Need Advice Please!

[Lazylou]

I am 36+3 pg and this afternoon, my ankles started to swell. I didn't notice at first (partly because I can hardly see them under my bump) but when I went to put some shoes on, I noticed they felt tight.

Phoned the midwife who said it could be due to the heat today or if I have been laying or moving about too much, which I haven't. I was told to wait until tomorrow to see if the swelling had gone down and if not, to go to the ante natal clinic to be checked over.

However, now, the swelling is spreading up my legs. It is more noticeable and uncomfortable in the right leg/ankle although the left is swollen too. My hands have swelled up but don't feel too bad atm.

Added to this, in the last hour I have developed a stitch like pain in my bump at the top that gets quite intense, resulting in my wiggling around and being quite uncomfortable. I have found that walking around has eased it slightly. I have raised my legs so they are higher than the rest of me and it just seems to be getting worse.

The baby has been moving quite a lot today up until the last two hours or so, which I'm not overly worried about because he has days like that when he is a fidget all day and then 'rests' for hours on end, frightening me!

I don't know what to do now, as the swelling is definately increasing. I don't even know what it could be because up until today, I felt absolutely fine. I still don't feel unwell, just uncomforatble and a bit sore where this pain is.

What would you do?

Hello - I started to get something like this from about 37 weeks and was told it was just the hormones in my body gettign ready to give birth. I have had it on and off since then (40 weeks now) and find the feet comes and goes and I have swollen hands. Also - the stitch could be braxton hicks (i started getting it around then too).

I would wait until tomorrow and then call again if you were worried. Personally, I would not worry about it and just get it checked out at my next midwife app.

HTH

WW

When did you last get your bp checked? I would phone maternity unit now and ask for advice. If you start to get a headachce then go to hospital. Swelling is normal but can be a sign of pre-eclampsia. Please don't panic though. Probaly just the heat but phone for advice anyway

Call NHS direct. It could be pre-eclampsia and you really don't want to take any risks right now.

Thanks for the advice. I never had BH with DD or if I did, I didn't notice . I was thinking of ringing the mw back and seeing what she says but I don't want to seem like I'm fussing over nothing. I never had any swelling the first time either.

I have had a bit of headache today, but have put it down to studying and staring at the computer for quite a while. Think I will ring back and see what they say.

Thanks again to you both

The midwife on maternity ward can put your mind to rest. PE is quite rare but it was the first symtom i had when i had it. But i swelled up a lot and very fast. Put on two stones in two weeks

Thanks also, IB, but NHS direct always say the same 'get yourself to the hospital' line, regardless of what I ring them for . Am going to ring mw now.

oh forgot to say take your rings off if you haven't already and keep them off til lil one has arrived. My midwife was determined to have mine cut off when hands swelled, i left it too late and they were stuck fast! good luck

very good advice 2boys

I left it to late with DC2 and had to get ring cut off my little finger, I had it mended at jewellers and will one day bore DC2 with the details. I refused to tell DH how much it cost to be mended though

Hope it all goes well Lazylou