Upsetting appointment with a midwife

@maximax8 (31055)
United Kingdom
April 25, 2007 1:41pm CST
Yesterday I had an appointment with a midwife. She said I have protein in my urine. She sent it to hospital for testing. The result is that I don't have a urine infection. I have been told I have to go to hospital tomorrow for a 24 hour collection of my urine to see how much protein I am making. They also want to monitor my baby on machine for half an hour. They worry that I might have pre-eclampsia! I feel very worried about this.
4 people like this
5 responses
25 Apr 07
Although pre-eclampsia can be potentially serious it is also a very commen condition and something hospitals are very used to dealing with. I think that it is good that they have picked up on this and are going to help you deal with it. My mum had pre-eclampsia when she was pregnant with me 33 years ago and was perfectly fine after having us, and things have moved on a lot in that time. Try to relax and realise that the doctors do know what they are doing, and any extra stress you put on yourself will make the pre-eclampsia worse.
1 person likes this
• Canada
25 Apr 07
I understand your fear but chances are everything will be alright . Even if you develop pre-eclampsia there are still ways to ensure the safety of your baby . I had this with my first child and although iti did not make things easy , I followed all what the doctors told me to do and she ended up being a beautiful baby girl with no problems at all . In pregnancy we worry about all that can go wrong instead of enjoying this experience that really only lasts for such a short period of time , I believe this is partly from the hormones that run though our body at this time . Try not to worry and just try to remember that there are so many things they can do today to ensure a safe delivery for your baby even if something goes wrong . Many woman have protein in their urine and will be told to eat differently but this does not say for sure there will be anything wrong . Try not to worry too much as you will soon hold your beautiful baby in your arms . Best of luck and just try to take things easier the doctors will be sure to let you know if there is a bigger problem but many woman do end up with protein in their urine and it ends up being easy to clear up . Take Care and congratulation on the baby you will soon have to love very much :)
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
29 Apr 07
How far along are you? Do you have any other signs or symptoms of pre-e? How's your diet, blood pressure, general stress level and iron level? Aside from following your midwife & doctors suggestions also consider- taking a good look at your diet and making changes where appropriate. You want to make sure you're getting enough protein, drinking lots of fresh water and salting your food to taste. Lots of people are under the mistaken idea that you should avoid salt in pregnancy- like almost everything else your need for salt goes up in pregnancy because of the changes in your blood volume.That's not to say salt everything, just follow your taste buds & give that salt cellar a shake if you think your food needs it. Get plenty of rest & listen to your body. If there are stressful situations in your life, do what you can to address them or remove them from your life. If you have other children, you may want to ask your family & friends to pitch in & give you a hand when you need it. If you work in a stressful environment consider taking your maternity leave early, cutting back your hours or making your supervisor aware of your health concerns & cutting back on your responsibilities. When you feel up to it, spend time moving- slow paced walks, pregnancy yoga, & swimming are all gentle activities that most expecting moms can engage in; of course ask your doctor or midwife's opinion. I understand just the suggestion that something could be wrong, brings on it's own stress; but do what you can to relax. If this is the only sign of pre-e you're having, it's very likely that they will find whatever is going on & address it before it becomes a bigger problem. Best of luck :)
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
27 Apr 07
Dear Maximax, I had preeclampsia with my second child. These are the symptoms: Edema (swelling of the hands and face present upon arising) Weight gain In excess of 2 pounds per week Of sudden onset, over 1 to 2 days Headaches Note: Some swelling of the feet and ankles is considered normal with pregnancy. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: Decreased urine output Nausea and vomiting Facial swelling High blood pressure Agitation Vision changes (flashing lights in the eyes) Abdominal pain The symptoms I had were no weight gain, and the virtually overnight I gained eight pounds in water weight, my hands got very swoolen, I developed sudden heart burn, and a pain in my back. The doctors took it very seriously, especially asmy blood pressure shot up as well. I was given a home pressure kit to monitor myself twice a day, put on bed rest, and had to check in with the preeclampsia unit by phone everyday. I don't know in your country how they will handle it but there are methods to make things go as smoothly during pregnancy, and childbirth, as possible. I read that they think your baby may have spinal bifida, so it is doubly important you look after yourself, too, right now as it is a very serious condition.
• United States
26 Apr 07
trust me i know how you feel, i had high blood pressure during my pregnancy so they had me do the exact same thing 2 times well the first time they say i didn't pee enough and so i had to do it the second time, believe me i was just as worried but usually it comes out to be ok its just a precautionary the doctors take so hang in there and god bless