Has anyone tried Again after Preeclampsia

Welcome to Share,

I am so glad that you posted.

My first daughter Marina was born at 28 weeks due to preeclapsia and HELLP syndrome. My second I had at 36 weeks! I got mild preeclapsia but was stable.

I have a third daughter my pregnancy with her I had no preeclampsia. So there is hope so much hope for you!

With my second pregnancy I was on blood pressure medication starting at about 24 weeks.

Feel free to ask more questions if you have them!

Kathryn

Hi Chelsea,
Like Kathryn, I had pre-e and HELLP with my first pregnancy and delivered my son at 28 weeks. My case was so severe that they thought that I was going to have a stroke.

I had my second child in May of 2007 and I made it to 36 weeks with her. I did not have pre-e or HELLP, but I had mild pregnancy induced hypertension.

Good luck and feel free to email me if you want to chat more:)
Donna

I am so glad you posted this. I had HELLP with my baby, and kind of expected some kind of issues because my sister had preeclampsia with both her kids. Right now we are dealing with the should we have another or not debate and its good to see that there are people out there that have had healthy pregnancies after HELLP.

Just wanted to let you know that there is also a yahoo group for HELLP syndrome. I don't have the link b/c I'm at work (shhh!) but if you go to yahoo groups and search for it I'm sure you can find it.

Donna

I just found this site today as I was searching some information on-line and I am glad I did. We are currently praying and discussing about trying to conceive and give birth again. Our son, Russell, just turned 2 yesterday. When we were trying to get pregnant with him we found out I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and I had to take progestrone and clomid to get pregnant with him. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at about 34 1/2 weeks. I had been having extreme swelling for almost a month by then along with other concerns, but this as when my blood pressure shot up and protine showed up in my urine, along with some of the other symptoms. After a few days on bedrest I was admitted to the hospital on a Monday to get ready to deliver him the next day. They started inducing me and then had to do an emergency C-section as Russell could not breath when I had contractions due to his lungs not being full developed. I stayed in the hospital for a week as my blood pressure was still high and Russell was in the NICU for 10 days. I had been ready to try again, with wanting to wait a few months after he turned 2 to try again. My husband has been more reluctant as he had to stand by and watch what was going on with the two of us and hearing all the facts and helping take care of us. I was so out of it at times with all the medicine I did not know nor understand all that was going on at the time. As the time has gotten closer till when we wanted to try again if we decided to do so I have gotten more fearful and unsure. I so want to have another child of our own, but have begun to fear the outcomes could not be as positive. It was great hearing that some of you had good outcomes the second and third times. This is encouraging and I will share this with my husband as we seek God's will out in the next steps for our family.

I delivered my 2nd son at 38 weeks, just 16 hours before I was set to be induced because of pre-eclampsia. I am currently 22 weeks pregnant and no signs of it returning yet but doc says I do have an increased risk for it so I try to monitor my blood pressure closely.

Hi!
 I have a son who is 5- Nathan. I was put on bed rest in my 39th week with him due to high blood pressure. I have since been on Metropol because my high blood pressure continued. My husband and I just found out I am pregnant and am about 6 weeks. I am so nervous this medicine will hurt the baby, though I spoke with my ob/gyn about it before becoming pregant. I wondered what medication you were on?
Amanda

Chelsea, here is some information on the statistics of hypertension and preeclampsia that may help you with a future pregnancy. Hypertension and preeclampsia are the leading cause of maternal death worldwide and can result in over 10,000 infant deaths in the U.S. alone. A recent medical breakthrough is helping to make these statistics a thing of the past. The MIST test is a completely non-invasive test that allows the physician to know 2 – 3 months in advance of the onset of preeclampsia. A treatment plan can then be put into place early, avoiding many of the complications of pregnancy induced hypertension, including bed-rest for the pregnancy's duration and the dangerous symptoms of preeclampsia. With the only known “cure” for preeclampsia being delivery, find out now how you can prevent that possibility. Visit http://www.misttechnologies.com/ for more information and at 16 – 22 weeks of pregnancy start asking your doctor for the MIST test.

