Possible Pre-eclampsia seeing midwife shortly but need advice first

[yawningprincess]

Hello- I am 37+2 and have suffered with severe SPD and Sciatica during this pregnancy. I have been generally active altho had to use crutches which has been a nightmar as I have a 15 month old!

Anyway the pain is unbearable and after not being able to get myself out of bed to use the toilet last night because of restricted movement I called the midwife this morning.

She is on holiday so called another midiwfe who told me to call the anetnatal unit to who I broke down. They said they wouldn't induce (this is how desperate I am, I am having a bloody planned home birth but I am desperate!)and that the consultant who I have never met will only see me on Monday.

Anyway my mom came to help with my daughter and took one look at me and said to call the midwidfe again. My sciatica is on my left hand side, however my right foot has ballooned and also my hands are massive, they are tingling while typing- a sign I shouldn't be!- my face feels swollen but not sure whether it is due to crying this morning. I feel a bit headachy but this could be crying.

I had my last antenatal check last wed and I had a trace of protein in my wee. Anyway what my post is for is that I am don't want to seem like I am over reacting but I just don't feel like I have the energy or ability to carry on, I can't get around and to be honest I am worried about the impact on the baby.

What would you do, the midwife is coming at 1pm and she wanted me to lay it on thick with the hospital to get seen but now she is coming to see me as hospital won't see me until Monday because they said that SPd and sciatica is manageable etc Midwife said that they would only probably take me seriously if I had real concerns about the baby..

What is your blood pressure like?

Sounds like a nightmare, dunno what I'd do. I suppose if I was that disabled I would present at the antenatal unit and cry until someone induced me. On the other hand at 37 weeks your baby may not be as cooked as it should be and as a result could end up being harder work when its born.

Regarding the worries about pre-eclampsia I would take that very seriously and insist on being checked again immediately.

I have heard of people being induced for SPD. I know it can be crippling.

Really feel for you, hope you get some joy.

www.preeclampsia.org/symptoms.asp

Pre e is unlikely but not unheard of in a second pregnancy where you didn't have it in your first so don't be fobbed off with that one!

Your midwife will check your blood pressure and protein and assess the swelling. I know you are desperate to be induced but to be honest I wouldn't wish pre e on my worst enemy!

I know nothing about spd but my experience of the antenatal ward is that they hand out codeine and paracetamol like smarties compared to the gp. Any chance you could get some better pain relief?

I hope you get some reassurance and relief somehow stay strong no-one should have to just "put up" with that kind of pain and worry

seeker- I don't know when it was last checked it was 157/84 that was last wed when they found the protein too. I am waiting for my midwife to arrive.

MHAVSM- I know what you mean about 37 weeks being early and feel dreadful as with my dd we had such an easy birth, lovely pregnancy thats why I opted for a completely natural home birth`as I didn't have any drugs with dd and I have a naturally high pain threshold this is why I know I am not being a flaky female about the sciatica, I am completely immobile with no quality of life!
But I am happy to put up with this for the little one, but the swelling is progressive getting worse, I'm sat with my leg elevated and I have no ankle definition and my fingers can hardly type!

I think I have to wait to see what the midwife says x

You might want to have a quick look here as well

www.apec.org.uk/precog.htm

157/84 and protein and now swelling certainly sounds like it needs reassessed so don't be afraid to be firm!

I had dd at 35 weeks due to pre e and she was fine. Sometimes they are safer out than in. At the very least you need some reassurance that all is well...........

my friend was induced at 38weeks for spd, mine wouldnt consider it before 40 weeks. Same hospital different consulantants The sweeling could be PE but i hope for your sake it isnt. Your mw will check bp and wee, so will know straight away.
Hang in there, its horrible pain, i know. hope you get sorted asap.

Is that bp higher than when it was taken before?

