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??

Well, not JUST pale poo..I had other symptoms too. Dd had IUGR, & del at 36 weeks at 4lb 4.

Hope you are OK.

Ds1 was born at 32wks 4lb 6oz and is now a tall, slim nearly 11 yrs old with size 5 feet lol.

Good luck with your midwife. In answer to your question about risks to the baby there is a risk of the high blood pressure forcing the placenta off the uterine wall and of resultant early (and fast) labour.

Just wanted to say good luck, I hope everything goes well at your appointment. I suffered Pre-eclampsia with dc1. Admitted to hospital at 31 wks with IUGR, high Blood pressure and headaches and not great flow to placenta. I was on high doses of methyldoppa - to reduce blood pressure, and kept in hospital on strict bed rest. Had EMCS due to PET at 34 wks, baby weighed 3lb6. He's now a very healthy average size 2yrs old

Well, the appointment didn't go brilliantly

I've been allowed home to get something to eat but I have to go to hospital now for 'monitoring'. Apparently babies heart rate is not good (it was fine at the scan yesterday though ) so the MW wants me to be monitored this avo and maybe overnight if there is no improvement.

Pretty gutted about it.

Gracie, its good they are sending you in. Try not to worry too much. My midwife ignored my sysptoms and I ended up with eclampsia (and the stroke and IUGR that a pp talks about!)

Being in hospital is the best place and my DS2 was born at 30 weeks weighing just 2lb and he is a lively perfeclty healthy 8 year old now!

~Good luck - let us know how you get oN.

Good luck best they monitor you, for you and baby.

They let me come home again

Turns out baby was just very sleepy and an hour or so with my feet up was plenty to get my blood pressure to a more acceptable level too.

They still want me to be monitored regularly, but are happy to let local GP do that and said I will rest better at home anyway. Poor DS is bored out of his mind from all my 'resting' already!

That's good. Resting at home has got to be so much better than resting in hospital. They used to wake me up at 6.30 to take my blood pressure, then tell me I should be resting.

Get a season ticket to the hospital car park now dear! You may well need it

Glad you are okayish and try not to worry, a close eye, a few more weeks, all will be well.

Did they do any blood tests?

Worried that they haven't mentioned the pain. Blood tests would rule out liver failure.

They did mention blood tests, which was when my BP immediately dropped and I nearly passed out even though I was lying down!!

I'm very severely trypanophobic and even getting into the hospital is quite terrifying. The consultant and my GP have decided that at the moment the benefits of a test are outweighed by the stress it would cause me and therefore LO. It's on the understanding that if BP continues to rise/pain gets any worse/blood flow in the cord gets poor, they will give me some diazepam and take bloods then.

Thanks for all your help ladies. I had no idea what to expect when I was first told they were concerned about it. I don't know anyone who's had it, so it's all new to me.

Gracie, how are things?