If you have/had pre eclampsia..

[anonny55]

Did you have signs leading up to getting pre - e?

I'm high risk of developing it anyway
Since around 30 weeks my bp has slowly been creeping up from my usual 115/60. I've had headaches , rib pain, swollen feet, blurred vision on and off for weeks too but nothing that stays for longer than a day.
Bp this month as following

132/84 6th Jan
129/85 7th Jan
135/85 8th Jan
117/78 18th Jan
130/70 20th Jan
112/78 21st Jan
127/96 27th Jan
119/70 28th Jan
121/77 29th Jan

I've had some high bp readings too but unsure what they are as the midwife never tells me! She just does them 10 mins apart then records the lowest one.

Anyway went in to triage yesterday for something unrelated and my bp was high and I had +1 protein in my urine ..after a couple of hours Bp came down so I had a blood test then was sent on my merry way. The blood test results came back as normal today. I have urine dip test at home and today I still have +1 urine

I'm 35+4 today. Just wondering if this is how it started for anyone else and how soon after did you actually get pre eclampsia? I've not been given a follow up just told to go to my midwife appointment as usual next week. I'm a little worried I'll have full blown pre e by then! When do I take myself back to the hospital? Had a minor headache today but again I've had them on and off for weeks so I don't want to go in and it's nothing still..

Still have +1 protein in urine today that was supposed to say!

The one I noticed the most was 'floaters' in my eyes. Like the effect you get if you close your eyes and push your hands on them (but without doing that obviously!)

I've had that too! I was told to book an eye test (I'm short sighted anyway). I booked one and the optician said I needed a stronger prescription for now which can be common in pregnancy anyway..no change yet since wearing them for a few weeks!

At what week did you end up delivering?

I had preeclampsia, started with high bp from 30 weeks. It would be about 144/100 and then started bp medication. It settled about 135/92 for a few weeks. My urine would vary between protein and none.

They took my blood weekly and they were really concerned about my levels being x4 higher that a typical pregnant person.

By 34.5 I went in for a usual checkup and they said I couldn’t leave hospital until I had my son (so I waited for labour ward to have space for induction, for days). I had swollen feet and hands and maybe face by then (my face is round so I didn’t notice). While waiting for space, I ended up having my son at 35+0 because I went downhill in one day, it was quick. I couldn’t wee anymore after drinking two pints- I couldn’t give them a urine sample. My son had completely stopped moving, and on the ctg his heart rate pattern was a line rather than zigzag. So had emcs.

I got spotted as having preeclampsia at a 28 week midwife appointment.

I had high blood pressure and protein in urine ( can't remember what level as it was 10 years ago) I also told the midwife in a jokey way that my sister who hadn't seen me for a week or so, had told me my face was looking chubby. I, myself, my mum and husband hadn't noticed the swelling as it had been gradual, but this combined with the BP and protein saw me immediately sent off to hospital, where I didn't leave again until I'd had baby.

Didn't have any other symptoms, no headache etc, I felt fine.

After I'd had dd I was in hospital for 2 weeks to try get a hold on BP and that's when I had an episode of visual disturbance at a time where I was due a next dose of BP meds so meds must have worn off and pressure had built up.

The visual disturbance was seeing rainbows around the edges of everything. I do have eye floaters, but this was completely different to them, it was more like what happens with an occular migraine (I've had them too, unfortunately)

@anonny55 I was in hospital for a couple of weeks from 35 weeks then things improved. I ended up having a c-section at 39 weeks

I was around 29+4 when I started to get painful swelling in my feet and hands. I just didn't feel right and was concerned but held on until my 30+1 midwife appt. I had no headaches or double vision but my BP was 200+/100+ I don't remember the exact figures as it was quite a while ago! I got blue lighted and baby was delivered the next day. They said with my BP I should have had the pre-eclampsia headache but I had nothing.

Can you ask for the blood test that predicts the likelihood of developing pre-eclampsia within the next fortnight at all? I had it for my last pregnancy as I was at risk again.

I developed pre eclampsia right at the end of my first pregnancy. My feet were swollen prior but my blood pressure was always good and I didn't have any other symptoms so they dismissed it as normal pregnancy swelling. I went for my 39 week appointment and suddenly had high BP and 2+ proteins. Went to the hospital for obs and ended up not leaving until I had him. He was born 39+4

Was on high alert all the way through my second pregnancy, many alerts of higher BP and varying protein levels. They class high BP as 140/80 in case no one's told you that. I went to the hospital for reduced movements with her and ended up being told I had to be induced because I spiked right at the end again. High BP and 3+ proteins. She was born 40+2

When mine ramped up I stopped being able to pass urine as my kidneys were struggling. My baby was delivered within 24 hrs of this symptom.

My hands around my knuckles were sore because they’d swollen. I also had pain in my arms that was so awful it made me vomit although it was unclear if this was a symptom of PE.

Start ankles and feet for 2 pregnancy's might not have had pre eclamcia with 2nd but had twins so more likely. third pregnancy I wore an ankle bracelet so I could tell if they started to swell they didn't.

I think I may have to go back in😣 I'm unsure what to do. Had a headache all day in the front of my head and behind my eyes, dizzy when walking, just got an overwhelming wave of tiredness. Eyes are hurting and fuzzy🫤

I had PE in my first pregnancy and would say the symptoms started around 30 weeks.

