

Do I phone an ambulance?

(57 Posts)
sweetiepie1979 Wed 10-Jul-13 18:22:12

Awh for goodness sake. I'm 26 weeks pregnant. Phoned doctors at 5.30 to ask could I call in before 6 to get blood pressure checked. Doctor took call and said describe symptoms. I have headache face pressure and a sort of uncomfortable ness in chest like its hard to take big deep breath. I can breathe though. Presumed that was just big bump getting higher, Doctor said she would see me but send me to hospital so I'd be as well phoning an ambulance. I just wanted my blood pressure checked. now at home wondering if I should phone an ambulance. I'd feel a bit silly really doing that. At home alone with toddler anyway. No one to look after her.

5madthings Wed 10-Jul-13 18:23:16

Take a taxi to hospital and get checked out.

FairyThunderthighs Wed 10-Jul-13 18:23:49

I felt like that when I was going into labour, before my waters went. Sorry. Is there nobody at all to look after dd?

SallyCinnamon1 Wed 10-Jul-13 18:24:27

Well, do you have anyone who could drive you, you could always take a taxi - I would try and contact someone to have dd, or come with you to look after her.

If you have no one then take her along. Ambulance is fine if you've no one to drive you there and taxi is too dear.

I hope you are Ok, could be pre eclampsia, so do what Dr says xxx

RobotBananas Wed 10-Jul-13 18:25:37

You definitely need your BP checking - is there anybody that can take your toddler so you can get to hospital? They'll want to check your urine too.

When this happened to me they told me to go straight to the hospital, but as long as you can get there fairly quickly you don't need to call an ambulance.

if dr says go to hospital then you have to go to hospital, take dd with you if you need to, I hope everything is ok. x

RobotBananas Wed 10-Jul-13 18:26:47

Meant to add - if ambulance is your only option then of course do that.

They'll advise when you ring anyway

TwasBrillig Wed 10-Jul-13 18:30:37

Taxi definitely. Unless its incredibly urgent you have on board medical equipment as they will just leave you in a and e anyway.

Alternatively call your labour ward and ask if they want to see you, warn them you have a toddler and catch a taxi direct.

RobotBananas Wed 10-Jul-13 18:32:19

Good idea to ring the ward, but tell them your doctor has advised you to come in, and ask them if they think it warrants an ambulance

sweetiepie1979 Wed 10-Jul-13 18:50:17

But surely Im fine? I'll look up per eclampsia...

dont look up anything of the sort <stern talking to> just go and get checked out then if everything is fine come home and sleep, google is bad.

FairyThunderthighs Wed 10-Jul-13 18:53:56

You might well be fine but it's best to get checked out just in case smile

RobotBananas Wed 10-Jul-13 19:15:18

OP - you may well be fine, but you MUST go to the hospital and get your BP and urine checked. Sooner the better.

Just ring the ward and see what they say.

MojitoMagnet Wed 10-Jul-13 19:21:54

Yes go to hosp - take the toddler with you if necessary. Yes it will be a massive pain especially if everything is fine, but if everything is NOT fine you could be taking a huge risk by not going in.

Hope you are well soon.

Pre-eclampsia is a rare but very serious condition which has its first symptoms including high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure at this stage in pregnancy you need to be seen immediately by a medical professional. Don't panic or anything, it's more likely that you are fine, but don't take the risk of assuming it will go away.

Roshbegosh Wed 10-Jul-13 19:24:28

It may not be helpful right now but perhaps buying a BP monitor from Superdrug would be good. They don't cost much, are easy to use and a good thing to have at home anyway IMO.

maja00 Wed 10-Jul-13 19:26:33

If a doctor tells you to go to hospital, then go to hospital!

nona2706 Wed 10-Jul-13 19:28:00

Go to hospital and get checked.i had headaches n pressure in my chest and ended up going in to get checked out and had pre-eclampsia. I thought i was fine.

BettyBi0 Wed 10-Jul-13 19:28:34

Definitely get it checked out especially if you are having any difficulty breathing. Just ring your local midwife helpline number and they will tell you where is best to go. Probably just get a taxi to your local walk-in clinic at A&E.

Maybe in the future also get a home blood pressure monitor. You can get them for around £15 from Lloyds Pharmacy or Amazon and they can be really handy for following your own general trend. You can bring it with you to a midwife/GP appointment to double check the reading is consistent with theirs and that you are using it correctly.

HandMini Wed 10-Jul-13 19:29:04

Stop fannying around and go to hospital. Googling pre-eclampsia will get you, er, nowhere. And take a taxi if possible.

OrangeJuiceSandwich Wed 10-Jul-13 19:33:05

I would just take a taxi tbh. Unless your life is in imminent danger I don't think an ambulance is really necessary.

The doctor said go to hospital, so please go, taking your toddler if you have to. Don't feel silly at all about following the doctor's advice or asking a friend or neighbour to look after your toddler while you get checked. As you say, most likely all is fine, but the doctor said you need to be checked at hospital. Hope you are on your way now, take care.

Convert Wed 10-Jul-13 19:33:22

You need to be seen. Get a taxi or someone to take you if at all possible but don't leave it. I had headaches and pressure feeling, I ignored it and ended up with emergency c section. All was fine but make sure you go. Hope everything is ok x

RobotBananas Wed 10-Jul-13 19:41:19

OP please don't ignore everybody here - I've been where you are, GP sent me straight to the hospital, its really really important.

Don't let this run into one of those threads that goes for pages and pages. Going go the hospital is absolutely not an over reaction in this situation and is entirely appropriate.

Ring the bloody ward at least!

Go to the hospital ASAP. Please.

ImaHexGirl Wed 10-Jul-13 20:17:59

Please go. Even if you don't think it warrants an ambulance get a taxi. The heat may well be the cause but please don't take any chances. I'm sure all will be well but please put your mind at rest. No one at the hospital will think you're wasting their time. Will be thinking of you.

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