Does this sound like the start of pre-eclampsia??

[BedfordGal]

Hi,

Just wanted to run down the symtoms i've been having since about 19 weeks pregnant and hoping that someone with experience with pre-eclampsia can help me out.  Since 19 weeks i've been having pretty major swelling mainly in my legs. Now at 30 weeks it's starting to move down to my ankles and feet.  It's worse when i work all day and usually by morning after sleeping all night it's mostly gone.  Lately also i've been having really weird blood pressure readings...some days it's perfectly fine while others days i have spikes of high pressure ie 160/90 or such.  It never stays high long and usually withing 20 minutes to a half hour at the most it's closer to normal again.  I also have white coat symdrome so i always get a high reading at the doctors which is why i monitor it home myself.  Other then that i feel ok...i'm very very tired and have been most of this pregnancy..baby is moving well. I'm just really worried.  I've never had any protein in my urine that my doctor told me about anyway. She did blood work a couple of days ago to check liver and kidney function and i haven't heard from her yet so i'm hoping it was ok.  At 24 weeks my white blood cell count was elevated..is this a sign of pre-eclampsia? I'm just so confused and scared. I'm always checking my pressure because i'm paranoid it's going to spike really high and do damage to me or the baby. If anyone can give me some advice or tell me their experience with this i would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

[rarious]

i had pre eclampsia and found out around 34 weeks. i had horrible swelling in my feet, hands and face. i had a bad day at work and as soon as i got home was shakey and dizzy so went and took my blood pressure... it had sky rocketed.... over 200/100. went to the doctor and they had me do a urine sample over night. the next day they tested it and admitted me immediately. pre eclampsia only goes away with the end of the pregnancy, i had been induced that day then taken down for an emergency c section... so if you're thinking you have it.... go get checked, dont wait. it basically shuts down all your organs eventually and cuts off flow to the baby so dont wait around wondering, doesnt hurt to get to checked out. good luck.

[Pepsi611]

I had very bad pre-eclampsia was 2 of my pregnancies, 1st resulted in my daughter being delivered at 32 weeks and 2nd my son being delivered at 30, mine always seems to start around 24-25 weeks, i would get really bad headaches, flashes in my vision like floating spots, swelling in my hands, arms, legs feet and face, high protein in my urine and very high blood pressure, it put so much strain on my body i would end up in hospital for a couple of weeks before delivery being monitored, it affected the flow through the placenta to baby, i had to have doppler scans every 48 hours to check the flow through to baby, with my daughter they decided at 32 weeks the flow was so decreased and my condition deteriorated so i had a c-section the next morning to deliver her. With my son again i was in hospital being monitored, my blood pressure was so high they put me on delivery suite, they were monitoring me and my sons heart rate dropped to 44 beats per minute so i got rushed straight into theatre.

The main 3 signs of pre-eclampsia are high blood pressure, protein in your urine and swelling, i got all 3 at the same time. Pre-eclampsia is scary but it can be picked up easily. Try not to worry about it too much and if you do get worried get your doc just to check your blood pressure and urine.

Hope this helps

I hope the last of your pregnancy goes smoothly for you.

[BedfordGal]

i know i may not have it now but because of all the symptoms i'm having i'm scared of developing it..that's all..just looking for some stories from people with experience...thanks for the reply :)

[julianovak]

welll. Without protien in urine i think its impossible to have Pre-Ec.... I did have it. and also, with preeclampsia you have awful headaches, and no reflexs in the knees. Pre-Ec is not a diagnosis, its just symptoms.

[BedfordGal]

Yeah i already have...she unfortunately doesn't seem as worried as i am..then again she doesn't feel what i feel.  I guess there isn't much i can do except  wait and hope

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Just voice your concerns to your doc and see what s/he says.  I know that even with the little swelling i have now my legs feel like they are made of blocks when i go up steps or trying to walk long distances.

