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Original poster

question about pre eclampsia and protein in urine

16 replies

firstontheway · 16/01/2009 13:39

Hi all,
I'm 31 weeks, and am on home blood pressure monitoring due to high booking BP plus my mum developed late onset pre eclampsia with all of us. BP has been 'borderline' through most of the pregnancy, so was started on medication (aldomet- methyldopa) a couple of weeks ago. Since then, my BP has come down quite a bit and am generally getting quite good readings, apart from the odd 'one off' high reading.

However, have also been checking urine (dipsticking) daily and today and yesterday, and protein has gone up from a trace to + or ++. Now, I'm not sure wether this is an issue in itself as long as my BP is okay? Sould I phone my midwife, or am I just being paranoid. FWIW no-one told me to check my urine, I just bought a pot of dipsticks and have taken it upon myself! So if I hadn't done that and my bp was fine, I wouldn't be worried anyway I guess.

OP posts:
Original poster
firstontheway · 16/01/2009 13:40

Sorry for all the sp mistakes I'm not one for proof reading!

OP posts:
MrsHappy · 16/01/2009 13:42

I think you should phone your midwife to be on the safe side.

High BP is a symptom of pre-eclamsia (not the cause) so you could be developing other symptoms IYSWIM.

I was on methyldopa at the end of my pregnancy and the hospital gave me dipsticks and asked me to call them if there was anything other than a trace of protein. So well done for being clued up enough to do that by yourself.

napa · 16/01/2009 13:45

if your unit has a day assessment unit give them a call, they may want you to go in and have some blood tests. is the sample you used for the dipstick a 'clean' sample - mid stream in a clean container?
they may ask you about any other symptoms like headaches, swelling and any pain in your tummy
good luck, hope everything is ok.

Original poster
firstontheway · 16/01/2009 13:48

Thanks all- will phone my hypertension midwife now just to be on the safe side.

Yes, my urine has been clean catch. No other symptoms as far as I can tell, which makes me think I'm being a bit paranoid?!

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christywhisty · 16/01/2009 13:54

I was taken into hospital at 32 weeks with high BP and it wasn't until I had protein at nearly 38 weeks that they decided to induce me.
I didn't think it was how high the bp itself was but the difference between your booking in and current BP that matters.

ohdearwhatamess · 16/01/2009 14:07

I'd phone your mw, just to be on the safe side.

I had pre-eclampsia in both pregnancies. It was only when I had high BP and +++ that I had to go into hospital for monitoring (and then induction when bp kept rising).

Original poster
firstontheway · 16/01/2009 14:28

Thanks everyone... phoned midwife and left a message. Don't think it's quite urget enough to warrent a call to triage yet but will keep a closer eye on BP

OP posts:
cwtchy · 16/01/2009 14:31

Best to give the midwife a quick ring I think. I may be wrong, but maybe the drugs you are on could mask any rise in BP which would normally be picked up along with the protein as a sign of PE?

cwtchy · 16/01/2009 14:32

Ah sorry I was a bit late there!

Original poster
firstontheway · 16/01/2009 14:44

thanks anyway!

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mspotatochip · 16/01/2009 16:17

I don't want to alarm you but I would phone the ward directly this afternoon. Some community midwife practices don't check the main answer phone very often.

I had a similar circumstance in my first pregnancy and was admitted straight away

With Potential PE you are always better safe than sorry

By the way dd was born safe and sound at 35 weeks (five days after I was admitted) and no lasting after effects to her or me!

LiegeAndLief · 16/01/2009 21:37

Would just second mspotatochip - I was admitted with 1+ protein and bp under 140/90. Obviously could be other causes, eg urine infection, but PET can get a lot worse very quickly so always better to check. Good luck!

mspotatochip · 17/01/2009 08:37

How are you firstonthe way?

Original poster
firstontheway · 17/01/2009 10:22

Dammit, I should've checked back on this thread

Phoned my midwife yesterday but no reply from the message I left her. BP is stil fine but still + - ++ of protein today. Will phone triage unit now. Thanks for your advice everyone x

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mspotatochip · 17/01/2009 11:21

good luck hopefully its something and nothing but don't be scared if they keep you in for a delightful 24 hr urine test its pretty standard

surprisenumber3 · 17/01/2009 11:24

Hope things are okay.

I had PE in my first pg and he was born at 34 weeks because of it, second pg I had high BP throught but with close monitoring he was born at 40 weeks, am 27 weeks now and crossing everything that things will be okay!

When I had protein in second pg, bloods for PE came back negative so I was admitted for 24 hours for a 24 hour urine collection to see how much protein was collected over 24 hours. This was low so I was discharged.

The BP meds are obviously keeping your BP low, which is good, but the other symptoms could still develop. I would go in for some bloods to be taken.

Let us know x

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