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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

21 weeks pain and swelling

31 replies

Bethpaigeox · 09/12/2023 08:59

I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant, the past two days I've had swelling in both my hands to the point my rings won't come off, both hands hurt when I make a fist. I've also had on and off intermittent pain under my right rib which radiates from my back to my rib, it can be quite sharp but tends to ease slightly when lay on right side. I've rang maternity triage as ours see patients from 20 weeks pregnant and told her all of my symptoms however she's just said the hands to run under cold water and get rings off, and it'll probably just be one of my pregnancy symptoms. And my rib pain could be just the uterus growing and pushing up, so to take Paracetamol and see how I get on. I'm not sure how I feel about all this as I've read online about certain conditions and illnesses during pregnancy and now scared myself potentially.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 09:04

Google Carpal Tunnel and see if that’s what’s causing the swelling. Very common in pregnancy, and a couple of splints will help.

DyslexicPoster · 09/12/2023 09:04

What's your BP doing? Insist on a BP check. If they say buy a home BP monitor today asap.

Your BP must be below 90/120. I suspect you know why. Anything over 80/110 I tell your midwife and monitor at home. If its over 90/120 you ignore the midwife and you into hospital absolutely do not anyone tell you that is OK.

Good luck. Unless your face is swelling, your ankles and you have pittin adema it could be nothing. I put on two stone in one month with pitting odema. I had PE

DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 09:06

You’ve got your numbers the wrong way round, it’s high number over low number.

Original poster
Bethpaigeox · 09/12/2023 09:20

@DustyLee123 is it common this early on? And also would it appear in both hands?

OP posts:
DyslexicPoster · 09/12/2023 09:45

DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 09:06

You’ve got your numbers the wrong way round, it’s high number over low number.

Yes sorry dyslexic so makes sense to me 😆

DyslexicPoster · 09/12/2023 09:49

People will say you can't get pe before 21 24 weeks. But unfortunately that's not my experience. It's incredibly unlikely. But I would never risk ignoring it. The pain under the rib if it was PE, you'd be extremely unwell right now so it doesn't sound like PE. You'd feel rough. But they are symptoms. Please don't worry But please do get your BP checked

DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 10:58

Bethpaigeox · 09/12/2023 09:20

@DustyLee123 is it common this early on? And also would it appear in both hands?

Yes, it can do

xxmyheartxx · 09/12/2023 12:08

I would definitely get your blood pressure checked, I was diagnosed with pre eclampsia at 20+4 in my last pregnancy and I'm already on labetalol as my BP was averaging 190/105 at 15 weeks

TheShellBeach · 09/12/2023 12:11

You can get pre eclampsia this early, although it's very rare.
The pain you're experiencing under your ribs plus the swelling are both signs of it, so you need a BP check ASAP.

Mama05070704 · 09/12/2023 12:21

Contact your local maternity triage and go in for a BP and urine check. Oedema and the epigastric pain you describe are signs of pre-eclampsia. Early onset pre-eclampsia isn’t as common but can happen.

Mama05070704 · 09/12/2023 12:21

Contact your local maternity triage and go in for a BP and urine check. Oedema and the epigastric pain you describe are signs of pre-eclampsia. Early onset pre-eclampsia isn’t as common but can happen.

Mama05070704 · 09/12/2023 12:22

It’s 140/90 - 120 is a normal systolic BP.

Original poster
Bethpaigeox · 09/12/2023 15:29

Update; my DH has a BP machine as he's a physio, my BP seated is 116/79 at the highest I did two measurements one on each arm, the other measurment was 117/75 this isn't cause for concern is it? Its healthy

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 17:34

That’s a good BP. If your DH is a physio he will know all about carpal tunnel

Tiredbehyondbelief · 09/12/2023 17:45

Hi there I am a midwife. I think you need to go and seen in the maternity assessment unit as a matter of urgency. What you are describing is very concerning to me and could be a sign of pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome. Even if your blood pressure is normal you need to have your blood and urine tested.

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 09/12/2023 17:46

Swelling and rib pain are symptoms of pre-eclampsia.

Whilst it's early I'm really surprised they didn't get you in to have your bp and urine checked.

I'd try calling again and if you don't get anywhere call your mw first thing Monday morning. Or even consider A&E

Tiredbehyondbelief · 09/12/2023 17:53

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 09/12/2023 17:46

Swelling and rib pain are symptoms of pre-eclampsia.

Whilst it's early I'm really surprised they didn't get you in to have your bp and urine checked.

I'd try calling again and if you don't get anywhere call your mw first thing Monday morning. Or even consider A&E

I wouldn't wait till Monday. You need to be seen ASAP and you need to be seen by maternity. I suspect if you go yo A&E you will be redirected to maternity so why waste time

TheShellBeach · 09/12/2023 17:57

I'm also a midwife and I urge you to go to maternity triage ASAP.

Original poster
Bethpaigeox · 09/12/2023 19:08

I've also noted that my rib pain only seems to be triggered whenever I eat, as I've just eaten and it's come on, but it wasn't there before my meal.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bethpaigeox · 09/12/2023 19:38

Also just done my BP again 96/65 I've not long eaten too.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 09/12/2023 19:50

OP your BP may not be raised at this point but you could still have HELLP syndrome.
Please go to triage.

Mama05070704 · 09/12/2023 19:53

As others have said, the fact that you have a normal BP, doesn’t mean you aren’t developing PET or HELLP. As I said on my previous post, I encourage you to go to your local maternity triage, to be checked over.

Tiredbehyondbelief · 09/12/2023 20:47

You can have HELLP syndrome without raised BP. Please go to maternity triage to be assessed. It's better to be safe than sorry

Original poster
Bethpaigeox · 10/12/2023 10:31

I've spoke to triage again this morning, they said they potentially think it could be a blood clot but not baby related so sent to emergency department, just waiting to be seen.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 10/12/2023 11:00

Good, I'm glad you're at the hospital.

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