Pregnancy epigastric pain - what is it like?

[Nellie2710]

Hoping I might be able to get some more reassurance!

My mum has preeclampsia with myself and my brother so I'm classed as slightly higher risk because of this. I'm on aspirin daily to manage it.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant today. About 1 week ago I started getting visual auras that would obscure my vision. I was assessed at my local maternity unit who weren't concerned as my blood pressure was fine and no protein in my urine.

Since this I've had another 4 episodes of visual disturbances. On Wednesday at my routine check up the midwife said I had a small amount of protein in my urine which she sent off for analysis.

Yesterday I started getting pain under my rib on my right side. It feels very tender and like my skin is being stretched and sometimes I get a small stabbing pain. I put it down to the baby being in a strange position but was a bit worried.

Today I had another visual disturbance and the pain in my ribs was still there. I called the maternity unit who asked me to come in.

Blood pressure fine. Urine fine (turns out the midwife didn't send it off for proper analysis on Wednesday so no idea why that showed protein and it doesn't now!). Baby moving fine. Midwife says my pain is just the baby.

However, I asked her what epigastric pain is like and what to look out for and she refused to tell me because 'I'll look for it'. I was quite taken aback by this, I thought we were meant to be educated in order to make our own decisions! Anyway, she finally told me it was an intense pain and 'I would know if I had it'.

So I guess my question is, for those who have had epigastric pain and preeclampsia, what is it like? I'm not one look out for things but I would like to be informed of mine and baby's health as much as possible.

What you have described sounds like epigastric pain. I've heard described as heartburn but centred on upper right side. Can also feel like mild bruising. If you keep getting the aura or frontal headache just ask for bp checks.

@annonymousse

That's what it feels like to me! Very tender and bruised.

I have a BP machine at home and my BP is low so I will keep monitoring. Feel a bit fobbed off by this midwife though!

Thank you for letting me know!

Best advice really is to keep going back if you're not happy or feeling fobbed off - better to be safe than sorry for both you and baby.

Thanks, I hate feeling like I'm wasting peoples time but I know you're right!

@Nellie2710
"Yesterday I started getting pain under my rib on my right side. It feels very tender and like my skin is being stretched and sometimes I get a small stabbing pain. I put it down to the baby being in a strange position but was a bit worried."

I had epigastric pain with preeclampsia and it didn't feel like this. It was a very definite sharp pain under my right boob. I also felt violently sick at the same time. My blood pressure also went sky high - I also have a home monitor.

As other posters have said though, if you're not happy go and get checked.

@zebrapig thanks for replying. That's definitely not what I'm experiencing right now but will certainly bear this in mind if the pain changes.

Thanks, I know I should but I've been made to feel like I'm wasting their time now. I will see what tomorrow brings and go back if I am worried.

From what you've said there aren't really any markers for PE, especially if the protein has gone out of your urine. It's hard when you're worrying about it though and small things seem more significant.

I had symptoms of PE which my midwife dismissed, but when it got worse I knew that it just wasn't right. I don't know how else to explain it but I went from being out shopping with DH to being in severe pain with my head over the toilet in the space of about 2 hours. It was a bit scary but DD was fine.

I'm 33 weeks, no pre-eclampsia but have been getting a similar pain to what you describe - sore where my muscles attach to my rib age on the right side, tender when you press it. Not there all the time and get get better as I change position. Baby likes to hang out with his butt over there, so I've put it down to that

@zebrapig thanks, that's reassuring to know for myself but that must have been scary for you! I'm glad your little girl was fine :)

Thanks @Nejnej2 she did say her bum was around my ribs today so I expect we are the same then! I just think the sudden onset of this pain has thrown me, would have been better if it came on gradually for my mindset!

Mine felt exactly like heartburn, but it was really quite sore, enough to wake me up in the night. I had quite a few episodes of it spaced apart before things escalated into full blown pre eclampsia. Keep going in, every time you’re worried.

You can get something called rib flare which I had a lot in my last pregnancy. Worth a Google? Nothing to do with pre-eclampsia as far as I'm aware.

@Crossornot mine feels more like heartburn today but it's also on and off so I will just keep an eye on it closely! Thanks for taking the time to respond :)

@Keha thanks for responding, I've had rib flare since 25 weeks but this doesn't quite feel the same and is harder to manage now. This is one of the reasons I asked the initial question about epigastric pain as I wasn't sure if my rib flare was just getting worse or it was epigastric!