pre-eclampsia symptoms but midwife not concerned?

[RAFWife12]

I'm 31+4 and had my 31 week midwife appointment today. Trace of protein in urine, and bp raised. Also mentioned i've been having headaches last couple weeks.
Midwife not concerned as bp still within normal limits - but i normally have a low bp. (highest bp i've ever had before is 120/74. Today was 130/82) She just told me to contact hospital if i feel unwell, otherwise see how things are in 3 weeks. I asked what i should be looking out for and she just said any change in babies movements or i feel unwell.
So went on nhs website and looked up pre-eclampsia. Headaches is on list of symptoms. As is pain below ribs, and flashing lights in vision - both of which i have.
Obviously this is concerning to me, but not to her! What would you do?

[SuburbanCrofter]

I'm not sure the ache is a symptom then RAFWife - that's not to say that the other things you're experiencing aren't either though.

[differentnameforthis]

It could be rib flare, it could also be epigastric pain

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/440848-omg-heartburn-from-hell-advice-please

The only answer is to NOT take it for granted one way or another.

It isn't normal to have a BP of pushing 90 as the lower figure. Yes, it does get higher, but not stupidly so.

[ChicaMomma]

yep, the rib flare, i had it for at least 10 weeks as baby was breech for ages, right up until 35/36 weeks. it has lessened in the last few weeks since he flipped. It was all on my right side, under the bra line. ROTTEN. Probably the worst pregnancy ailment i had actually. Yoga helped. Yoga teacher said to not sit for lengthy periods of time as this pushes everything UP from the pevlis and makes it worse- so in work, get up at least twice an hour and walk around. Did i listen? no, but definitely it was worse when i was in work or in the car.

[RAFWife12]

Suburban-no, its not like indigestion. Its not all the time. Its right side only, like an ache in lower ribs, well below bra line. Could just be babies position. I dont know.

[SuburbanCrofter]

RAFWife, what do your chest pains feel like? Does it feel like really bad indigestion, in the area where your bra cups would be?

[ChicaMomma]

133/83 really isnt high at all, honestly, even for us 'low BP' folk- you are carrying an almost fully formed baby and all that extra blood. It really isnt a reading to worry about. I do get your concern though as i was the same- mine was bad 2 days in a row and then perfectly normal again the week after. Just go about your business and if things start to swell or the flashing lights get worse, then act fast.

[RAFWife12]

Chica - i already follow a low salt diet (have done for years due to a pre existing medical condition), never have caffeine for same reason, and drink approx 2litres a day.
BP today 133/83 and still trace protein. So no worse than yesterday!

[ExCinnamon]

Sorry, didn't want to step on anyone's toes.
I've had both.
PE is very rare. Preeclampsia not so rare. Both nasty.
Hope everything is ok, OP.

[ChicaMomma]

RAFWife- my BP was always low pre and during pregnancy too- as low as 105/50 during the second trimester. So you can imagine my shock at 36 week appt (2 weeks ago) when it was 138/90!! nearly died. No other signs though. They brought me back in a week later for a full BP series, it was perfect again- 110-70. It's very common during the 3rd tri for the BP to push up a bit, even for people like us who tend to be on the low side. We are brewing a baby and pushing so much more blood around our bodies, it really is normal. Try not to worry and see what happens over the next few days. Go easy on salt and up your water intake.

[HopefulHamster]

I didn't 'confuse' pulmonary embolisms with pre-eclampsia, but I did mention I know someone with similar symptoms who was diagnosed with the former, not the latter. She's still in hospital, actually.

The risk of pulmonary embolisms is higher in pregnancy and the symptoms can include pain under ribs and general feelings of unwellness.

The reason I mention it is not to scaremonger, but just to show it's always worth getting these things checked out, as one set of symptoms can point to a variety of problems but only a doctor can diagnose.

[TortoiseUpATreeAgain]

No one is confusing pulmonary embolism with pre eclampsia, but one person used "PE" as an abbreviation for pre eclampsia (because this is a discussion forum rather than a set of medical notes and things get abbreviated all the time, and when the thread is about pre eclampsia it's clear what you mean). It's like CP gets used to mean cerebral palsy or chicken pox or chemical pregnancy or Center Parcs, depending on what the thread is about.

[differentnameforthis]

Let's not confuse pulmonary embolism with pre eclampsia.

I don't think anyone has done that.

[ExCinnamon]

Let's not confuse pulmonary embolism with pre eclampsia.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is caused by a blood clot which has travelled to the lung. Symptoms are pain on top of the shoulder! and underneath, basically where the lung is "hung up" and shortness of breath.

Pre eclampsia symptoms are the 3 mentioned - water retention, high bp and protein in urine. All of these can be a part of a normal pregnancy. All three together indicate pre eclampsia.

I'd get a bp monitor at home or have it checked at work.

I had my sis send me urine sticks to pee on, and I checked daily. BP with my pre eclampsia went up to 180/100 and my normal one is 110/60.

The headache can come from the higher than normal bp, but disturbed vision is nothing that should be ignored.

Three weeks is def too long.

[destructogirl]

I had a similar thing. My blood pressure has always been low, when I was pregnant with DD1 it kept creeping up, and I had mad swelling.

My grandma told me I had pre-eclampsia 10 weeks before the midwife spotted it.