[BedfordGal]

Yeah that could be the reason for the problems with my legs...hoping that's all it is anyway.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

If you are carrying low in the pelvis that could definately exacerate the problem

[BedfordGal]

No i sit at a regular computer chair and do have something to prop my feet up on but it doesn't seem to help much. Usually by mid day my legs are very stiff and swollen.  I think alot of it might be circulation problems for me also..especially where my legs are turning colors. He's obviously pressing on something and he's head down already which doesn't help. It's becoming alot harder to get up or walk around...i feel like i weigh 500 lbs.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

With my 3rd pregnancy it started about the middle of the 2nd trimester.  This time around i'm 20 weeks now and I've noticed some swelling the last week or two.  It's not too bad becuase I'm a SAHM and can relax when necessary but I notice it's worse if i sit at the computer too long or if i'm up all day doing housework or shopping.  When you are sitting at work are you able to have a stool or something to keep your legs propped up? Do you have to sit in one of the taller stools the tellers use or at a regular desk?  If it's at a regular desk try to get a stool or a box or something you can prop your feet up on, that should help some.  Remember to get up and stretch a little atleast every half hour or so if you don't already.  

Having been preg so many times I have probs with my circ system.  With my last preg I developed a vericose vein at the end of my 2nd trimester and it's in a very embarrasing area.  It went away immediately after giving birth but showed up again this time before the end of my first trimester.

[BedfordGal]

How early did your swelling start? I've been swelling since 19 weeks which also scares me..from what i hear it should just happen in the last few weeks which really worries me because if i'm already swelling this much i can't imagine what it'll be like when i get in the final weeks.  I don't have it so bad that i can leave hand prints in my legs but they just feel so heavy and stiff by the time i get home it's hard to even bend my knees at all.  The funny thing is i don't stand alot at work. I sit at a desk mostly..alot of up and down though (i work in a bank)....i've also had circulation problems because of the swelling. My legs are always red/purple or blue in spots..they're red all over actually but my thighs are usually a darker purple/bluish color and always cold. It's horrible.!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

It really sounds to me like your swelling is a direct result of being on your feet so much.  Your enlarged uterus is putting pressure on everything below it causing the swelling.  I think once you stop working it won't be nearly as bad.  As for the BP probs at home, it could very well be becuase you are getting yourself worked up and worried about the possibility of pre-e.  If there was something to be concerned about I think your doc would let you know.  

[BedfordGal]

She's seen the swelling but doesn't say much about it..it's obviously not concerning her as much as it is me. They barely swell much at all when i'm not working so hopefully when i finish up work in 12 days i can keep the swelling to a minimal. I'm just afraid with everything i've been experiencing it's going to turn into something bad and quickly.  I guess you can't really prevent it if it is though and hopefully i'm far enough along that if he had to be born early he'd be ok.  The only thing my doctor is concerned about is my bp but she just doesn't seem to get that i have white coat symdrome...it's always been elevated at the doctors. I get my self so worked up going in there.  But i have had some elevation at home also which is the part that scares me. I'm afraid the spikes are doing damage to the baby.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

With my 3rd pregnancy I was so swollen in my legs that most of my jeans didn't fit.  I could gently lay my hand on my thigh for a few seconds and when I moved it I had a perfect indent of my hand.  If you are on your feet most of the day, it stands to reason that you are going to have a good amount of swelling in your lower extremities. It also sounds like from your post you have BP issues sometimes anyway.  As long as your doctor is aware of what you have posted s/he will monitor any signs that may indicate Pre-E. As for white blood cell count, that could have simply been from your body trying to fight off a common cold.  Even if you work during the day you need to take a few minutes every couple of hours to relax and lift your feet, preferably some place you can lay down and elevate them above your heart, but if you can't then sittign in a chair and propping them in another chair would be good as well.  If you have to stand for prolonged periods, if possible, have a stool that you can alternate propping your foot up on.  

I had pretty bad swelling with most of my pregnancies, never really had bp issues, but did have a problem with one of them where I had a small amount of protein in my urine and had to do the 24 hour urine but I never developed pre-e.  Good luck, just make sure your doctor is informed on all your symptoms and s/he should let you know if there's anything to worry about.

[JoyRenee]

Oh wow, has your doctor seen your legs?

[BedfordGal]

No my feet aren't that bad..it's my legs..from thighs down..i can't bend my knees by the end of the day they're that swollen...i can't help but worry...i don't want anything to happen to this little guy.

[JoyRenee]

Awwww, definitely don't stress about it! That can cause your BP to go all wacky, too. Swelling is very normal in pregnancy. I was so swollen with my first daughter I could feel the fluid JIGGLING on the top of my feet; is that how bad yours is? I didn't have Pre-E or BP issues.

If your doctor was concerned about Pre-E they would take it very seriously. I'd just relax and keep those piggies elevated as much as humanly possible and drink loads of water!