Pregnancy week 26 and seriously swollen leg/feet/hands

[maturin23]

Hi all,

Just getting a little panicked about my wife.

We're expecting our third child, due June 23, and she's really struggling with water retention in her lower legs, feet and hands.

She did suffer with pre-ecplamsia with our first baby which meant she had similar swellings towards the end of her term, so BP and urine/protein levels have been recently checked by the GP and seem to be just on the right side of acceptable limits.

What's concerning me is that we're only on week 25 and she can barely move her fingers and her feet and legs are hugely swollen.

With two young boys currently on Easter holiday, and me in the early stages of a business start-up there's a limit to how much time she can spend with her feet in the air.

Could she end up being brought into hospital for a sustained period? Is there anything I can do for her apart from gentle massage and giving her every opportunity to keep her feet up?

[ThunderSpook]

Not being a woman I don't really know the weeks, but our first was born mid-Feb and my wife started swelling up badly around Christmas time. Got to the point where she couldn't walk easily and was in constant pain with her hands. Had to get her some big soft boots to wear and also wrist supports. She is still finding her hands a bit sore but it's nearly all better. She has been on tablets to reduce the swelling for quite a while now, but not sure there's much they can do medically before the birth unfortunately.

[Cupramax]

I'd be asking a doctor, not on here...

[maturin23]

Cupramax - great idea, wish I'd have thought of it, perhaps you could tell me where I could find one...

I posted here to see if people were able to share similar experiences, the advice from the Doctor has just been "keep your feet up and keep an eye on your BP".

[Soovy]

Having her feet in the air was the cause of all this in the first place.

[RobM77]

Not sure if this helps or not, but my sister's due in the middle of June and over the last few weeks her feet have swollen massively. It's not uncommon. As said above though, see your GP

[ThunderSpook]

Is there where you tell her you wanted to do her up the bum but she said it'd be too painful?

Unfortunately I don't think they are willing to do much to help until after the birth so they don't risk the child.

[maturin23]

<snigger>

Now this is not a topic for levity...

[Coco H]

It's important to see a midwife or GP and keep getting that BP and protein checks done. I understand there are some blood pressure medications that can be given in pregnancy. But I have also known babies be delivered at 25 weeks as mum has severe pre-eclampsia. Unlikley but always worth keeping an eye on.
I spent several weeks on bedrest in pregnancies 2 and 3. Pregnancy 2 was 6 weeks in and out of hospital (4-5 nights a week) until delivery at 34 weeks. Pregnancy 3 - I was allowed to stay at home provided someone was with me - this was 26-32 weeks when I delivered.(not pre-eclampsia). I was lukcy that my husband could take time off work and worked at home in the last pregnancy - we had to pay to send the children to nursery/ rely on friends and family.

[maturin23]

Thanks Coco H

We've bought a home blood pressure machine (I've got rather addicted myself..) and the readings are fairly high but not rising and she's due another appointment for a urine test at the end of the week.

It's the hands that are more worrying than her legs - makes it hard for her to make my cup of tea in the morning...

She went through the Pre-eclampsia mill with baby number 1 - just hoping she doesn't have to face all that again.

[bexVN]

My friend ended up on strict bed rest for almost the last 3 months of her pregnancy due to worries of pre eclampsia and gestational diabetes (wasn't helped due to the fact that she is considerably overweight) so she was admitted to hospital.

I would say you and your wife know how she's coped in the past and the worries she's had and realistcally is she really going to be able to put her feet up enough at home with two other children around.

I would get back to the doctors for more support (or in my case it was all midwife care and they were really good) I'm not sure but it's poss she should be getting her urine checked almost daily and bp checked.

[maturin23]

A few weeks later - quick update.

Her blood pressure/protein levels have been monitored regularly since I posted originally, today they were sky high so she's been admitted into 'ossie until further notice on the basis of fairly severe pre-eclampsia

It's boy number two's first day at nursery tomorrow, so looks like it'll be me spending the morning with him to help him settle in.

Finger's crossed all will be well, just got to avoid me/the house going feral in her absence.

[bexVN]

Hope your wife is feeling a bit better, no fun at all, all the best to you all, hope things are uneventful eventually

[Coco H]

I assume your wife is around 29-30 weeks now. I just hope they manage to stave it off unitl at least 32 weeks - 34 would be better. Every day the baby stays in the better.

I hope nursery was ok.