[LookMumNoHands]

I'm not really after advice as such, more wanting to get some stuff off my chest.

I had high blood pressure when pregnant with DS2, and was put on medication at about 35 weeks. Had a stretch and sweep at 38 weeks and he was born the next day. I have no idea if I actually had pre-eclampsia or just high blood pressure, but I did have an overnight stay at hospital where I had 24 hours of urine collected and tested.

Anyway, this pregnancy, I was put on Labetalol 200mg morning and night from 16 weeks for high blood pressure. A few weeks ago, I started getting swelling in my feet. I pm'd a wonderful member on here, and on her advice I went to the GP (not my regular one) and he checked my blood pressure and said all was fine.

I'm now 24+3 and for the past week or so have been feeling really off. Bad headaches, very swollen feet and legs, no energy, tired all the time.

I went to my normal GP on Tuesday, and she checked my blood pressure which was 115/70 which she said was normal. She tested my urine sample and said there was protein, and sent me off for blood tests. I'm going to see her again this afternoon for the results, although I have no idea what was actually tested for!

My big problem is that I have a really bad feeling that all is not well with this pregnancy. I'm freaking out that I'm going to lose my baby, and I can't shake the feelings off. I know I'm being silly, and shouldn't worry yet but can't help it.

With DS2, I was blissfully ignorant. I didn't go on the Internet and google stuff. I had never heard of pre-eclampsia. With this pregnancy, I think I've got information overload. I've read so many pieces about other women's experiences with PE, and I'm really worried. I just don't feel right, if you know what I mean.

Plus, the fact that I'm still only 24 weeks. Most of the accounts I've read, the women have been further along than me.

Is this my mothers intuition, or just paranoid thoughts?

As I said earlier, I don't know why I'm typing this out. I know I'm doing the right thing by being checked, just wanted to get my stress out I suppose.

This post has been edited by LookMumNoHands: 25/03/2013, 04:12 PM

[InsertAwesomeHer...]

I haven't had a history of high BP and was put on meds at 16/17 wks as my bp was sitting at 140/90ish.

I'm on aldomet twice a day, i'm not 31 wks and still on the same dose. Early in the pregnancy I had very bad swelling and felt off. It would just be the heat too, you may not be drinking enough water.

Pregnancy is tiring.

They'll be testing your blood for further signs of PE. Possibly kidney function as well I think. That's what they tell me they test when they do mine.

Don't panic, it's so hard not to when anything you want to ask if just a google away but then you end up with all this info that you really didn't need to know and it just makes you anxious.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and hope everything comes back clear this afternoon. Try to relax in the mean time.

[LookMumNoHands]

Thanks, it's reassuring to know that you were started on medication early on too.

[EJ75]

OP - if you start seeing flashing in front of your eyes or have any upper adominal pain please contact your care provider immedately. Are you getting lots of movement?

I have had PE twice, with DS1 who was born at 34 weeks (I was having BP checks by my GP from 12 weeks, on meds by 20) and DS2 who was born at 35 (on meds from about 27 weeks). I had DD at 36+5 (on meds at about 31 weeks) due to PIH.

Depending upon what your bloods say they might send you to hospital for a BP profile. This is where you go in for a couple of hours and they test your urine, bloods, BP constantly over the couple of hours and they will give you a CTG to see how bubs is coping. If you meet all the criteria, you will generally be sent home.

I too was unaware of the dangers PE posed when I was pregnant with DS1 and like you, did way too much research after the fact. Each pregnancy after DS1, I was tense and on guard (which wouldn't have helped my BP either ).

Trust your intuition. Don't be afraid to ring the hospital and pop in for a BP check and CTG if you feel that something isn't right. I was always told that it was better to come in and have everything be ok than to stress out at home. InsertAwesomeHere is right. Don't panic.

Good luck. Let us know how you go this afternoon.

ETA for spelling

This post has been edited by EJ75: 10/01/2013, 08:57 AM

[puffsgirl11]

I was put on meds at 9 wks. My high BP looks to be hormonal as I only have it when on the pill and when pregnant. I ended up being induced 1 day before my due date. I never had any symptoms though and my BP was 177/116 when induced. So I would go see a GP if I were you and voice your concerns.

My DS is nearly 10wks old and I am on a lowering dose of meds, I found my BP to be sky high straight after birth and that is when I started showing signs.

Good luck.

This post has been edited by puffsgirl11: 10/01/2013, 09:02 AM

[myhandfull]

I was. Put on Labetolol at 20weeks with pregnancy #5. From 25weeks I was in and out of hospital. My platelets would continually drop, my liver
Function was on the higher side of abnormal. I was indcued after 16 weeks of continual stress. Ds was fine. He weighed 3.8kg & 57cm long @ 36weeks. I was taking 1200mg of Labetolol and in the last weeks whilst in hospital on bedrest, a small dose of abdoment.
Now that's my story, however, I believe that my unwellness may have been caused by an underlying HELLP issue, but..... the Labetolol made me sick. It's side effectswere terrible! Anxiety, incredibly tired, horrible nightmares, cotton mouth feel, horrible headaches (which they treated with a migraine medication) & a strange twitching sensation. Once the aldomet was added, I did nothing but sleep. I feel for you. Those BP meds are no longer used (mostly) because better products with less side effects are now used, but the meds above are safe for our babies, and that's what's important.

[Bek+3]

The thing about pre-eclampsia I find is that there are rarely 2 stories the same. I had it with all 3 pregnancies. DS1 was the most mild and I delivered at 38 weeks, 36 weeks with DS2 after an eclamptic fit and 32 weeks with DS3 after I went into liver failure caused by the high blood pressure. It was 200/120 even though I was on max dose of Labetalol, Methyldopa, Nefidipine and 2 others. I have never felt the swollen hands and ankles, headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances or anything. I have always felt completely and utterly fine. I did chart my blood pressure 3 times a day though as requested by my ob so I knew things weren't good and I was pleased to make it to 32 with my 3rd as that was beyond any best case scenario I was ever given.

My advice would be to listen to your body and your instincts and never doubt yourself. You are not putting anyone out if you wake up at 3am and feel and unnerving need to get checked out. Things can progress slowly with PE or they can progress extremely quickly.

Good luck OP.

[Wigglemama]

Op, I'm not quite understanding... who put you on the BP meds? Who is your caregivers through the hospital? Have they reviewed you about your BP issues?

Headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances (like seeing stars) and epigastric pain are symptoms to watch for with pre eclampsia. These would concern me more than just swelling.

I think you need to get an official obstetric review and maybe a BP profile done if necessary.

This post has been edited by Wigglemama: 10/01/2013, 09:08 AM

[LookMumNoHands]

Op, I'm not quite understanding... who put you on the BP meds? Who is your caregivers through the hospital? Have they reviewed you about your BP issues?

Headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances (like seeing stars) and epigastric pain are symptoms to watch for with pre eclampsia. These would concern me more than just swelling.

I think you need to get an official obstetric review and maybe a BP profile done if necessary.

I was seeing an OB up until 16 weeks. He was the one who put me on the meds, and was the same OB I saw with DS2.

DH lost his job just before Christmas, and there was no way we could afford the OB anymore. I've booked in to a public hospital nearby, but haven't had my first appointment with them yet (I'm still waiting to hear from them!).

It's all been a bit of a nightmare.

I've been having some dizziness and light headed ness, but lots of regular movement from the baby which is good.

My appointment is at 3, I'll update after.

Thanks again for all your replies.

[Bek+3]

All the best.