'A really bad headache can mean pre-eclampsia'

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When I was 27 weeks pregnant with my first child, Jacob, who's now 7, I went for a routine appointment with my midwife. She found my blood pressure was sky high and sent me straight to hospital.

The doctors there immediately diagnosed pre-eclampsia and said they'd have to deliver my baby straightaway by Caesarean. Apart from having some really bad headaches, I'd had no idea anything was wrong. It was really scary.

Pre-eclampsia is where the placenta stops working properly so the baby doesn't get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. The main symptoms for the mum are high blood pressure and splitting headaches. Jacob was born weighing just 1lb 9oz. It turned out he'd stopped growing at 25 weeks but luckily he was ok.

When I got pregnant again, I was closely monitored but sure enough, I had pre-eclampsia again. My son Joe, now 5, was born at 30 weeks weighing 2lb 5oz.

By the time I got pregnant a third time, I knew what to expect. My friend gave me a blood pressure monitor so I could keep an eye on it myself and my doctor gave me some protein sticks to wee on at home as protein in your urine is another sign of pre-eclampsia. I managed to last until 36 weeks with my daughter Talitha (CORR) and she weighed 6lb 6oz when she was born.

Doctors don't really know what causes pre-eclampsia but it's quite common so I'd advise pregnant women to go to all their midwives appointments, even just the check-ups. If you're feeling flushed or have a terrible headache, go and see someone straightaway. If ignored, pre-eclampsia can be dangerous to both mum and baby.
Vicki Melville-Reed, 33, a mum of three from Hove, East Sussex

* For more help and information, visit www.pre-eclampsia.co.uk or check out the informatin on pre-eclampsia in our Health section.

By Vicki Melville-Reed

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