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

Seeing sparkles? And bubbly pee. What would you do?

7 replies

AprilBaby2025 · 16/01/2025 16:14

I am 28+5 weeks pregnant. I have tried looking up the specific eye symptoms I experience, but I can't find any stories that are similar. People mainly report seeing "bursts" of sparkles. Or large black spots or large flashes or blurry vision etc. That's not really what I see.

It started about 3 weeks ago from what I know (although perhaps could have been going on longer and I just didn't pay attention to it?). I also have really bad anxiety with OCD and obsess over things.

This usually (but not always) happens in my peripheral vision. It's like a single tiny pixel (the size of a grain of sand or smaller) that quickly appears and disappears in a milisecond. Usually it's black and sometimes I think something is there, but nothing is there when I look. And it happens literally all the time. Many times a minute throughout the day (depending on the specific setting I am in). But I am genuinely not sure if this is "visual noise" that my anxiety chose to focus on or if it is pre-eclampsia. It happens almost exclusively in certain instances: immediately when waking up and turning on the lights in the morning, when looking at a computer monitor, and when looking out a window during daylight (or when a large window is in my peripheral vision). It's actually the worst when I wake up in the morning, and the daylight is coming through the windows in my bedroom. I see little black dots that appear and rapidly disappear everywhere (especially out the window and I think they're birds). I rarely notice them in "busier" environments (i.e., if I go out to a restaurant, driving, walking around). It is quite specific to lighting and what else is going on in the environment. No blurryness.

I freaked out last week and went to my midwife about it. I described the symptoms to her. She wasn't worried since it seemed quite specific to certain settings. She did take my blood pressure and said it was normal (for me... my BP always runs high-normal, around 120/80, at appointments due to anxiety but when she took the BP it was no different than my normal). She didn't test my urine as it's not standard practice where I live (I am not in the UK but I like these forums). They only test it if BP is concerning.

These aren't floaters. I actually got a single floater in my left eye months ago, when I was about 14 weeks along. It's still there and hasn't changed. I am not concerned at all about that one as I know floaters are very common in general, especially in people who are nearsighted (me). And it happened very early second trimester/late first trimester.

I also have had very bubbly pee. I actually had this way before pregnancy. Not sure when it started, but I have had it for at least 3.5 years. I had 2 urine tests in early pregnancy, both which showed no protein. Blood tests in the first trimester showed good kidney function. So I am not sure if I am just focusing on my urine more or if there is a change. But it seems more bubbly? Although 80% of the bubbles disappear quickly after peeing (1-2 minutes). But it's bubbly even if I try to slow down my urine stream. It is less bubbly the more hydrated I am.

No other symptoms. I never get headaches, unless they are tension or sleep headaches (which I got all the time pre-pregnancy so no change there. I may actually get them less often now). I have not had any swelling yet (my fingers and feet were always bony and veiny and they still are). My wedding ring still fits the same as always (I can easily get it off and continue to play with it all day lol).

My husband is SO supportive and sweet. But is also getting frustrated with my health anxiety as that's all I talk about all the time (for years). So he keeps saying I am completely fine and I need to stop.

Anyways, what do you think about these vision things?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
canyouletthedogoutplease · 16/01/2025 16:20

I had pre eclampsia and can only tell you that the visual disturbances for me were bursts of moving tiny bright lights and quite unlike anything I'd ever experienced before or since. Very distinct. Blood pressure was up and down like a yoyo, protein in pee.

Given that you have experienced health anxiety for years, and your hormones are currently doing a Mexican Wave, I would take the advice of your midwife and concentrate on managing your anxiety rather than on pre eclampsia for now. If you can. Easier said than done, I know. Maternal stress isn't ideal, so if you can focus on anything, maybe focus on lowering that.

Are you getting any help historically with your health anxiety?

OptimisticRealist2024 · 16/01/2025 16:21

I have health anxiety too. Can you see an optician for your eye symptoms? There may be something completely unrelated to pregnancy going on there.

I'd push for a doctor (not midwife) appointment and discuss the things like your urine. They're probably likely to test it.

Hope it works out 😊

pimplebum · 16/01/2025 16:22

if medical professionals say you are ok - you are ok

are you going to pass this anxiety onto your child? if not take action today to rid yourself of this , I don’t know how you can live like this ? reach out for more help otherwise your kids are going to witness this insanity it’s not fair in your oh he must be exhausted listing to this every day

FlowersOfSulphur · 16/01/2025 16:39

Bubbly pee can sometimes be caused by vaginal mucus being washed out of the vulva as you wee. Do you find that it's worse at certain times of the month (when you're not pregnant)?

The peripheral sparkly thing when you look out of a window...I've had similar (also when looking out of the window!), and when I asked my optician about it, he said something about a visual effect caused by blood pulsating through a capillary in the eye. So it might be that.

Is it like this?
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/what-are-the-wiggly-things-i-see-in-my-eyes-when-i-look-at-the-sky

What are the wiggly things I see in my eyes when I look at the sky?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s your white blood cells moving through your blood vessels.

https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/what-are-the-wiggly-things-i-see-in-my-eyes-when-i-look-at-the-sky

sel2223 · 16/01/2025 17:16

Hi OP,

Hope your pregnancy is progressing well and you are receiving some help with regards to the medical anxiety and OCD.

I know you post quite regularly here.

I had PE in my last pregnancy and it doesn't sound the same to me but I'm not a medical professional. Your midwife will be keeping an eye on your urine and BP, although I know there have been previous issues around your anxiety and the taking of BP readings.

AprilBaby2025 · 16/01/2025 17:27

pimplebum · 16/01/2025 16:22

if medical professionals say you are ok - you are ok

are you going to pass this anxiety onto your child? if not take action today to rid yourself of this , I don’t know how you can live like this ? reach out for more help otherwise your kids are going to witness this insanity it’s not fair in your oh he must be exhausted listing to this every day

Living like this is HARD. But my mifwife has referred me to a psychiatrist and I have an appointment in 2 weeks with him/her.

OP posts:
Mairzydotes · 16/01/2025 17:30

I've had ocular migraines , which are like my eye itself is wobbling

I've had pre- eclampsia, and that was like raindrops on a car window in my vision.

They can test for pre- eclampsia and do routinely, hopefully it should be picked up if you develop it.

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