Pre-eclampsia

[Turt]

I'm at risk of pre-eclampsia and I am consultant led in this pregnancy.

For a day and a half now I have had a pain in my right ribs that doesn't subside with any amount of stretching, warm bath or position changing. I would describe it as a strong and constant stab.

Baby is moving fine, nowhere near the pain side.

I was told to take paracetamol and rest by the midwife unit. Something I have been doing since the pain started but they said to keep doing it and said not to come down as they'd just give me more pain relief.

Has anyone experienced this and it was pre-eclampsia?

I had pain like the worst trapped wind ever just under my ribs in the middle. I was sick about 3 times in as many hours too soon after it started and called the MAU each time. At first I thought it might be good poisoning as DH and I had been out for lunch and each had something different, but on the 3rd time they told me to come in just in case as I was worried.

8 days, one EMCS and a lot of drugs later and I left hospital with baby - I'd had pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome and got very ill indeed very quickly.

Looking back I'd had a number of other symptoms leading up to it including one is episode of visual disturbances, swollen ankles/feet and protein in my urine (which happened to coincide with me having a cold for about 2 weeks so it could have been linked to that) - all fairly innocuous when looked at separately but ended up being part of a bigger picture. Have you had any other possible symptoms?

Hope that helps and that your rib pain doesn't turn out to be anything serious

@ThePurpleMoose wow, I am so glad they managed to catch it before it was too late.

The only other symptom is nausea/vomiting which has been happening since around Wednesday. I actually threw up in the car on Thursday which hasn't happened since my morning sickness days.

Minor headache but nothing to shout about!

Thank you

I don’t think this is something that can safely be resolved on Mumsnet or by phone. I think you should go in to the hospital to be examined.
Hopefully all is well but far better safe than sorry.
As PP explains things like this can (rarely) be the beginning of a very serious issue.

I’d get checked better safe than sorry. It can get bad so quickly. I had severe ore eclampsia but didn’t have rib pain. When it became severe I was a,ready in hospital fortunately. I didn’t feel right for weeks, from about 30 weeks. Just ill and knackered. As it got worse I felt twitchy and jumpy and anxious, my legs wouldn’t stay still. Eventually I was violently sick shortly after induction started and taken off to HDU. Got the magnesium sulphate drip and a horrible day, but all was well in the end as me and baby were fine once she was out. Good luck.

I would also head to the hospital to be examined.
In my experience Pre-eclampsia is taken really seriously, and I'm surprised they haven't checked you out already.

@Nanmumandmidwife I was just curious if someone else had my symptoms and it did indeed turn out to be pre-eclampsia. Definitely not seeking medical advice.

I already phoned the maternity unit tonight and they were not concerned with the information given and told me just to rest with paracetamol and to call the GP tomorrow if I am still concerned.

I will of course keep on top of the warning symptoms and call if things worsen!

@MeMeMeYou they said on the phone they were busy tonight and all they'd do is provide me with pain relief.

@LuubyLuu I was surprised too considering my notes!

Definitely go and get checked. I had no symptoms when I had PE, not even high blood pressure so even the hospital couldn't believe it. It can become serious very quickly (I ended up developing HELLP). One minute I was fine the next I was being induced and went rapidly down hill. Go and get checked it's better to be safe than sorry. Hope all is well.

Sorry cross post. That sounds rubbish are you able to just turn up and insist you be seen? Mine was only diagnosef after a blood test could you ask for that?

@PivotPivotPivottt when I turned up last time for reduced movements they were not best pleased. I'm already wary as I was told they're busy tonight and was kept on hold for 10 minutes by a HCA whilst a midwife was located.

I hate feeling like a nuisance and I know it probably will be nothing but I know the risks associated with low Papp-A and they loom over my head. I'm due to see my midwife this Thursday and have a growth scan next week so can always bring it up then I guess?

You need to go in for PET (pre eclampsia)bloods.

What hospital is this @Turt ?! They really don’t sound very caring!

Never ever feel like you are being a nuisance for reduced movement or anything related to a serious medical condition. Just go in & get seen. Stick your best hard nose on & ignore those making you feel that way. Your health & babies help come first.

I was back & forth with reduced movement several times last pregnancy as my daughter had a terrible pattern of movement. Completely irregular. Crazy one day, silent the next. I was never once made to feel bad, despite going three times in one week!

Hope all is OK, please trust your instincts. Better to be safe than sorry.

Do you have puffy legs or also a puffy face when you wake up in the mornings? They were two signs for me. Hope all is well

Yes go in, they shouldn't be making you feel like a nuisance that's not on.

I've had pre-eclampsia with all of my pregnancies, twice I've had no noticeable symptoms until it was picked up by a routine check of bp and urine.

I'm surprised they don't want to keep a closer eye on you if you are reporting symptoms that may (or may not) be related, they should at least want to check your bp!

As an aside, I developed gallstones in my last pregnancy, could this be a possibility? I just mention it as you say right sided rib pain and vomiting/nausea.

Hope all is ok

I second what Bol87 says. You shouldn’t ever be made to feel like a nuisance for getting checked as often as you feel you need to be. If you feel worried then just turn up . I hope it proves to be ‘one of those things’. I had pre-eclampsia (34 years ago though) and emember blurry vision, headache and feeling generally really unwell.

When I had the pains I was also vomiting and very swollen (couldn’t bend my knees properly swollen) I was only 24 weeks so was fobbed off. I took myself to the walk in and they checked my bp and it was through the roof with 4 plus protein in my urine. I would go and get your blood pressure and urine checked somewhere.

Just turn up at the hospital and refuse to leave unless they check you out and you feel happy about it.

I had PE with my daughter, came on v quickly at 38wks and if I'd not listened to my gut instinct that something wasn't right we might have had a very different ending to it all. As it was I was induced and all was fine in the end.

I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you don't want to make a fuss, but when it comes to your baby you are their only advocate. I used to remind myself that it was better to have a grumpy midwife than a potentially very poorly baby/mama. So you have to pull your big girl pants up, go to hospital and just explain that you're not leaving until they've proved it isn't pre eclampsia.
Fingers crossed it isn't and best of luck, but always better safe than sorry

Please go to the hospital. If they are busy they may not have really taken in what you were saying. You have risk factors - you need to be seen and examined.

I had PE with ds, I went from being fine on the monday to looking like a Michelin man by friday, I felt like my head was blowing up that much it would burst & I was in a bubble, everything going on around me but I wasn't there. I was induced the next day & ended up in high dependency with HELLP after an emcs & pph. I don't want to frighten you but you need to get checked out asap

Thank you to you all for pushing me to get down to the hospital. They have been a lot more responsive here which is good.

They don't suspect anything serious (thank goodness) but have said to call if symptoms worsen.

This morning I threw up and nearly passed out at work. My eyes went fuzzy, I started overheating. This just doesn't feel normal.

Did you see the midwife today? You said you had an appointment Thursday but not sure if today or next week. Visual disturbance and vomiting are definitely worrying signs

@Turt I had severe preeclampsia in my second pregnancy. I can tell you from experience sometimes comes so quick. You have to get checked, don't delay please, even if you go a few times.

My last pregnancy(third) I went a few times and got checked as I felt some things that needed to be checked. I never felt like a burden. I know how serious it is, I was so ill before and after birth.

@justchecking1 @R2D2abc I did see the midwife today and raised my concerns. Driving to the appointment I nearly blacked out whilst on the road. She's disappointed the hospital didn't take any pre-eclampsia bloods when I went in so she has taken a set today and told me to call triage again no matter now many times I feel like this. She was excellent!

Please go back to the hospital