too. It does radiate to front sometimes.

Maybe I should write a list of my symptoms, as I have not mentioned them to anyone. I have thought visual disturbances mean migraine type auras, blurry computer screen was due to dry contact lenses, back pain was due to fatty food etc.

Well tomorrow i go to GP's to discuss about the back pain.

Hi all, I'm just popping in to have a little worry. My home BP monitor has had some higher readings today- 130/90+ .

I was at chiropractor this evening and she measured it at 151/90.

I have +1 protein in my wee according to the urinalysis strips I'm using. Was a bit swollen today, fingers, feet and face slightly, but it WAS v hot again.

Since coming home this evening, Bp is back down to nice levels -120/60-70.

So, I'm at the hospital tomorrow for a scan and consultant appointment and in the meantime I'm watching for symptoms.

Just a bit worried that this is the start of it.

Anyhoo, hope you're all ok.

Well am 13 weeks now and can you believe i ended up sat in Day assessment on Monday as bp was 175/118??? how is that possible so early on??? anyhow been put on methaldopa but is making me feel awful and bp still bouncing about. Am back to see my consultant today and hoping labetalol will be an option instead!! Am terrified to be honest. My hospital had a lady last month will full on PET at only 15 weeks pregnant, which had never been seen before.... scary stuff :(

Oh fairimum ! I hope everything is OK and this is just a blip.

thank you, i hope so too!! consultant went through all my notes and found i had a worse reaction to labetalol so instead has double my methaldopa :( doh! but on plus side i was on this dose all the way through my daughters pregnancy and didn't have her to 35 weeks.... fingers crossed!!

Hi

back here with a baby!

Finally on monday I called the hospital triage. They told me to go to NHS walki-in -centre, so they could decide if my backpain is pregnancy related.
I went there and nurse measured my BP. It 167/107, so she send me to hospital. There they measured protein in my urine and BP of 176/105. They put me on seizure preventing and BP lowering drugs straight away and induced the labour. A baby girl was born on tuesday morning.

I have to say that PE can get worse very quickly...

Wow! Bansku - I am so glad that you went. PET does develop very quickly. Congratulations on your baby girl I hope you are both doing well now

aw bansku, congratulations! Very glad you're both ok, it can happen so fast.

Well, I am also sat here with a new baby girl!

After all this worrying and obsessing about PET, baby had other ideas and my waters broke on Thursday at 35+2. She was born by CS late on Thursday night and we got home late on Sunday.

She is a good weight for her weeks, though needed a little time in SCBU at first.

I'm so glad the pregnancy is over and we can now move away from the anxiety and anticipation of looming PE.

I'm beaming here

Aaaawwww Hambles!! Congratulations!!!

I am so pleased for you - that PET kept it's head down, and that you have a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations again!

My BP is climbing but I have a consultant scan tomorrow and appt on Thursday (unfortunately they couldn't do them on the same day), so I'll see what they say then. I do feel as though I am starting to feel a bit crappy, but I might be just getting to that stage of pregnancy where you do just feel heavy and crap. I wouldn't know, I've never been this pregnant before

Cograt to both!

My next appt is tomorrow also although don't think any PE symptoms will appear. Have been monitoring BP at home and all ok.

Just sick of being pg and ready for him to come out! 34+1 today.

thanks marbles

how many weeks are you now? I was feeling generally crappy before DD arrived, but like you say, isn't it normal to feel like crap at that point?? Good luck with your scan and appt - at least you get another look at the babe!

I realise you're all probably busy with street parties and stuff, but how is everyone else getting on?