"Feel let down"

I saw my GP (I live in Eastbourne) & was sent to the Conquest as an emergancy due to having symptoms of preeclampsia. I didn't see a Dr for 6 hours and even though I arrived at the hospital at approx. 4pm I wasn't admitted till around 11pm. My blood pressure was high and I was told by a midwife it was going to be checked every hour, but that never happened & I was also told I'd be given some anti-vomiting meds as I was vomiting bile with traces of blood, but that didn't happen till near midnight. I was discharged the following day with a UTI and told that as my gestation was 24 weeks I didn't have preeclampsia .Three days later I was back as maternity triage sent me there due to symptoms of preeclampsia. The midwife onot the day assessment unit was really nice and although I didn't see a Dr for four hours they kept chasing them until one came. The Dr then admitted me but while the doctor was doing the forms I heard another Dr tell them that I probably hadn't slept well and that was why my BP was high and I didn't need to be admitted; luckily for me the doctor didn't listen. Over that night they kept taking my BP and then started giving me tablets but no one told me why.

The next day the midwife who took over was very understanding and explained to me what was happening, and when the Dr came round they did some tests and then told me I had preeclampsia. The midwife was wonderful and explained what that meant. From there things happened really quickly-I was transferred to the Labour ward and the consultant told me I needed to be transferred to a hospital with neonatal provision as my baby would need to be delivered. I was 25 weeks and told that preeclempsia that starts that early gets worse quickly. I was given a steroid injections, which really did help my little boy's lungs and I was put on a drip to control my BP. I had a catheter put in, but it wasn't put in far enough and caused me pain and discomfort until it was redone in Brighton. I also asked about certain symptoms that started once I was put on the drip and was told it was "hot" when I have since found out that the symptoms were side effects from the drip. Once in Brighton I was also told I didn't have a UTI and the protein was due to preeclampsia. Within 2 and a half days I needed an emergancy c-section and my baby is in the TMBU.

If I hadnt been persistent about my symptoms and had just accepted the diagnosis of a UTI then this could be in a very different story. I have since been told that although preeclampsia is uncommon before 30 weeks gestation it is not unheard of.