So..... pre-eclampsia: Should I be worried?

[Gracie123]

Just got back from consultant (I'm 33 wks pg with DC2) and she is concerned about pre-eclampsia.

Apparently blood pressure is rising too rapidly, there's protein in my urine (although there always seems to be, so not sure why it's suddenly a concern) and this last week my feet have swollen into the most ridiculous piggy feet with stubby toes you have ever seen. I think this is mostly down to the hot weather we have been having, but she thinks it may be a symptom.

I also have ridiculous uncurable heartburn and pain under my ribs, but only on one side. I was initially told my ribs were just moving because I have a mega huge baby, but now consultant seems to think it might be something else.

Anyway, what happens next? She says 'monitoring', but then what? If it gets worse what will they do?

I'm very phobic or doctors and hospitals (hence my mind turns to mush around them and I never remember to ask the right questions).
Will they try to stick needles in me?
Is there anything I can do to prevent it??

Also, been seeing meth-bugs and feeling like I'm going to pass out a lot. Put it down to low iron, but I've been taking supplements and it doesn't seem to help.

I thought this was a symptom of low BP though?

Bump - anyone?

Gracie - you need to rest, and make sure that your blood pressure is monitored daily. Hvae you got an appointment for the next check?

Your mindife might give you a box of dip sticks to check your pee to make sure the protein isn't going up too fast.

As to what they might do, if your bp continues to rise, you might be admitted to hospital for bed rest and monitoring.

If you have got pre-eclampsia, then the only thing that stops it is delivering your baby - so what will probably happen is that they will try to keep you as stable as possible for as long as possible - but you should be prepared for the fact that your baby might have to come a bit early.

i would, for your peace of mind, make sure your bag is packed and you have it with you whenever you go for any appointments, just in case they keep you in. I was unexpectedly admitted once when I was pregnant with dd, and had nothing with me at all - including no money - and I couldn't get hold of anyone to bring me stuff until the following lunchtime.

If you start getting bad headaches or if your face starts to swell you must treat it as an emergency. A 999-type emergency, I don't want to scare you, but if (and it is only if) - it is pre-eclampsia, it can progress quickly.

Keep us posted, I hope all goes well!

I have an appointment with the MW tomorrow to get BP checked. Do I really have to have it checked daily?

Have a DS (2yo) and getting to Dr's everyday would be an absolute pain

See what the MW says- but as I said, do be prepared - particularly as you've got a little one. Is there someone who can come and stay with you and look after ds if necessary?

Not really, but we live on site where DH works, so he can be home within 2 or 3 minutes of receiving a phone call, and probably could get family up within a day or two.

Just really surprised that these are all symptoms of pre-eclampsia yet it wasn't picked up in last pregnancy, as I had all the same ones then!

Hi Gracie - I was monitored for a borderline high BP from about 5 months onwards in my last pg, but it just stayed at the same level, it didn't change. As yours has started to rise this is why they want to monitor you more closely I would think.
good luck at the mw tomorrow and try to get plenty of rest (easier said than done with a 2yo!)

Gracie - has anyone explained to you what pre eclampsia is and does? I have had it twice - it's not to be mucked about with.

Monitoring generally means tripping to the hospital every day for a 30 minute trace and a urine test. I spent a month in hospital with DS and you do need to make preparations because if you go in at this point, you may be staying put.

Get plenty of rest, do have your checks - your baby is seriously at risk if you don't as are you and just try and do what you can to get help looking after your DS.

Try not to worry though, with proper care and management, even if PET develops, once the baby is out and you are past the five day point post partum, you will be fine.

Thanks - no, nobody has really explained what it does except that I may have to have an early section.

What are the risks to the baby? I thought it was just my blood pressure (e.g. I feel faint - which I can cope with!)

I had PE in my last pregnancy but only in the final 3 weeks or so.

It was picked up on at a routine ceck up. I was sent home that day but had to come back for monitoring the next day and I was kept in for a few days for bedrest and monitoring.

My BP didn't come down and I developed some facial swelling and traces of protein so I was started on medication which eventually stabilised my BP although it stayed high it didn't keep rising.

I am very surprised that as you are showing a lot of symptoms that they haven't kept you in or started medication.

It can be very dangerous. It can lead to a stroke in the mother and I think growth restriction in the baby (but not 100% on that part as I only developed PE at the very end so growth wasn't an issue).

Take care and if you have any concerns call someone. I know I felt really awful when I had it.

Hi Gracie
I got pre-ecampsia with my little girl at 36 weeks - got picked up at 36 weeks appt by MW and was immediately admitted to hospital - induced and had an emergency c-section eventually. I'd second getting your bag ready and have it with you as I trundled off to the hospital not realising they had diagnosed me with pre ecampsia - just thought i had high blood pressure and then didn't go home till a week after my little girl was born.

