Warning to all pregnant women...

[celebmum]

.. listen to your dh & family!!

last weekend i was feeling a little breathless and 'whooo' IYKWIM.. anyway whilst out enjoying some sunshine i became quite short of breath and I fainted.

me being me decided that i was ok and just needed a nice cup of tea and perhaps a biscuit, preferably a chocolate one..
My DH bullied me into ringing my midwife the following day and getting myself checked out, glad i did as after referral to the hospital and numerous tests & scans etc I was diagnosed with having a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in one of my lungs)and have been in the hospital for a week, I am now thankfully on the right drugs and things are much more positive.

Don't want to appear to be a 'scaremonger' but these are pretty serious and things could have turned out a lot worse. I have been really lucky.

www.pregnancy-bliss.co.uk/pulmonaryembolism.html

Special thanks to my darling partner of almost 10yrs, hubby for 6months. I love him loads and can now look forward to the safe arrival of our first baby in 6weeks time. xxx

Oh my god! I hope you are okay now.

I'm glad you shared that because I wouldn't have sought medical advice if I had fainted either. How did they find out you had this condition?

Glad you're ok, good luck with the baby.

What other symptoms did you have?

Slightly worried as I have been short of breath but have put it down to low iron. Midwive is aware but didn't suggest having any further tests.

I was basically just short of breath, i felt like i panted alot, and had to do deep breaths if you get what i mean. but i figured that at 33wks pregnant it was just the baby squishing stuff up. I'd also been suffering from quite severe leg cramps both during the day and at night. the kind where you get like a knot in your calf for a few days and don't seem to be able to properly restretch your leg.. I know now that many PEs form as clots in the deep veins of the legs and then travel to the heart/lungs so this could also be something to watch out for.

I must point out that I have a history of DVT and was once diagnosed with a clot before. This was when i was a teenager and on the pill. It was discussed at my booking in appt with my midwife, however i was deemed low risk and suitable for midwife led care. In hindsight its now apparent that i should have been on anticogulants (blood thinners) from earlier on in the pregnancy, then all this could have been prevented.

I guess i have been both very unlucky, a. to have developed a 2nd clot and b. lucky to have (a husband who) realised something wasn't right.
xxx

So glad you are ok. Will this affect the type of birth you have?

My sister in law had one when a day after she delivered my nephew, she nearly died so was very lucky. I am so glad you listened to your DP, good luck for 6 weeks time

Wow good job you rang... good luck x

oh my, well done to your DH, sounds like he literally saved your life.

you were very lucky - good on you DH. My aunt, who I was VERY close to, died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism 2 years ago. She also had a history of DVT.