Refusing antenatal hospital admittance

[mummy1214]

So I went for extra monitoring at the antenatal day unit yesterday and ended up being admitted to the antenatal ward because my blood pressure was slightly up and had some protein in my wee. Now I am genuinely terrified of having my blood pressure done I have been ever since I had my first baby over 8 years ago maybe sounds stupid but true. Also despise hospitals especially with the current pandemic situation re visitors. Anyway because of how scared and stressed it makes me my blood pressure continued to be raised I kept telling them if I could go home my blood pressure would more than likely come down. Anyway this morning they finally agreed as they could see how worked up I was getting when time to do blood pressure and the thought of having to stay again. Last blood pressure rrading they did had come down a bit as they were finally letting me go. They have said tomorrow I need to go to the day unit to be monitored again (blood pressure and check in on baby) now I am terrified if it is slightly up again they will try to keep me in even though it will more than likely be due to stress of it all. Has anyone ever refused to be admitted ? If so what happens ?
By the way I am 35+3 weeks pregnant and might I add baby is fine had a scan all is good movement is good and all monitoring of baby was fine. Obviously if that changed and baby was in distress i wouldn't hesitate to stay but if not I am more relaxed at home my husband is home so does everything so I can rest and surely stress free and not sleep deprived mum is better all round.

Well its very important to be monitored as both of these are symptoms of pre-eclampsia which can be very serious. Although stress may be raising your blood pressure, please try to follow the medical teams advice on when you need to be admitted. They can't force you so stay in but make sure you know what the consequences could be if things worsen for yourself or your baby.

Buy a machine from argos, amazon and check it yourself at home every few hours/ few times a day and log it down. I did this recently when my BP was up at the GPs (non- pregnant at the time). It was absolutely fine when I logged at home, and assume it was due to having walked 30mins to the surgery after a gym session on a hot day!

Otherwise, ask the hospital to hook you up to a 24hr BP monitor. The outpatient department that normally fit them might be closed, but worth asking if that is an option. Best of luck x

They are keen to monitor you due to the possibility of pre eclampsia which would obviously put both you and the baby at risk. Could you buy your own bp machine and monitor it at home? You can get them in most chemists.

Thanks for your reply. Should have said doctor today said they are classing it as mild pre eclampsia due to the protein but also said so long as I am monitored weekly (which I am anyway for other reasons) and didn't develop any other symptoms I'd be ok but that if any other symptoms arose or blood pressure goes ridiculously high then things would obviously change. I only live 10min from hospital so can always be there in a flash and would never ignore other symptoms I only have 2 and a bit weeks and they are inducing anyway for other reasons (I am aware I'll be in hospital then and accept that)

Just panicking because if it's a different midwife who hasn't dealt with me I worry they will ignore what I say.

I disliked hospitals and pushed for an early discharge with my first two. The midwives were generally understanding and I got my way.

My third was prem so I had to stay put. The fear of hospitals was nothing to the fear of losing him.

I’d say go for the test, but explain how stressful you find it. They don’t want to keep you in a stressful environment, that’s not good for the baby. If they do want to keep you in then ask for a second opinion and get them to explain the risks. They can’t force you to stay, and it’s better to make an informed decision. Imo the midwives have seen it all before, so as long as you keep communicating they should be able to help you make a wise decision. All the best.

Just seen your update. If the second midwife opinion is also to stay in then I’d do it but get a consultants opinion ASAP, sometimes they can explain the risks better.

Thank you @peajotter the midwife on the antenatal ward last night then the one today were amazing and it was the one on today who really agreed with my reasons for wanting to be at home and just said to make sure any other symptoms call them straight up which I would i would never put my baby in danger. The midwifes on day unit are just so busy I worry they will ignore me and admit me. I just found the antenatal ward so stressful so hot and full of women being inducted and then there was me so it wasn't an overly pleasant environment to be in. As soon as I got home today I went to bed as I literally only slept about an hour in the hospital. It's easy for people to say relax when you go for blood pressure check tomorrow but not easy when it's a genuine fear as soon as they hook me up to BP machine I can feel myself getting really worked up.
Ps I will obviously go for the monitoring tomorrow but wanted to know if I could refuse admittance to the ward if things are the same as today when I've been sent home.

I think refusing to be admitted would be even more stressful, for instance they probably won't give you your notes back and you'll probably be expected to be seen more often. Go get the check on baby and get urine tested. If there's a problem you want to be in anyway, if not you can relax a bit as they're unlikely to keep you in for high bp alone unless it's really high.
Fwiw I don't let them take mine without other indicating factors, it's ill advised and they don't like it but means I can actually talk myself into going in despite my fear of doctors. I absolutely would have it taken if I had protien though. And you can and should get them to take it when you're calmest in the appointment, may be talk about something unrelated to humanise them.

How will you know if the baby is in distress if you are at home and not having fetal monitoring though?

Personally I would stay in if advised to. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to sudden and serious complications for you both.

Okay I posted before all the updates which change things. If you're being monitored regularly have a list of midwives you're comfortable with and politely ask if appointments can be when one is rotad to be on shift, no guarantees but it increases odds. Also they'll be watching for a pattern now, so you're really just aiming to be equally stressed each time.

Get a home monitor. Your readings will be more accurate, you can stay home, and you can call in or email your readings.

They are watching for preeaclamsia and it is a good thing they are checking you just for that. I had it 5 weeks ago and ended up with an emergency c section and I could have died left any longer. I had a trace of protein and Slight high blood pressure for weeks and they didnt montior me at all. on a check up BP was threw the roof and protein was the highest and my organs had already started being affected at that point and I honestly felt no different. apparently a lot of the time you don't feel anything until it's very bad so please don't think you would be able to diagnose yourself with this at home. I got really ill really quick and im still recovering now 5 weeks on unlike my first two babies. I hate to think it I hadn't had my appointment that day for whatever reason and was left any longer at home no the wiser. I hate hospitals too honeslty my first was in intensive care when she was a baby so I hate being in hospital but if they Think you need to be there then I would trust them, they should be continuously doing your blood pressure And doing it manually to get an accurate reading. You could order you own of amazon if you are determined to stay at home then monitor yourself. If the bottom number goes above 90 you defo need to be at the hospital. Sorry couldn't read and run I didn't realise how serious and quickly it could happen and now when I see people say little things about signs it worries me.

Hi OP,

So I am an emetophobe - I am PATHOLOGICALLY terrified of vomit! It’s crippling sometimes - let’s not discuss how I will manage when my baby arrives.

Anyway, I just wanted to be clear I get irrational fears and how whilst it’s just having your BP taken to you it’s the worst thing ever in the world.

That aside if you’ve been diagnosed with “mild” pre eclampsia (sceptical mild can even be a thing Tbf) it is so so important you find a way to be checked regularly! Things can go for bad to worse with pre eclampsia so fast and you can find yourself going from pre eclamptic to eclamptic very very quickly and as far as I’m aware that’s not always physically recognisable to the mum! I appreciate you’re 10 mins away but sometimes you have less than that to get babba out!

My waters broke at 25 weeks and I had to stay in Hospital for 72 hours and it was absolutely horrendous as my fear of vomit or the anticipation of being around it gives me the worst white coat fever and my BP shoots up too! But for me I just had to do it to make sure...

If you can reliably home monitor and be sure it’s reliable then that’s good but if you can manage it, try accept admittance! The MWs don’t WANT to make you stressed and miserable, they just want to make sure your baby and you are ok x