I was young, this was pre-mumsnet, I didn't realise. I went to my last appointment at 37 weeks, she took my bp, and called an ambulance.
At this point, I felt fine. They wouldn't even let me walk, and the ambulance went a special route to avoid speed bumps.

I think having a low blood pressure normally means they don't spot it as quickly.

Glad you're in a position to keep doing extra checks, and you've got mumsnet too ;) so you'll be fine.

[differentnameforthis]

Just remember that things can progress VERY quickly with PE, so early stages don't really cover it, to be fair.

I know people who have gone straight into Eclmapsia with no warning.

[RAFWife12]

Thanks for all the responses.
I know if anything is going on, it's only really early stages. It's the combination of symptoms concerning me. I've always had such stable blood pressure - normally around 115/65, only going up to 120/80 if I've been rushing around or stressed. This is pre pregnancy too. So 130/82 when I've had a really relaxing morning and not rushing around at all (hadn't even been to work yet) was a shock! Combined with the protein and the other symptoms I've had over last 2 weeks.
I will be having a colleague checking BP manually - not using a machine at home.
If there is anything, I'd rather it be picked up now - in the early stages than it turn into an emergency. Especially given DH is currently thousands of miles away.
3 weeks just seemed too long to leave it before checking again. At least I am in a position I can have BP/urine checked at work.

[differentnameforthis]

You obviously have some doubts & concerns, for that matter alone it is worth getting checked out.

I was showing protein for 4 weeks (tested every week) and headachy, throwing up, swelling etc & my midwife did NOTHING except keep making me appointments with her.

Finally she asked a co worker what to do, who said 'get her to the hospital' only for the midwife to completely play it down, by saying 'I think we need to refer you to the hospital' quite calmly. If I hadn't heard the dr myself, I would have waited for a letter form the hospital, as it was we were both concerned enough to insist to her, that we go straight to the hospital.

On arrival my BP was high & I was monitored for a few hours, wee samples, bloods taken. I was sent home to collect 24hrs worth of urine, which I dropped back to the hospital. They called me that day asking me to go in for a chat. My BP was sky high, I had too much protein & I bloods were showing signs of concern so they wrote 'deliver now' right across my notes. The consultant actually said 'bloody hell' when the nurse read out my bp to him.

I didn't leave the hospital for a week & my baby came that night, 4 weeks too soon & weighing 4lbs.

If we hadn't insisted on going down that day, instead of waiting for a letter/appointment, I don't want to think about what would have happened.

So no, I do not recommending trusting your midwife. They do get it wrong. She was an older midwife, so had heaps of experience, yet still didn't know how to deal with my symptoms & never once, over 4 weeks, gave me cause for concern.

If YOU are concerned, do something. No one knows your body like you. Trust your instincts, please.

[MoominAndMiniMoom]

If you're really worried, call the antenatal day unit tomorrow and ask to be seen.

I had headaches, flashing lights, protein in wee, slightly raised BP (yours is only slightly raised really) throughout pregnancy. I had frequent xhecks, but it was only when I had all those symptoms combined with very sudden onset swelling - and its nothing like normal pregnancy swelling, my hands, feet and face became like balloons - and such a sharp pain under my ribs it took my breath away, that I was admitted and induced, and they said I was at the stage just before pre eclampsia develops! if your midwife isn't concerned, I'd trust her judgement but maybe get a 2nd opinion at the antenatal day unit tomorrow?

[Mummymidwife87]

Don't compare blood pressures to booking. Your BP drops end of 1st trimester. Swelling is not a typical symptom of PET, unless it is very sudden onset, ie. nothing to people commenting on it, particularly in the face.
Don't rely on GP for input on complications in pregnancy. They are not specialists in obstetrics and either don't react when there is a problem or over react when there is. Also, daily BP monitoring at home, unless advised by an obstetrician, is not advisable. It is not accurate, and should be tested manually, not by an automated machine.

If you are worried, call the hospital and ask to be seen, maybe on the day assessment unit if they have one. That's what they see day in and out

[SouthDerbyshireMamma]

RAFWife12...if you are still worried I'd say get yourself checked at your hospital. They would much rather you go and get checked out than you sit there and worry. I've been in and out of hospital for one reason and another and they have been lovely each time

[peeapod]

to put your mind at rest a bit, although please keep thinking the worst (as in don't assume its this.. let the docs tell you) it could be a raise in hormones. there are certain points i pregnancy your hormones levels rise sending your system "wappy"

as with anything.. it could be something or it could be pregnancy.. I hated not knowing...

[RAFWife12]

SouthDerbyshireMamma - headaches are NOT something I normally suffer with. All these symptoms are new over the past 2 weeks.
Hakluyt - I will be checking BP and for protein every day

[AuntieMaggie]

Did you speak to a doctor at the assessment unit?

Your bp is quite a bit lower than the limit for preeclampsia monitoring -I've been under monitoring for the past couple of weeks as my bp has been on the brink at 148/96. With the protein it depends how much of a trace as you can get some from discharge so need to make sure you clean well before collecting sample.

The headaches and visual disturbances are more of a concern especially if paracetamol and plenty of water don't help so if it gets worse go to the assessment unit.

[Hakluyt]

Ask for some of the urine testing strips so you can check for protein every day. I found that incredibly reassuring when my blood pressure went up.

[SouthDerbyshireMamma]

Ive had all the above symptoms with a much higher BP, been seen by a GP amd two midwifes...none of them think its pre eclampsia. Have you suffered with headaches pre pregnancy?