22 weeks pregnant and +++ protein in urine as well as pain

[Lili23]

Hi, basically what title says!
I’m 22 weeks pregnant with 3rd baby and this last 24 hours I’ve had a lot of strong braxton hicks.
no consistency or pattern though
a constant ache and pressure in my vagina almost like being full term with that baby’s head is there feeling if that makes sense? And general superpubic pelvic ache.
I’ve got no uti symptoms
No smell or dark colour, not peeing anymore than usual. But due to where the pain is and history of bad utis I thought I’d dip my urine for uti anyway.
Over the past 24 hours 8+ samples have all been extremely positive for protein
negative for nitrates etc. I’ve had a mild constant headache last few days but nothing unbearable.
I had hellp syndrome with my second baby in 2024 and delivered at 36 weeks
but never once had the high blood pressure just everything else ie: protein in urine, liver pain, low platelets low hb and raised liver enzymes.
Thank you in advance
( I did call mau and they said my urine tests are probably faulty and it’s probably just baby’s positioning…)

Good luck, really hoping someone finally listens to you

How are you feeling? Hope you went to the hospital. The heart rate alone is concerning

Really hope that you’ve been assessed today by someone sensible who listens to you.

UPDATE
decided to go to mau rather than call ahead
had to go on my own unfortunately
they seemed reluctant to see me and said they were very busy so sat me in waiting room
dipped my urine which was negative for everything aside from +++ protein
urea on blood test is still raised
I mentioned I’m still having pelvic / vaginal pain and Braxton hicks
they said too early for ctg monitor
and that the protein, raised urea and pelvic pain are because of the uti ( per urine culture being positive for group b strep)
they said UTIs cause Braxton hicks too
I did tell them each day I get more and more Braxton kicks
I have absolutely no uti symptoms such as burning stinging strong smell dark colour or increased urgency
not had any high temps either so I don’t feel it’s a “bad uti”
blood infection markers are normal yet I feel flu like aches/fatigue. Haven’t got any cough or cold symptoms
midwife said “you’d be surprised most people don’t have symptoms of a uti….”
I did also say all of my previous UTIs are extremely symptomatic
and I still have the constant headache too.
she checked blood pressure
123/85
and said it’s normal and I’ve only been taking the antibiotics for a day so to give them a chance to work

since that been sent home
and told if I have any concerns speak to a midwife at my next routine appointment on the 20th so 6 days time.

again I also told her this is my 3rd baby and something feels off
and she was also aware of history of hellp syndrome in previous pregnancy but said that isn’t a worry as it happened much later at 35 weeks and it’s rare for these issues at 23 weeks

I don’t really feel reassured at all.
but not sure what else I can do
should I self present again tomorrow once it’s been 48 hours since starting antibiotics if I’m still having these symptoms?
are there any specific additional tests I should be asking for?
is there any way for them to monitor or measure Braxton hicks/contractions at 23 weeks?
(my belly goes hard to touch which they felt for themselves last time and weren’t concerned just acknowledged that it was happening)
they also couldn’t do pre term swab because my cervix was bleeding they said they was due to internal cervical cells migrating to the outside and my cervix being really vascular
(which compared to routine cervical exam 3 weeks ago was completely normal)

Please go in as someone who’s had an easy as pie pregnancy and my second not being quite as easy! Both times I visited the hospital one time for weird symptoms. You can never be too sure!

Go again and every single day if you need to

I've just come across your thread and I'm horrified by your latest update.
Go to another hospital, maybe in a different county. Whatever it takes to not go to the same MAU you have been to already.
Do not go home! And demand to be reviewed by a consultant.

OP I have just read your thread in complete horror. I would advise that tomorrow you go to a different hospital maternity unit and be assessed by a different team ( fresh eyes ) ie you are visiting the town and now feeling unwell!
+++protein ,headaches, diastolic BP reading (lower figure is high ) all potentially point to pre eclampsia .

I can't believe how much they are just brushing all of this off.

I experienced pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in my first pregnancy at 36 weeks, however I had been having symptoms well before that. I was always sent away too whenever I mentioned concerns. I had been having headaches, pain under my ribs, seeing stars in my vision, swelling of feet and hands. The only symptoms of pre-eclampsia that I DIDN'T have were high BP and protein. When I went for a routine check at 36 weeks my BP suddenly rocketed to 210/110 and I was induced immediately. My liver began failing and I was also told I had AFLP (acute fatty liver in pregnancy). As i was going through labour, i began to feel really unwell and told them I felt like I was going to die. They rushed me for an emergency c-section because my reflexes were not as they were supposed to be (apparently this can be a sign of eclampsia, so I was close to becoming unconcious and having seizures). My contractions were also back to back. There was no break at all and were excruciating, so i suspect also placenta abruption.

I was so lucky that me and my baby survived. That was 6 and a half years ago and im still traumatised by it. I think about it almost every day still. If they had listened to my concerns in the first place instead of brushing me off, I feel my labour and birth could have been so different.

Please keep pushing them to test. I know how hard it is to get them to listen, and how it feels like you are causing a fuss, but it's your life at risk here.

How are you today?

Im so sorry you are having such a terrible time, OP. If your nearest hospital (for example) is at York or Scarborough (which are the same trust), could you try James Cook or Leeds for a second opinion? Or ask at your current hospital for a second opinion? Are you always seeing the same doctor?

Also, please make sure you read up on being GBS+. This charity are great - www.gbss.org.uk You will need antibiotics again in labour and they should be giving you some stickers for your notes to make sure everyone involved in your care is aware.

