Pre eclampsia paranoia/ no 16 week appointments

[CazzaCat]

Hey ladies,

I’m a first time mum 21 weeks and I’m assuming due to Covid, no one called me or wrote to arrange a 16 week appointment.

I’ve just had my 20 week scan and everything was great but didn’t have any urine tests or blood pressure checks.

My question is if pre-eclampsia is so dangerous they why have the NHS decided to miss out urine/blood pressure tests?

I’m a bit paranoid as I had a bad headache for just over a week at 18 weeks with paracetamol just taking the edge off. It went away completely then came back for a day and a half last week. Could that just be hormones?

I also have pain under my rib age but only when I sneeze or get out of the bath/sit up. So could be muscular or ligaments.

Sorry I know I should call the midwife but just wondered if I’m being a worrier or not??

X

I rang the midwives as I hadn't heard to book an appointment, turns out they should have told me to book a phone appointment myself so I rang to chase it and they said all they would have done is asked if i had any concerns so I didn't bother booking it.

They said a headache that sorts itself out and that paracetamol can treat is okay when I had my booking appointment. I've got a cheap blood pressure machine so that's stopped me worrying about pre eclampsia, most home ones are easy to learn to use.

Hi - sorry you have had that experience, it doesn’t sound right at all that your 16wk appointment was cancelled or that you were not checked appropriately at your 20 wk scan.

I am now Just 22 weeks and had my 16 wk appointment over Telephone - this was a bit of a pointless appt tbh just more a check in with how I was feeling. However the 20 wk scan did include both a urine and blood pressure check so I am surprised this didn’t take place. I assume it was done at a hospital?

I would phone your midwife as it seems you have slipped through the net with these checks. Make sure you get your GD check and whooping cough booked in too.

Hope this helps and hope your antenatal care gets better!!

In my area, you have to ring to book the 16 week appointment yourself.

I had mine as it was pre covid but then didn't have another appointment or blood/urine etc checked until 28 weeks.
I ended up ordering some urine test strips off amazon so I could monitor the protein and glucose levels. It's not ideal but it did help calm my anxiety a bit.

I had my urine and BP done at my 20 week check but my 16 wk apt was a 5 minute phone call. As pp said it was literally to check if I was feeling ok.
I was getting quite dizzy with headaches around the 18 week mark too so I ordered a BP machine from Amazon so I can keep an eye on myself, as I felt abandoned by my
Midwife (my hormones were raging at the time, but that was literally how I felt!) as she didn't seemed to care too much when I call her about it.
My BP has been fine and it has definitely put my mind at rest, especially with pre-eclampsia.
I'd definitely recommend you buying one, as it really does help the anxiety and worry 🥰

If it's any consolation OP pre-eclampsia doesn't tend to occur until slightly later on in pregnancy - I've never heard of it happening at 16 weeks, if anything BP tends to drop at that stage due to physiological changes. Headaches are also very common and usually innocent. I had pre-eclampsia with my first and am now on a high risk pathway with my second - the obstetrician didn't advise I start regular monitoring until week 28. I have a home monitor and urine test strips for my own reassurance - if it's something that worries you it's not too expensive to get online.