Hi Chelsea,
I delivered a 34 weeker on June 18, 2004 due to severe Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia, my Baby Girl died at the age of 7 1/2 months due to issues related to Her prematurity.
I have since delivered Her Brother Leonidas after a completely HEALTHY pregnancy on September 6, 2007.

Hello.....so glad to find a site where I can discuss what I went through with others who can relate. I had HELLP syndrome when I was 30 weeks with my daughter Daniela. I was in a very bad state. Everyone thought that it was gastritis. I recall complaining about abdominal pain and I was going into shock. When they realized the problem at the hospital....they rushed me into the ER for a c-section.....I had blood platelets transfusions, steriods, high blood pressure (210/110)....you name it......It was the scariest moment in my life. My Daughter weighed 2 pounds and 9 1/2 onz and was in the NICU for 46 days......she had a lot of complications......God blessed me with her.....she is healthy and no complications now....I went through the same trauma.....not knowing if I should have another baby in the near future....since this could happen again...or....maybe it won't the next time......guess what.... I am pregnant with my second child.....I am already 28 weeks and feel good so far......no high blood pressure to date .....Doc. is watching me and I am trying my hardest to stay strong....sometimes I get scared and cry....I guess its normal ...but I have faith in God......He keeps me strong.....I have heard of my husband's friend who had Hellp the first time and then had 4 more without complications.....Stay strong and follow your instinct and heart.....many blessings to all

I am so thankful to read eveyones replies! I developed HELLP while on bedrest in the hospital. However, I never had elevated blood pressure. I kept complaining that one of the boys was kicking me. They did an ultrasound and found that my liver was enlarged...since I didn't have anything else, they decided to watch it. That night in my fever, sweating, magnesium state I just randomly happened to ask what my platelets where. The nurse said," oh they are great, they are in the 200's". I replied, "wow, that is great because they always high like 700's (some genetic condition)". The nurse got this look on her face and darted out of the room. A couple of hours later my doctor came in and said they were taking the babies. It was later that she told me they almost lost me. They said I had really "brisk" reflexes, my liver enzymes were off the charts, my migraines weren't going away and the platelets...yada, yada......

My doctor and I discussed #3, but she said there were no guarantees and that twins were out of the question. We did IVF to get the boys (I actually miscarried a triplet) with 2 embryos, so the risk of twins is pretty high for me. Sometimes I don't know if I should stop thinking about another one and just be thankful for my 2 beautiful miracles. Thanks for sharing your stories.

Hello Ladies!
I am in the same boat as Chelsea. I had a beautiful, healthy son 17 months ago. He is very active and keeps me on my toes but I can't help wanting another little bundle! My husband is not as in to it though:( I had pre-eclampsia, I was put on bed rest at 33.5 weeks. I spent 3 very long, boring weeks on the couch! Trips to the hospital every Monday and Thursday from then on. Then the day came at 37 weeks when they decided to keep me. After being induced, iv's full of mag sulfate, 13 hours of labor, 3.5 hours of solid pushing, and an emergency c-section, on Dec. 8 2006 my beautiful 6lb 11oz boy was here!! Healthy and prefect in every way. My husband had to go through the whole scary birth process by himself because they had to sedate me for fear of seizures. My bladder wasn't working right, my kidneys were starting to shut down, I can't blame him for being scared. He wants another but can't get over the fear of me not making it home from the hospital. I am doing as much research as I can to ease his fears, but I don't know if that is possible. If there is anything you all can share to help ease that fear, please do! I am very open to any options or possibilities to keep pre-eclampsia at bay a second time around.
Kristen

Hello, everyone: This is Pam with the education department of the March of Dimes. Here is a link to our fact sheet on high blood pressure and preeclampsia http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1222.asp

You may also want to look at the Web site of the Preeclampsia Foundation http://www.preeclampsia.org/

I hope this info answers some of your questions. Wishing you all well.