40+2 advice please

[Moonchild5]

I will probably phone the labour ward but I do like to speak to people on here just for comfort as I have health anxiety but will take any advice also. Currently 40+2 & for the last 2 weeks my ankles & feet have been swollen, they have gotten bigger the last few days & hurts to walk. At every midwife appointment since I’ve found out I was pregnant I’ve had protein in my urine but no infection & midwife says it can be normal just have elevated protein levels throughout pregnancy. In the last hour or so I’ve developed a headache I just feel really off & horrible quite tired too. I’ve had frequent Braxton hicks the past few days but have had them on & off for months & had some sharp twinges on my right side I’m guessing baby just milo big down & engaging. I’m also in blood thinners & iron tablets incase that of any relevance. Anyone experienced similar? Is it just my body hearing up for labour? Been 10 years since I’ve given birth & was induced so don’t remember much. Thanks.

*moving

Not really advice but this warm weather could have also contributed towards your swelling and headache - have you been drinking plenty?

I would just phone in and get their advice - they may want you to go and get checked out incase of pre eclampsia. Good luck with all hun x

I would call them now and ask them to do some checks to rule out preeclampsia. Just to be on the safe side.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-eclampsia/symptoms/

With the swelling and headache I’d ring delivery suite for advice.

Yeah midwife said the swelling is probably the hot weather. I have mentioned to the midwife about pre eclampsia because of my continuous high levels of protein & recent swelling but she never seems concerned.

No harm in ringing triage for advice - they will more than likely want to see you and I'm sure you will sleep better for it x

Tne headache is new so phone. Tney can’t ignore you 1

I'd definitely ring triage to rule out pre-eclampsia. Your better putting your mind at ease. Hope everything is okay x

Can it develop that quickly & last minute? Urine was fine at last midwife appointment on Friday I don’t know if she meant there was no protein in my urine that time or she said it was normal because there is always elevated levels of protein in my urine as I’ve had that throughout my pregnancy & always been sent off for further testing & said it’s been fine but don’t know what tests they do

I would ring for peace of mind if nothing else

All the other things are normal, but the new headache along with the swelling... phone them.

OP, you have headaches, oedema and protein in your urine. Call maternity triage right now!

This!!!!

All these blasé responses show the danger of these kind of threads. Blaming it on warm weather is just negligent.

Eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. It's really serious!

She needs to go in for immediate assessment, not to call for 'piece of mind' she could have an eclamptic seizure in her sleep and die tonight!

Definitely phone the hospital. I was at my midwife (10 years ago) on the Tuesday and absolutely everything was okay and when I went into labour and to be induced 2 days labour I had the start of pre eclampsia xx

I phoned labour ward. They said as I’ve had these symptoms for weeks & only new symptom is a headache they’re not overly concerned, they said if I still have a sore head in the morning & hasn’t went away then I’ve to phone my midwife & get my blood pressure etc checked in the morning. The previous comment is what prompted me to phone sooner as I have health anxiety & that comment scared me I don’t know if it was meant well or not. I understand I’m asking normal human beings for advice & not doctors I’m not completely stupid but I personally don’t know if I’d say that to someone especially with health anxiety. I’m glad I phoned though. I have been doing a lot & may just be a bit dehydrated. Anytime I’ve spoken to my family about any symptoms I’ve had over the years they always ask me if I’ve been drinking enough fluids as I panic about everything & 90% of the time I just needed some water. I personally was/am concerned about pre eclampsia also but was 50/50 as symptoms have been ongoing just concerned as I had a new symptom.

I know someone who had pre eclampsia come on suddenly so it does happen.

I think the hospital are being really relaxed about this given they know you already have elevated blood pressure.

Personally I'd have a big glass of water to see if the headache goes and if it doesn't ring them back tonight and explain you're concerned about pre eclampsia.

I haven’t had raised blood pressure I’ve had elevated levels of protein & leukocytes in my urine since the start of my pregnancy. Blood pressure has been low(normal for me) at every appointment. Ankles & feet been swollen the last 2 weeks which have got worse the last few days.

Any eye floaters?
Do you have a home BP machine?
Is baby still moving okay?

I got late onset pre-eclampsia and it developed scarily quickly.

I had hideous swelling that was brushed aside by my community midwife for about 2 weeks and it still makes me cross years later.

Take a paracetamol, drink lots of water and see how you get on.

Not as such but at one point earlier I was sat on my birthing ball & thought something black went past me as if a small black animal was to run past me but was nothing there obviously but as I’m on blood thinners I do get tired & light headed when bouncing on it my nose started bleeding whilst in it last week. I don’t have a BP machine unfortunately & baby moving as normal no concerns there. I will definitely be phoning midwife in the morning regardless if headache persists or not & get her to check blood pressure & urine.

You have a few flags for preeclampsia there, and yes it can come on suddenly I want from feeling off to falling kidney function within 6 hours
It could be dehydration too of course but please get checked
Do you know if your last BP was raised at all?

Just seen you mentioned BP sorry

I will be going in to see midwife in the morning since labour ward didn’t ask me to come in. Last blood pressure on Friday was 110/60 so wasn’t raised.

Last few weeks doesn’t matter. You are over 40 weeks now. What age are you?

Your appointment is in the morning. But are you able to just go in tonight? (not sure how UK maternity services work. Where I am, I was advised to come in if any concerns).

I’m 28. I would go in but they haven’t asked me to after phoning them & said to see if the headache goes away after some sleep & some water. They said if it was pre eclampsia the headache would persist & since it only started a few hours ago they don’t know. They just said to phone midwife in the morning if I’m still concerned & I can ask to go in to have my blood pressure checked