Things they could do. Blood tests, to check your liver and renal function, and whether your platelets are dropping, and infection markers. An ultrasound to assess umbilical artery blood flow, and whether your cervix is shortening. Have you seen by an actual obstetrician, given that things seem to be going wrong, and it sounds like you’ve not got past the midwives.

If you think it’s PE PLEASE go.
I had this with my second. It was PE and HELPP and while my daughter is thankfully fine, she had to be delivered early.
thankfully the midwives and docs were totally on it.

I am raging on your behalf. I had pre-e but because my blood pressure was normal ish (140/90) they wouldn’t listen to me saying it was high for me (90/60 normally).

I shared a ward with someone in with pre-e at 24 weeks. That baby is now a healthy 16 year old.

I can’t believe how much you are being gaslighted by the HCP who are meant to be taking care of you. Keep advocating for yourself exhausting though that is.

I was eventually admitted when I had liquid coming out of my legs (kidneys had stopped working). We all made it through (me and both DT who were prem) but I wouldn’t wish that journey on anyone. Sending solidarity.

+++ protein with pain at 22w warrants a call to triage today, lovely — could be UTI (very common, very missable), or could be early signs they need to monitor. While you wait: lower-sodium meals (lay off the crisps and ready meals), watermelon and bananas for potassium, decent water but not silly amounts. The dip result on its own needs follow-up regardless.

How are you @Lili23? I sincerely hope you've had some proper medical attention since you last posted.

How are you? Hope you got the help you need...

You can have preeclampsia without raised blood pressure…atypical preeclampsia. The presence of three pluses of protein in your urine and headaches is a concern. Have they tested your liver and kidney function? PIGF levels?

I hope you're getting the care you need OP. As someone who's currently being closely monitored for preeclampsia, I'm horrified at the dismissing attitude you've been getting from healthcare professionals. It's unacceptable how much of a postcode lottery NHS maternity care is atm

Hi all! Thank you for checking in on me
I was yet again dismissed
I went to the next local hospital for them to say my maternity care isn’t under them and my hospital is only 10 minutes further so I need to make my way there instead Which I did. Protein in urine had reduced to only +1 and aside from my urea blood result the rest were okay and blood pressure “normal”
so yet again sent home. I managed to convince them to keep me for observation which they did for 8 hours but again because during that time protein and blood pressure didn’t increase I was sent home.
this was the day before yesterday

this evening I’ve got braxton hicks again and headache all day
Ive started taking my own blood pressure the last few days and kept a chart along with what my baseline was at time of booking and earlier pregnancy.
alongside the Braxton hicks I had 4 episodes of thick jelly like mucus today but only small amounts which I know even if it is the mucus plug small amounts aren’t a worry and can regenerate.
however I’ve just now had a 5th episode of it along with the braxton hicks and it’s slightly more in amount. I’ll try and attach a photo.
I only remember loosing my mucus plug with second baby whilst in hospital in Labour and it was the whole thing with blood so I can’t really compare it to this to be 100% sure but it’s thick clear/yellow jelly snot texture
not creamy or watery at all

This is the 5th episode of this today along with the braxton hicks
thoughts? Possibly parts of mucus plug? Very thick jelly snot texture

Gosh @Lili23 I'm so glad you've posted I was thinking about you. I honestly don't know what to say, except I guess every day you get further along is another day babe is safe inside. The headaches sound awful though and worrying along with everything else. As for the mucus plug, it doesn't look like the whole thing but it does look like it's part of it.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable will have more to say. I hope it all calms down soon. So the protein is down a bit, is that right? That must be a good sign? Take care of yourself.

Yes, looks like mucus plug. You’re right by itself it doesn’t mean anything. But with persistent Brixton hicks, previous early delivery and feeling unwell I am surprised they’re not taking you more seriously.

@TemporarilyCantDoMyselfThank you so much for checking in on me!
exactly how I’m trying to look at it that each day is a day longer with baby safe inside. I’m currently now 23+4
the protein is now down to +1 but consistently remains at the level never trace or negative.
the headaches are awful and I did have a brief 20 minute episode this evening of my vision in my left eye seeming a little blurry but it self resolved.

i definitely think it is part of the mucus plug purely because of the texture and consistency but I agree only a small part of it and there’s no streaks of blood which is reassuring. I’ll just have to keep an eye on the overall amounts of it over a certain period of time. I’m seeing the community midwife the day after tomorrow and she’s repeating all my bloods etc. so I’ll let her know what’s going on (it’s a midwife I’ve never met before not yet had any continual care in this pregnancy)
and hopefully she can offer some further support or advice.
It’s such a shame as when I was living in London particularly in my second pregnancy I had the same community midwife start to finish and she’d even visit me on the wards during hospital admissions. I felt so well looked after and reassured that I was sad for our appointments to end once I gave birth.
I wish I could have had the same experience here this time around.
if anything new happens or changes I’ll update!
if not I’ll likely have an update after I see the community midwife 🙏🏻

and for some previous suggestions above
I’m taking all the vitamins and iron supplements
I have steak twice a week and plenty of leafy greens
also have fruit daily
no constipation
drink plenty of water daily and add electrolyte sachets if I do feel dehydrated.
also don’t add any additional salt to my meals.
im 5”7 in height and almost 27 years old
pre pregnancy weight was 67kg and now currently 73kg
so health and nutrition wise I feel like I’m taking care of myself as best as I can