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!

Hi ballroomblitz - I think that low dose aspirin is recommended for some women, particularly if they have a history of severe PE at an early gestation. If I were you, I'd phone your consultant for an appointment as early as possible so that you can discuss this with him. If you wait for your mw to refer you at 12 weeks you may not see the consultant until you are 16 weeks or so.

Yes I think aspirin was mentioned. For my own peace of mind I would like an early appointment at the hospital incase I have to start any meds. I will ring them tomorrow. I can't even remember my consultant's name only that he was that dour and scary we called him 'Doctor Death' :)

Hi newbies. :)

Just back from my check-up, bp on rise... But ok so far. Bp could be related to yet more work woes. Anyway, surgeon confirmed, anesthetist booked, ward booked and confirmation that after 37 weeks it's straight to section. Just a week and a bit to go.

Very tired and fed up, but feel this is lack of sleep/food rather than anything sinister. I've lost a couple of pounds since last week so at least I'm not retaining water.

We got our old laptop working this week and I'm horrified by the photos post-parting last time, I look like a giant squidgey beachball. I remember poking my thighs in hospital and they were heavily dimpled with water retention and as thick as elephant legs, but I had no idea just how swollen I was!

Hi blitz. Welcome to the thread! Yes, please do get in touch with your consultant. You may not even have to see him in order to go onto aspirin (I wrote to mine as I was going to be overseas when I was due to have an appointment with her - she rang me back and told me to start the aspirin anyway.)

pony, good to hear that things are going OK (for a given value of OK, at least).

hello newbies make yourselves comfy.

not too long now alpine

Thanks fishandjam. I will try to ring my midwife and find out if I should see the consultant sooner. I think I was told at booking that a consultant would see me at 20 weeks but that might be a bit too late.

Good luck alpinepony! Hope all goes well!

How is everyone feeling today? I'm knackered but feeling quite positive about everything. :)

toomany My mw said to me that they wouldn't send me to a consultant until 36 weeks - I had a bit of a fuss about that given that I wanted an elcs (after last time's disaster) and also because he CAME at 36 weeks last time I didn't want to be messing around. I got them to agree to refer me at 30 weeks but in the end I think I was sent at 24 or so (I forget now) - and my care transferred to consultant-led.

My BP was 140/77 yesterday which isn't too outrageous I don't think, but last week was 127/73 so it is on the rise. Eeep, one day at a time! I know it's ludicrous to say so but too early would be a real pita as we live abroad and don't have any family here and my husband often starts work at 5am so it's not as if he can drop our son off on the way to work. We do have some friends here who I know would look after him if needs be, but it'll be so much easier if I can stay healthy long enough for family to arrive as planned!

Hi ladies,
Sorry to gatecrash but I'm a first-timer 28+3 and am wondering what sort of blood pressure increases/fluctuations are normal?
I went for my Anti-D jab on Tuesday and my urine was clear but my blood pressure was 129/86.
I was really anxious about it and I know that isn't very high, but my previous reading at 26+4 was 120/65, and booking in was 100/60. My only other 'high' reading was 134/71 - which was another hospital appointment. The midwife wasn't concerned and I don't have any swelling, gastric pain etc, just been a bit tired and weary.
I'm trying to just put it down to being anxious and stressed about the anti-d jab and 28 week bloods (not keen on needles!), but was hoping for some advice/reassurance from experienced PE sufferers!

The bottom figure for bp is the significant. I think it'd considered high 90 upwards. Keep an eye on the other symptoms

Thanks joan - I'm a bit of a worrier

Hi piggy, not to put too fine a point on it, but are you overweight? The reason I ask is that depending on the size of your ARM they'll need to use a different size cuff and they must use the same colour cuff each and every time. They seem to be colour-coded which helps. If the cuff is too small you'll often get an inaccurate high reading. Tbh I think your reading is high, or at least very different from your booking in and I'd ask them to test your proteins next time. If your next appointment isn't for a while I'm sure someone on this thread said you can buy wee sticks at the chemist.

Hi Alpine
I was about 8 and a half stone pre-preg at 5'4 so quite slim really. I noticed she took the reading 3 times so I'm wondering if she did think it was high and just put the lowest or highest reading down?
Next appt is 6th Feb so will keep an eye on how I'm feeling and maybe look into getting some urine sticks. Urine was clear when she took it and she heard baby's hb and said everything was fine.

Ok, well obviously not a cuff size issue with you! :) I'm glad to hear she tested your wee and your next appointment isn't too far away. It's well worth keeping an eye on your symptoms though. White coat hypertension is very real that's for sure!

Thank you Alpine. Feel a bit of a hypochondriac but the reading was high for me iykwim.

no your right to question it piggy. although the bottom figure is the significant one, the top figure is also relevant. if i remember rightly, and it does vary slightly from trust to trust i think, 140/90 triggers the monitoring. keep an eye on how you feel and definitely see your midwife again with any concerns - it's not hypochondria

Definitely not hypochondria! PE can attack so quickly and visciously that it's no time for us to try and be stoic about it all and assume everything will be fine.