Don't panic but risks to baby are that the placenta can start to break down so baby will not receive nutrients - my little girl had stopped putting on weight at 34 weeks. This can be very serious so you need to have those checks.

Agree with whomovedmychocolate.

I have had preeclampsia twice and it can be very serious.
Was induced early first time as blood flow to placenta was not good and baby needed to come out, I was hugely swollen and it was putting a strain on my organs also.

Second time it started later in pregnancy, different this time as bp not as high, I wasn't swollen up etc but had as much protein in urine as was possible.
Ended up induced again at term as my kidneys stopped working, was just blood coming out!

I am not trying to scare you but you must take this extremly seriously.
Both times I spent weeks going into hospital every second day to be monitored for whole day.
Midwife would also come to my home and end up sending me into hospital as well.

Was admitted for bout a week both times before being induced.
If you feel unwell at all get checked out immediately, visual disturbance, upper abdo pain, foggy feeling increase in swelling, do not arse about get straight to a dr.
Again not wanting to worry you but have a google and you will find out a lot more.
Fingers crossed you will be grand anyway but you need to be prepared. X

I had high blood pressure and odema at 32 weeks. I was taken into hospital then and stayed there until DS was induced at 38 weeks when my BP then rocketed and I had protein in my urine. I was in 7 weeks in all. That was 15 years ago and I am not sure if they medicated at all in those days, I wasn't.
I was scanned every week and monitered every day, as well as weekly blood tests and several kidney tests.
I have a lovely 6ft 14 year old now, who is fine.

Okay, I don't think I realised how serious this was. I don't like googling things (phobia of drs/hospitals extends to seeing horrible illness/injuries!!)

I do have permanent upper abdo pains, and foggy feeling (DH gets frustrated because I keep asking him to repeat things and forgetting to finish my sentences!!) but I thought this was all normal pregnancy stuff as I had it with DS1 and no one seemed bothered in the slightest!

I am really swollen in the feet and ankles, but nowhere else, and again, I think that's pretty normal.

I certainly don't need to worry about growth! This baby is massive! They are shocked at every scan!!

Seeing the midwife at 12.45, so I guess I'll let you know what happens then.

As I said - take your hospital bag with you. In fact, never go anywhere without it!

Good luck - we'll be thinking about you!

Going by your symptoms and make sure you mention them to midwife, if ur bp is up and protein present in urine u might end up getting admitted or sent into day bed so be prepared.

Fingers crossed for you. X

I'd expect them to do one of those scans which checks the placental blood flow. In fact, if you still have these symptoms and they don't do a scan, ask why not.

Your pain under your ribs may be epi gastric, which means your liver could be failing....I think that demands a little more attention than you are getting....

Whatever you do, don't minimize your symptoms when you talk to the midwife. Tell it like it is - the way you've told us. Don't say "Oh, I've got a bit of heartburn".

Can you take someone with you?

I had preeclampsia 10yrs ago but it developed into HELLP which it to do with blood liver function etc. I had pain in my ribs.My platelets level was down to single figures and had to have a transfusion before the c section. My urine output was next to nothing and looked like mud. I'm not trying to frighten you, but you need to know how it could go.
The only thing that makes it go away is delivering the baby.
Make sure you tell all you symptoms to the midwife even if they don't seem much to you.
Good luck.

One of the questions i was asked everyday when I was in hospital was do I have a pain under my ribs, the others where

did I have a headache, dizzyness or flashing lights.

Interesting that you needed a blood transfusion before section. I ended up with Em C/S last time and nearly died under general anaesthesia. They had to give me several blood transfusions apparently.

I wonder if that was related...

Not really any problems with urine, except that I drink about 3 litres a day and it is still yellow. Certainly not brown or sludgey, but I would expect it to be clear considering the amount I've been drinking.

They have sent urine off to be analysed, so I guess that they are checking for infection which might explain the protein (or am I completely wrong about that too)?

It's interesting because previous consultants have both told me that pain in ribs was because I have big babies and they are tearing the cartilige/moving the ribs out of place - despite the fact that I keep telling them it doesn't feel bruised, but like a burning pain. New consultant yesterday was the first person to think anything of it!

I'm packing a bag as we speak and DH has informed his boss of the situation. She has been really nice (her daughter lost an almost term baby a year ago) so I know he'll be allowed to come home and get DS if he needs to.

It was a transfusion of platelets I needed which help the blood to clot otherwise I would have lost to much blood in surgery.

The urine output only happened in the latter stages when I was in hospital.
My protein level was off the scale at this point too.

HELLP
I know you don't like to google but this gives you an idea.

Another sign of PE is pale faeces. I had PE, but didn't have dark urine, just pale poo, which at time I didn't know was a symptom!