If it is, and if it is higher again when the midwife comes today I would insist on being seen at the hospital - the combination of symptoms needs to be properly assessed. Please don't be fobbed off. Pre-eclampsia can be serious and you need to rule it out as soon as possible.

Like seeker said BP should be considered in relation to previous measurements- what is high for some is not high for others and what you don't want to see is a determined upward trend. Even if your diastolic (second number) BP has not yet reached the "threshold" of 90 often used as a warning sign of PE/PIH if your diastolic is rising relative to earlier measurments or is greater than 20 points above your booking BP in the first trimester it is cause for concern.

You sound in complete agony- I so feel for you. I hope it is not PE but I do think they should keep an extra watch in case, swelling of the face is quite significant as not usually caused by "regular" pregnancy oedema.
Also try to keep a "kick count" of your baby's movements just for reassurance.

Hope your mw can be supportive and perhaps she can push the hospital to at least assess you in day assessment today

Thinkinf of you xx

Yes it was slightly raised, from my notes my previous readings were 13wks- 138/64, 16wks- 138/74, 22wks- 138/83, 29 wks- 110/65, 32 wks- 148/78, 34 weeks 148/80 and 36 weeks 157/84... so there is a marked increase but no massive.

I am just feeling so drained and my sister and best friend are as pregnant as me and they aren't struggling at all. I just know somethings not right but maybe it's just that I am run down x

well your diastolic BP is 20 points above your booking BP at 13 wks, but I see it's not that clear a trend. I would mention this all to your mw. PE can become very serious very quickly (had it twice so some experience here) and it is always better to be on the safe side and ask for a full assessment (perferably in hospital where they can do PE blood tests, monitor baby and monitor your BP and protein in urine). PE can also make you very tired.

At 37 weeks your baby is likely to be fine but like others said might struggle a little with breathing, temp regulation and learning to feed so may need a short stint in special care. My DD was born at 36 weeks due to PE spent 1 week in SCBU but was fine after that & we came home together b'feeding etc. But the consultant will know what is best for you and the baby.

Hope your mw apt goes as well as possible. Try not to worry, though know how hard that is!

hi ladies, the mw came out and my blood pressure was 131/103 which worried her and also the swelling was worse by then. They want me to rest and then tmrw if things are no better they will admit me.

Don't think it is pre-eclampsia because also I still have protein in my urine they are saying I didn't have it in my first pregnancy therefore chances are quite low of me having it in my second.

Just feeling drained. DH is trying to help but I just feel frustrated and we end up snapping at each other- bring on labour- thanks for your help xxx

yawningprincess, you really must rest - it's a good thing that you can't move round much, honestly! If you start to feel at all unwell, or if you get a headache or any visual disturbance then dial 999. Promise?

My close friend had to be induced in her second pregnancy because of pre eclampsia, and she didn't have it with ther first, so it is possible, even if rare.

I had pre e with my last pregnancy, and your symptoms sound very much like mine, I really feel for you. Try to get some rest, hopefully you'll be admitted tomorrow and decisions can be made regarding induction/treatment.

Best wishes

How rotten for you. It doesn't always run smoothly, does it?

I spent the last 3 or 4 weeks of my pregnancy in and out hospital because of high BP. I wasn't pre-eclamptic, I had PIH-pregnancy induced hypertension, which I gather is a few steps down from pre-eclampsia. Eventually I was prescibed methyl dopa to stabilize things until the baby came.

It's scary and you sound unhappy and I'm sorry for that but you'll be ok and so will your baby

How are you today? Hope all is well.

to be honest im surprised they left you at home with it that high!
how you doing today?

Just checking to see if there's any news. Good luck.

Hiya hun, your bp was higher again yeterday but yet they havent taken u in.
Hope ur feeling okay hun, as a few ladies have sed altho u didnt av it with ur first preg doesnt mean u cudnt develop it this time.

Let us know how ur getting on hun xxxxx

Anyone know how she's doing?

No been watching the thread to see how she is!!
Lets hope everything went okay xxx