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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Pre -eclampsia in 2nd pg

65 replies

MOLLYDOLLY · 24/01/2005 15:41

New to this but have read some really interesting stuff here - would like advice - had severe pre-eclampsia in first pg ending in emergency cs at 29 wks (dd now 3 yrs and fine) and me in intensive care for 3 days. Now 15 wks with no.2 and beginning to panic about pre-eclampsia. Also, consultant and midwives pretty rubbish. Started at 23 wks with swelling, bp and protein came later. Anyone with any advice/experience on this - I fear this worry is ruining this pg for me and dh and dd.

OP posts:

happymerryberries · 01/02/2005 08:18

I had pre eclampsia with both my pregnancies. Dd went to term. with ds it started earlier and I was admitted at 36 weeks and he was born at 38. All of us are fine

beachyhead · 01/02/2005 08:53

17 weeks is quite early to feel movement I think. Depends on your build and the baby. Why not get an extra m/w appointment to see if they can put you on the monitor.... Have you managed to find a pre-eclampsia specialist yet? I'm going to nag you in cyber space until you do....

Original poster

Mollydolly · 01/02/2005 10:51

beachyhead - have found name and address of one in Manchester (closest to my home town) via APEC website - but it also notes that he doesnt take self referrals. I'm not sure how to go about getting a referral from my GP/consultant(my consultant is a bit self-righteous and not sure how he'd react) plus not due to see him until 17th Feb - any advice?

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beachyhead · 01/02/2005 10:55

Order your previous pregnancy notes from the hospital - they will charge you about 10 pounds for copying- and then just ask your GP for a referral, bearing in mind your history. I find if you have all the facts at your finger tips that GP's don't often say NO. I am not sure why they would - other than that, change your GP... Sorry, I've never had any problem getting GP's to refer me anywhere - I just say, please can I have a referral to XYZ and normally there are only too happy to offload their tricky cases to a specialist. Call APEC too and ask them for advice.

crunchie · 01/02/2005 11:19

I would defineatly make a GP appointment ASAP to try to get a referal. Or call up the specialist and ask his receptionist how you can get referred.

Seriously it makes a difference mentally if you feel you are doing 'something'.

Also like you my 2nd pg was way different from my first. I actually felt 'well'. In my 1st pg I never felt sick or anything, but I certainly never felt great or blooming!! Looking back I just didn't feel right. pg No2 was very different from the start (or when I stopped panicing about PE) I really felt 'blooming' in the 2nd trimester and felt full of energy, rather than knackered all the time. All the checks were reassurances, and gave me great peace of mind.

Unfortuneatly PE like all pg conditions is highly underfunded and understood. I cannot believe a disease that affects 1 in 10 first pg is so brushed under the carpet, with hugely conflicting advice given. TBH we all know far more about what we should/shouldn't eat in pg than a real problem like PE. I know you can't prevent PE, but I think Dr's and midwives are woefully misinformed about it too. We should all be made aware of PE and it's symptoms, simply so we can keep an eye on things ourselves. PE can happen again, it seems to be less likely, but I was still told IT WON'T HAPPEN A 2nd TIME. It is still thought of as a problem of 1st pg only

mears · 01/02/2005 11:28

Mollydolly - do not assume that your consultant will not refer you. Speak to him about your concerns and wish to participate in the trial. He has far more obstetric knowledge that your GP. If you are not comfortable with your consultant you could change to another one at the hospital. Why do you think your consultant and midwife are rubbish? Did they look after you before? You certainly had severe pre-eclampsia last time and there is a chance it could develop again, but it usually is not as severe next time. You will need closer monitoring during this pregnancy. Sometimes consultants can appear aloof but when you actually get to talking they are more sympathetic that first impression.

Original poster

Mollydolly · 01/02/2005 12:17

mears - I haven't seen my consultant yet (17 wks) and won't until 17th Feb.He was on holiday at my 12wk appointment and the registrar I saw in his absence only referred to the PE in as much as to say "so we are hoping for a normal pregnancy this time?" I saw a midwife at 9 wks (booking)and she admitted she knew little about pe - she even asked me loads of questions! It seems she was a fairly new mw - which I was a little disappointed at given my history. My consultant came to me a few days after I had my dd (he was on holiday(!) the day I delivered her)and asked me "What happened? YOU told me you felt fine last time I saw you?" He made me feel like it was my fault that I developed the PE, when in truth, I had felt fine, and he had told me previously that as long as I felt OK, it was a good sign. I now know that you can feel fine with PE right until it turns into eclampsia. I will be 20 wks when I actually get to see my consultant this time. My GP however is great and seemed quite surprised that I was not being monitored more carefully (i've seen him a couple of times with my dd/other things and he always checks my BP, asks how I,m feeling etc.

OP posts:

mears · 01/02/2005 12:33

Perhaps that was a stab at a bit of humour from the consultant Mollydolly. Sometimes when I see a woman who has been ill I will say 'what have you been up to then?' .You have made me think that perhaps a comment like that could be misconstrued as blame. You did have severe pre-eclampsia last ime which the midwife may never have come across. She would have been genuinely interested in what happened to you. That does not mean she does not know about pre-eclampsia - she most certainly will.
I am trying to reassure you that your consultanat and midwife will monitor your progress. The GP will also refer you if there are problems detected but I am sure you will be fine to wait to see your consultant. You could phone his secretary to get an earlier appointment to discuss participation in the trial, or your GP could do that. It is highly unlikely that he would not do that for you.

