Preeclampsia

[Dreamalice234]

I might just be over thinking and worrying..

This is my first pregnancy and I am 32 weeks pregnant and (touch wood) have had a lovely breeze of a journey so far. But at my last midwife appointment I had protein in my urine (not sure how much) but the midwife didn't seem to be too worried and she sent it off anyway.

Since then I have had really bad headaches which don't seem to go, at first I thought I was just dehydrated and stressed from still working long and weird hours. But I took a paracetamol and nothing was helping apart from sleeping. But two days passed and I still have the headache as well as my right leg completely swelled up at work. It was around my ankle, behind my knee and on my thigh. My whole leg was tight and it just felt more heavy. I don't even know if that makes sense I came down with what felt like a sinus infection headache on Friday, with a bunged up nose and sore throat.
My blood pressure has been fine this whole way through and was only 112/70 at my last appointment and was 110/60 before that. My midwife ends every appointment with how happy she is with me and baby being so healthy.

I spoke to my mum and she said It could be early stages of preeclampsia, and I read some horror stories on here. And now I'm not really sure whether to go get checked out or if I am just worrying.. I just don't feel great in myself and I feel like my face has got slightly puffy but I'm not sure if that's just me getting fatter haha!

I have another midwife appointment on Tuesday, so should I just wait out?

And if I could have any of your experiences I would be so grateful!

Thank you in advance!

Definitely ring Triage and get advice especially if you've got a headache that isn't improving.

Hopefully it ain't anything serious but they would always rather check it xx

Yes, it may well be. Well your symptoms are consistent with it anyway.

I would say it isn't what your blood pressure is now either but how much it has risen. Did you have low blood pressure in the first place?

I only reached the blood pressure point they really seem to worry about (I think it was 140/90) the day I my placenta tore and I lost a lot of blood. I originally had low blood pressure and it only slowly went up a little.

Because I didn't have such high blood pressure they constantly kept sending me into hospital, then back home, then back to hospital. The whole thing was a nightmare.

Or maybe 120/90 I'm not 100% sure but it was definitely 90 on the bottom. The rest of the time I doubt my blood pressure was much different to yours stated above.

Sorry for all the replies..

I just wanted to add I also had some swelling but not as much as some people get.

All of these factors not appearing to be as severe as other people's symptoms didn't mean we are any safer.

Moral of the story.. get checked over sooner rather than later and don't let them dismiss your concerns.

Go and get checked. I had pre eclampsia and was looked after really well but you have to tell them if you’re having any symptoms. Hope it all goes ok x

Yeh my blood pressure has ranged from 90/60 to 112/70 throughout the weeks. I don't want to sound like a hypochondriac but I just know that I don't feel right. But how much swelling in your legs or fingers is normal for pregnancy? Thank you for all the advice! Do I go to triage or should I go to my gp tomorrow?

Please call/go now, these are all symptoms of preeclampsia the swelling of one leg and persistent headache is particularly worrying. You won’t be wasting anyones time just please go xx

Preclamsia won’t be officially diagnosed until you have high blood pressure but if you have protein in your urine and other symptoms it’s only a matter of time. If you have an emergency number for your labour ward give them a call tonigjt

If you haven't been seen already, I'd really recommend going in to get checked over. There should be an emergency number for the hospital in your notes. With my hospital, it was the day unit.

I had pre-eclampsia in both pregnancies, worse with my second. I had border line high blood pressure from 28 weeks and ended up in the hospital with bells palsy and my bloody pressure through the roof at 37 weeks. I had to go in a few times with bad headaches just to get checked over. It's definitely worth going for the peace of mind if nothing else.

Hi guys.

Thanks for all your advice. I went in this morning and my blood pressure was 155/90 so I've been admitted into the labour ward and staying in tonight and possibly tomorrow. Baby is okay which is the main thing! X

I hope everything ends up ok. I am so glad you went. You are in the best possible place.

You may have worried you were causing a fuss over nothing but preeclampsia is not to be messed with.

I hope if anyone ever reads this thread back it will encourage them to do the same.

Good luck x

Well done for going in.

I had pre eclampsia with my twins, apart from swelling up like a balloon I had no other symptoms. Called triage because it was a little bit weird (my legs were leaking) and went in to get checked out - came home 4 days later with my babies.

Good luck!