I'm being monitored for pre-eclampsia

I had another antenatal appointment this afternoon.

Everything was going alright until the midwife took my BP which it was 160/110.. :o

She asked if i had been experiencing headaches and i said that yes i have and that i have about 2 migraines a month.

Then she asked me to hop on the bed where she measured my belly as normal, and felt for bubbas position straight after she said she was writing me a referal for bloods to be taken and for me to go upstairs to the birth suite to be monitored... she didnt say what it was for.

She asked if i had any questions before i headed off and i asked if what she was doing was normal procedure and should i be worried to which she said no.

I of course didnt listen and my heart starting racing, i wanted to bawl my eyes out i was scared as i didnt know what was wrong.

i got straight onto the pay phone and called my mum, my first instinct was to talk to my mum as its what i do when im upset. She said it sounds like they are monitoring me for pre eclampsia she calmed me down and off i went to pathology which only took not even 5 mins so we went up to the birth suite.

When i got there the midwives didnt seem to know about me coming up but soon enough they got me to pee in a cup and lay on the bed where i would have the monitors on me (total mind blank cant remember the name) one to monitor any contractions and the other to record bubs heart rate.

I was on the machines for a good hour and then they took me off and i had to wait for the blood test results as well my urine test result. Still nothing was said to me.

DP and i dozed off, he fell asleep in an arm chair and i in the bed and then after a little while there was a knock at the door and a doctor walked in. Asked me some weird questions about if i knew why i was here and what was going on to which i said no, told her exactly how my antenatal appt went and said i was concerned and confused.

She started rattling off a whole bunch of stuff, she said that my blood test came back normal, i did have very high BP and i had quite a bit of protein in my urine and she asked why it concerned then and i went to answer and she started to explain what pre eclampsia is.

She then said they will have to monitor me closely, i have to go back to the birth suite next wednesday for the same lot of tests also an ultrasound where the doctor wants to look at bubbas growth and if she isnt or hasnt grown properly i am going to be induced... but for the rest of my pregnancy any time i have a headache that panadol doesnt cure or i feel nausea, start vomitting or just dont feel right i am to call straight away.

I think i may have jinxed myself... at work today one of the guys asked how long i had left and i said 7 weeks but i said i would love for her to come today as im over it.. and then i go and have a shocker of an antenatal appointment.

I am just so blown away... dont know what to think or feel.

:hug: sweetheart.
You didn't jinx yourself. Sometimes it just happens.
You've had a fair bit of stress lately - maybe it's your cue for some R&R and learning to relax.
Monitoring is a good thing. You and they will know where it is up to.

I've had PE twice now, and the earlier they know and the more closely you're monitored, the better.
:hug: again babe.

Just sending you a great big hug :hug:
I hope you're feeling better xxoo

Try to chill out and relax a little bit - you've had a lot on your plate lately and that could definitely explain the high blood pressure.

I hope your next appointment goes much better and they find nothing to indicate PE.

They should have explained to you why you were being sent upstairs and what the monitoring was for- before you had the monitoring. This is called informed consent- you need to understand what the procedure is so you are able to consent or dissent (say no).

If something happens that you don't understand, it is your right to ask for them to explain, and give you time to think about whether you want to do what they are offering.

Pre-eclampsia is something that you want to be checked out, but you also need to know your rights, and not to have things done that you don't want to be done.

take care,

Kate

I to had pre-eclampsia with a BP of greater than 200/140. Yours is in the lower range, so please try not to worry about it too much. If it goes higher they will give you some BP pills. My DD ended up being born at 36 weeks and she was perfect. No need to go to NICU or anything. Just wanted you to know that it doesn't have to be a bad thing

hun, try not to worry yourself over it for the next couple of weeks. I dont have any advice just :hugs:, if you need anyone to chat to let me know.
ps- you didnt jynx yourself. These things unfortunatly happen in some pregnancies.
KimB- has given you something to help calm the nerves.

goodluck honey :heartbeat:

Thanks ladies.