Original poster

Mollydolly · 01/02/2005 12:48

Mears - I can see that it sounds a bit that way but honestly when he said it he was very abrupt and even dh commented on it. Re the MW you are probably right, and I am probably being ultra-sensitive and feeling the need to be "looked after" Also, the consultant on call who made the decision to give me an emergency c/s was helpful, informative and listened well - the comparison was stark. By the way, am new to this, what do you do?

OP posts:

mears · 01/02/2005 12:54

I would see how you find him when you meet him this time. If you find that you really don't like him you can change to another one. Your GP could do that for you. Hoever, you might find you see hime differently now - it is a while since you last met him. I understand your anxiety and I think you will feel much better when you have been seen by him. For the trial, is there a certain time you need to start any treatment? If not, just wait until your appointment. If there is, then phone the hospital and ask to speak to your consultant's secretary for a sooner appointment.

beachyhead · 09/02/2005 17:48

Molly dolly - have you seen on the Non-member requests, there is a request from the gang at Thomas' for volunteers to go on the trial - you can refer yourself........

Hope you get this message - their phone number is on there as well. I'll try to CAT you.

beachyhead · 09/02/2005 17:51

Molly dolly - I can't CAT you - it bounces back.....can you keep bumping this anyone.

ta xxx

popsycal · 09/02/2005 19:16

bump

popsycal · 10/02/2005 10:23

bump

Original poster

Mollydolly · 14/02/2005 12:23

Thanks loads beachyhead - have rung and left a message on the answerphone - hopefully will hear something soon!! Going for my anomaly scan on Thursday 17th - will be 19wks+1day and it will be the first time I see my consultant since last pregnancy - I'm a bit nervous. The good news is that this baby has finally started to move a bit more (was getting a bit worried)Lots of people reckon it's a "lazy" boy - any thoughts on that little gem anyone?

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beachyhead · 14/02/2005 12:30

Good for you - keep ringing them - I'm going to Thomas' today for my scan and I'm sure the team will ring you back soon. They also have a website called www.mrfu.info which has the clinical trials information on.

Hope you have good news from your consultant....

woodpops · 14/02/2005 14:34

Hi Mollydolly, I had pre-eclampsia with my 1st so when I was pregnant with my 2nd was told to have lots of rest. Like that's possible with a baby under a year old. Anyway I carried on as normal and stayed pre-eclampsia free. But with an awful lot more hospital and midwife check ups because of my history. I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck.

Original poster

Mollydolly · 15/02/2005 12:30

Hi woodpops - how did your pe develop? What and When were the first signs etc? When did you deliver?

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beachyhead · 22/03/2005 18:40

How are you MollyDolly? are you on the trial yet? I started my vitamins about three weeks ago as I am now 17 weeks. I have been given wee testing sticks to check for protein in the wee, but I'll start that at 20 weeks or so.....Blood pressure seems to be OK at the moment.....

Original poster

Mollydolly · 23/03/2005 10:29

beachyhead - yep, been on the trial for 4 weeks now and am 24 wks pg today. Thanks ever so for the trial info - the mw there has been lovely!! Just hope I'm not on placebos and they work! No BP probs up to now, no protein up til last check up which was last wednesday (I don't have wee sticks - where d'ya get them then?) Only blot on horizon is that my fingers, particularly on one hand are a little puffy. Saw my GP (who's great) who gave me the once over. He said it was not "pitting oedema" that he would expect to see with PE, so could just be pg puffiness, particluarly as everyhting else is OK. This is about the time I started with dd so watch this space and send me pe-free wishes please.....
Hope you are keeping well, and I'll send those wishes right back!

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beachyhead · 23/03/2005 11:02

I asked the mw at Thomas' for them and got them. You know when you give your urine sample and they stick a paper stick in it and then hold it up to check if there is any protein, well, it is those..... So I just hold it in the wee (tmi ) and then check for the protein level. They will probably give them to you if you ask. Are you having additional growth scans as well? I am due a 20 week and then a 28 week, but if the 20 week shows anything they will slot in a 24 week as well.

Fat fingers crossed for you!!!

Any others who are expecting/not expecting pre-ec at the moment, feel free to pile in.....a mini support group.....

Original poster

Mollydolly · 23/03/2005 11:49

Am having a scan tomorrow actually! Last one at 19wks was fine - I'm having another girl by the way - lovely!! Had a slightly low placenta and given the pe they asked me to go back at 24 wks and then we'll see how it goes. DD was a good size anyway (almost 3lb ondelivery at 29wks pg), and my placenta was ok last time. I'll phone the trial midwife, see if I can get those sticks!!

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mears · 23/03/2005 11:52

Mollydolly - what did you do about your consultant. Did you speak to him?

mears · 23/03/2005 11:53

Mollydolly - what did you do about your consultant. Did you speak to him?

Original poster

Mollydolly · 23/03/2005 13:16

Hi mears - I still haven't actually seen him yet. I've had 2 consultant appointments, but both times I saw 2 different registrars as he was unavailable. I tried to speak to them, but they just said that I should see my midwife as and when I feel necessary. I have another consultant appointment on 31/3 (last one was 4 wks ago)so hopefully I will see the actual consultant then. Incidentally, is it usual for fingers/ankles to be puffier on one side than the other?

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