Has everyone packed their bags yet in case of early admission?

hi :)

ballroom blitz I have been on asprin since 16 weeks I had my first consultant appointment at 16 weeks exactly and have been once a month since then apart from the last 2 weeks where i have been once a week!.

Alpine - I had a lovely "pre baby" hospital bag stuff for me but not for labour packed then i was admitted last week and used it all so its al scattered everywhere now - this reminds me repack bag!

I came on to ask how people cope with the WORRY. I am 34 +3 now and seem to spend most days worrying. I had a hospital appointment a couple of days ago things were ok. My blood pressure has come down on the new higher dose of labetalol - was 148/90 which is better than 160/115 which is where it was a week ago and I actually had 0 protein which is farily rare for me!.
Yesterday i was feeling pretty good about things, today i woke up at 5am convinced something was wrong. I know its probablt not but still I know ill be in a mood and worried and feeling every tiny symptom today. Add to the that i have a microscopic amount of bleeding (we did have sex last night and i know its from that and its about the amount you get from a very tiny papercut) and its just a day of worry ahead for me.

The hospital said last week that they would no way consider inducing before 40 weeks even though i have had preeclampsia before then in 3 out of 4 (was probably 4 out of 4 but with my first pregnancy i missed my 40 week appointment and by 41 weeks was rushed in where i luckily went into labour anwyay that night!) I would dearly love them to say induce at 38 weeks if i get there.

so back to the point - dealing with worry i actually have my own blood pressure machine which seems pretty accurate im just too worried to get it out and use it!. I also know that the day unit are 100% happy for me to go in for any reason but I cant quite bring myself to go back 3 days after i was at the consultant appointment and told all was fine!

dishes Your hospital are being a bit mental. So it's curry every night for you from 36 weeks on, raspberry leaf tea, twiddling your nipples and bouncing around on a birthing ball eh? Is it possible to ask for a second opinion from another consultant? I'm wondering if you could try a different tack - you know, pure fucking exhaustion what with being 38 weeks with high blood pressure and 4 other children to look after, it's not as though you can just sit on your arse sucking ice-cubes! I'm angry on your behalf tbh!

As for coping with worry, I don't know. :( Sometimes I feel good and strong, other times - e.g., this morning I had to have a lie down after my shower and felt very weak & dizzy, then the bump started hurting a lot and I thought "oh jesus, early labour". But my husband thinks I'm winding myself up a little about it. A fine line between being supportive and telling it straight I suppose!

I really need to finish up with my bag although tbh it's not necessities I need to do now - just make-up and a cuddly toy for the new baby to have in his crib at hospital.

What I mean is wrt "early" induction - with your elevated BP you are already ill - and I don't know what your previous experience was but for me last time, I'd been so ill during the pregnancy that I was "marathon fit" within 2 days of section. Looking after a newborn/recovering from section sooooo much easier than being pregnant with PE!

Alpine I know! a week or so ago they were saying they were thinkig of delivering now and giving me steroids etc and now they are saying wait until 40 weeks? I dont want to have the baby now being only 34 weeks but at the same time waiting until 40 seems a little foolhardy?!
I do feel unwell not terribly ill just not right, but i am told that im supposed to be on "rest". I am still looking after the children and actually still technically supposed to be working with dh (its our business i admit i havent done much but there is work hanging over me you know!).

It hast helped that my sister had her baby a week ago and it went awfully they left it and left it (diff hospital) until she and the baby were ill the baby was delivered by emergency c section came out teeny for dates and ended up in special care [anger]

Sorry you are feeling rotten - my dh can be like this he just says "well go and get checked then but you probably just need to relax" or things along those lines - its alot easier to think like that when its not you feeling these things isnt it!

Dishes your hospital are being silly. Have they done your bloods?

i had a blood test while i was in so just over a week ago, I assume it was fine they seemed to say so although when i read in my notes some of the values are outside the values they list as normal. You know where they say result [normal value] actual value...then make the ones outside in bold. I assume it was normal enough or normal for pregnancy. no idea it was the ones called ALT (?) which were out anyway.

I have a blood pressure check with my midwife on monday and my next appointment at the hospital is not for two weeks now.

sorry im wrong just had a look again and it is ALP whatever that is that is high and creatnine which is low. its all been seen and signed though so must be fine.

dirty alp is a liver function. on it's own it is not always significant. creatinine is a kidney function and high is way more worrying than low.
hth

Hi everyone.. I am going mad with worry. Mentally ticking off each day in my head as it means baby is getting bigger etc.
Had +2 protein 2 wks ago at 25 wk check, and bp was fine. Had it done again last week and it was the same. (mw)
Am under consultant anyway as anomaly of a cyst on babies kidney or gallbaldder was picked up at 20 wk scan. (whole 'nother story/worry!)
I am trying not to worry about PE but had symptoms last pg (15 yrs ago!!) at 39 wks, so was induced.
Mw sent sample off a few days ago as was only symptom so far, but no result yet. She said she will do bloods this week.
Have scan with consultant tomorrow to check cyst etc...should consultant be able to tell if placenta has any obvious probs??

Sorry to rant on...

So grateful for any advice. Means so much. x x