The swelling was the first thing I noticed mainly to me feet and lower legs but as time went on it was my hands and face too.

Then was the protein in my urine which started as a trace then +, I actually ordered the dip sticks off amazon so I could keep an eye on it myself. Slowly it crept up to ++, then +++.

My.BP sits at the low end of normal so I started to notice it creep up before anyone else took any notice. It got to the point where it would be high with the midwife so I'd be sent to hospital to be checked out. It would start high then I'd sit and chill for an hour then they'd do another reading. The second reading was always lower so then they'd be happy and send me home.

Finally, the headaches started around 34/35 weeks. Again these got steadily worse until I ended up in a&e one Sunday night as I was in so much pain and had visual disturbances. They just referred me to the maternity assessment innit the next morning.

FINALLY, at 37 weeks on the dot. It all came together with high BP that refused to go down and protein in my urine ++++. I was admitted to hospital on the spot.

I was in for a week getting daily steroid injections then baby was born at 38 weeks. She was fine, perfectly healthy but on the small side. She's now a very active 4.5 year old.

Please, please do. They really won't mind.

Just to add, I'm sure my.BP hit something like 144/99 when I was diagnosed and protein was ++++
I also looked like a whale I was so swollen
The headaches felt different to normal headaches but very hard to describe.

I'm 32 weeks now with my second and high risk for PE this time but so far so good. I've had regular headaches unfortunately but I think just normal pregnancy ones as they don't feel the same. Also had blurred vision, dizziness etc which I never got last time. I have even fainted a couple of times but that hasn't happened for a while thankfully.
Swelling wise I've got normal pregnancy swelling in my feet and ankles.

It's very hard as so many PE symptoms can just be normal pregnancy symptoms too. It's the BP and protein in urine they will use for a diagnosis.

I developed pregnancy induced hypertension so was considered high risk for pre eclampsia. I was admitted at 32 weeks, I was being medicated but I was as approaching max dose so was on strict bed rest and observation. I managed to get to 36 weeks and then had symptoms. Heavy head, star burst flashes swirling in my vision and I just didn’t feel ok anymore. For 4 wks they had done my obs every week and the first question they asked was how do you feel. I felt fine until the day before I had DS. Once I stopped feeling fine they went into overdrive and I was delivered as soon as they could. My bp had gone up and lots of protein in my urine but bloods were still fine. But because my liver function tests were deteriorating they decided I’d had enough.
I was on the pre natal ward for a long time so saw how rapidly women go into pre eclampsia.
I would contact the midwives at the hospital to have a chat. They are likely to get you in for obs. They would prefer to see you sooner rather than later, full eclampsia is scary for both mother and medical staff.
Hopefully it’s just the effects of the end of pregnancy and not serious.
At 36 weeks my legs were the same size from knee to ankle and I could no longer wear any form of shoes or slippers. I remember getting out of bed 2 days after having DS and being shocked how skinny my legs were having lost all the retained fluid. It looked like I’d had a leg transplant over night. They had to change my surgical stockings because they were too big.

Go go go, don't hesitate. Always better to be safe than sorry

I had it but mine started at 41 weeks. No symptoms at all I had swollen legs but we were in a heat wave. But I started to get blue like bruises on my legs. Blood pressure had been normal the week before and leading up to it

My BP started to rise from about 32 weeks but was dismissed until a routine hospital appt at 34 weeks when I then also had protein. I had awful rib pain and swollen hands and feet by then. I was in and out of hospital then until 36 weeks when I was rushed down to delivery. On that day my BP reached 210/138, they did say they were not sure how I was still conscious. They have to get the bottom number under 100 before they could operate, babies heart rate had really slowed by the point. All very scary but she was fine just very small when born (4lb 1oz).

If in doubt please please go get checked.

My main symptoms with pre-eclampsia was swelling. I knew it wasn't right. I knew I had to go in and checked out.
Please go in straight away. I did two or three times from 30 weeks on.

I was diagnosed with pre-e only when I went into labour at 36+1 with my twins. A week or two before (can't remember exactly how long now) my feet were crazy swollen, to the point where they weren't going down when I put them up in the evening.

One night I even ended up at an out of hours appointment because I was so worried about them. The GP barely looked at me or my notes, said my blood pressure was normal, swollen feet when pregnant is normal and sent me away.

I saw my midwife a few days after this and she expressed more concern. Urine test was notmal. But while my blood pressure was still in the normal range, she noted that it was creeping up, and I had started with extremely low blood pressure, so it was very much not my normal. She said if I developed any more symptoms, particularly headaches, I should speak directly to the maternity triage.

But although my feet remained swollen for the next week or so before I went into labour, I didn't have any other symptoms until they checked my urine when I arrived on the labour ward after my waters had gone.

I'd highly recommend going back in and be persistent with the staff. I had a stillbirth at 40 weeks last year due to having pre eclampsia. The day before I had all symptoms and took myself to hospital but was brushed off. Mine developed extremely quickly at the end however looking back I can see my blood pressure rising at every appointment.

Definitely go get checked out!

Currently in my third trimester with no symptoms of pre eclampsia, except my blood pressure is always borderline high (it was before pregnancy too) but my midwife always sends me to the day assessment unit to be monitored. It's a faff, but I'd much rather be sure than leave it too late.

I was at a 28 week midwife appointment, rushed straight to hospital, baby hung on until 31 weeks.
18 this year where does the time go.