How do they test for preeclampsia

[OnNaturesCourse]

Jumping on here in a bit of a panic tonight.

My blood pressure readings have been edging on higher and higher since my booking in appointment but I have been told all are still normal (never been given the figures...)

The last few weeks I've been quite poorly with heartburn and indigestion, somethings even on a empty stomach. Upper stomach gets very uncomfortable and tight, bloated feeling.

Yesterday I had spots/stars in my vision but it was after I bent down and up quickly to scoop something off the floor so I assumed I just moved too fast.

Today I've felt very odd, almost dizzy at some points.

I've had some lower stomach discomfort. I assumed baby pressure on pelvis but decided to dip my urine anyway (I am prone to a UTI hint why I have these sticks at home) and was alarmed to see white cells, protein and blood showing up in the readings. The white cells are +++ whereas the blood and protein are + so not as high.

I'm panicking about preeclampsia now as I know my symptoms are all fitting into that.

I have the midwives first thing in the morning so I am going to be checked over but just needed a bit of a vent.

I'm 28.5 weeks, 4th pregnancy 3rd baby after a late loss, never had preeclampsia but my BP did increase throughout pregnancies with all my babies.

I have read that discharge etc can effect the dipstick readings and, TMI, I do have a lot of that at the moment so I wonder if I've contaminated the sample somehow plus it was a dribble wee as I didn't really need. I do plan on retesting mid stream to hopefully rule out / confirm this potential contamination.

Has anyone on here had preeclampsia? Or similar issues?

I am that worried that I'm 100% certain by BP will be through the roof tomorrow AM regardless! How do they confirm preeclampsia, is i t just protein and BP?

Protein in urine and BP. And I think they only need one to be high/positive for a diagnosis but perhaps someone with more medical knowledge can confirm that.

I know the red flag for my diagnosis was based on off the charts BP but I never heard the results of the protein test that day (they were too busy getting me over to the hospital).

In hindsight, I was seriously puffy too and that should have been a clue.

I didn't have any symptoms - it was only picked up at a routine,37 week midwife appointment. My blood pressure was very high and I had protein in my urine.
Please try not to panic - this will raise your blood pressure. Fingers crossed all goes well for you

I had it in all my pregnancies and remember the starry vision bit well. As others have said protein in urine along with high BP is the tell. Your midwife will likely ask for urine sample tomorrow. Keep an eye out for swollen ankles and/or any rib pain. If in doubt get it checked out. Good luck.

Thanks.

No rib pain, just discomfort at top of bump. Yes, I have to hand in a urine sample tomorrow to be dipped. Wondering if I should just prempt child care as I usually take youngest with me but suspect I'll need to go into maternity for further checks if BP is high alongside the urine results I'm currently getting.

If you're able to have someone look after your little one it's probably a good idea. May not be needed but best to plan ahead just in case. It'll be ok

Hi, my pre eclampsia started with high BP, but I also had protein in my wee and was puffy. I think they look at the whole clinical picture, but it does sound alot like you might have it! Don't panic, they'll take good care of you and baby. I had my daughter at 32 weeks and she's doing great x

Yeah I'm going to see if I can arrange childcare, but it's a bit last minute! But that's how these things roll.

Im not puffy but I did feel puffy in my face earlier (DH said he couldn't see it, and I'd just wrestled two kids out of swimming lessons and hot changing rooms so I just shrugged it off) No swelling anywhere either.

I’ve had it 3 times and been admitted to hospital each time. For me feeling off was the symptom and led me to MAU to get checked out, where they found high bp, protein in urine, puffiness and issues with reflexes. I think there is a blood test for diagnosis too but might be wrong…

In relation to high blood pressure, you need to let them know if it's high for you even if it's generally "within range". My GP missed mine, but I had to attend hospital for something and they picked it up there.

I wouldn't know what was high for me to be honest, but I'll maybe ask for my previous readings tomorrow.

For me, they were very reluctant to diagnose pre-eclampsia for some reason even though I had all the symptoms.

From about 33 weeks, my hands, feet and face started to swell.... initially it just looked like normal pregnancy swelling but then it went beyond that.
I started to regularly get traces of protein in my urine - not too high initially, just a trace, but I ordered urine sticks off amazon to test daily and it started creeping up.
I started getting the headaches and visual disturbances to the point I ended up in A&E one night it was so bad. Got referred to pregnancy unit.
BP kept creeping up - kept going into hospital with other symptoms and every time they checked my BP would be high. They would then let me rest for an hour and take my BP again and, of course, it would have come down a bit just sitting or lying doing nothing so I would be sent home everytime.
This went on for about 4 or 5 weeks.

Eventually at 37 weeks, i was in again and this time my BP wouldn't come down and protein in urine was high. I was admitted there and then.

Hope today goes ok for you OP. Thinking of you.

I was diagnosed after attending triage feeling a bit off - I was around 37 weeks at the time and looking back the signs had been slowly building. Blood pressure on the higher side (I think once the bottom number is over 90 they consider it higher, although this doesn’t mean it’s caused by pre-eclampsia) and I was getting crazy puffiness.

The protocol in my triage was an average of 3 blood pressure readings half an hour apart, urine dip test and a blood test to look at organ function. My average BP was something like 180/118 and protein ++. Blood test came back with signs of issues too so I was admitted and induced straight away, but I was full term so it was a no-brainer.

There’s every chance your symptoms are unrelated (pregnancy causes just about everything 😣) but it’s always worth getting checked to be safe. Even if they just monitor more often for a while, or prescribe labetolol for BP. Urine samples can be a bit off if contaminated. Fingers crossed for you that all is fine, but worth being prepared in case you’re in for a little longer whilst they investigate x

Swelling of hands and feet, headaches and feeling lightheaded/ "odd", and high BP at my midwife checkup. Protein in urine at that point too when they checked. I went on mat leave right then and bed rest at 34wks.

Hope all goes well at your check up today