I was hoping for a day of R&R... but its not looking like it.

:hug: you must be worried, but try and rest up and the good thing is that they have picked up on any potential indicators so can now monitor you and bubs appropriately to manage the situation. Much better than not knowing and something going wrong.

I would be trying to kick out your house guests ASAP too! You don't need the stress of them being there, which probably hasn't helped your BP, and you need the peace and quiet to get some R&R and prepare for the arrival of your baby.

:hug: A friend of mine was also closely monitored in her pregnancy for PE, but all stayed ok & she went in to natural term labour :)
I'm sure all will be ok :)

I hope it all goes ok - I would also be getting rid of your houseguests and making sure that you can get some peace and quiet. You need to de-stress and follow Dr's orders to rest up.

i just replied in your other thread but wanted to pop in and offer a :hug:. i hope everything works out. it's good that they're monitoring you closely & it's a good sign that you were allowed to come home & didn't have to stay in hopsital (although that might have meant more rest today!!). i was monitored closely & it was a lot of time spent at the hospital but at the same time it was always great to get to hear DS' heartbeat & it forced me to sit down for however long the monitoring took! i hope they have the same sort of big comfy armchairs that my hospital did!!

:hug: from me

Oh dear, you poor thing, just what you didn't need! Thinking of you :hug:

Hope your next monitoring session turns up nothing out of the ordinary!

It is good that you are being monitored more closely, as PE can change and develop quickly, and it is great they they are looking into it early :hug:

Hopefully your BP settles for you over the next week and the headaches stay away, take care xxoo

How are things going now 1sttimemumma??? Hope they have settled down and you can stop worrying. If not just remember that the dr's can do something about it and they will monitor you if need be. Maybe you do need to get some rest in the hospital lol

1sttimemumma, funnily enough 5hrs after I responded to your post, I went in for my 37wk check and my BP was up too. They checked my urine, found some proteins but not much and I don't need to go back in until next Monday, so over a week. So they can't be too concerned for me!

I thought of you though when I was going through that - my heart immediately started pounding as soon as they said "high BP"... so I sort of know what you went thru now!

Hope everything is calming down for you!

Hey ladies.

Unfortunately today i was having a rotten day. Woke up with a headache then my eye sight became very blurry, became nauseas and had pains in my belly. I was at work when most of this happened so i called the hospital and was told to come in straight away.

I get to hospital, i am put straight on the CTG monitors and they do my BP and my urine and they both came up normal... my BP was 120/60 which is my normal BP. Bubbas heart rate was slightly irregular but after being on the monitors for about an hour they didnt see any other reason to hold me there.

I had a different doctor this time and he didnt seem too concerned at all by my high BP or anything that i had on thursday. But i have to continue to call and come in to be checked if i get a headache or feel off.

I do still need to come in on wednesday and ill be seeing the doctor i had on thursday she was the one who was concerned and was talking of inducing.

I had to give up work today, am a bit upset as i didnt get a proper farewell and the managers who werent working today had to come in and do a shuffle around so DP could get off work and be with me. So i feel bad that it was all for nothing...

No 1sttimemumma88, it was not all for nothing. You did the right thing cause you had all the symptoms. Take this time to rest up, put your feet up, and if possible relax. Get your DP to do some housework. This is YOUR time now for you and the baby. Could you go back for your proper farewell when it was due to be held? You don't need to miss out just because you had to leave early.

Oh hun, you've been through so much :hug:

massive hugs huni...i really hope you feel better soon, and you really need some R&R.
if you need to talk we are all here.
take care xox

massive hugs huni...i really hope you feel better soon, and you really need some R&R.
if you need to talk we are all here.
take care xox

:hug: It's good that it's being watched, try not to stress too much.
And never mind work...work is work, they'll sort themselves out. Yours & your bub's health is way more important :hug: