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.

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.

I had HELLP and preeclampsia with my first child, and was told that I would not live to see the end of the week if I didn't deliver immediately. My son was born at 33 weeks 6 days. He is a beautiful 4 year old today. I actually spent more time in the ICU recovering MYSELF than he spent in the NICU! I, too, was afraid of a second pregnancy, but got the "baby itch" again last year. I have hypertension even when not pregnant, so the doctors decided to keep an eye on me, but they never discouraged me from trying again. I got pregnant last year with twins! This had me REALLY REALLY worried! At 3 months, the doctors put me on a low dose of Labetalol, and my blood pressure was NEVER an issue through the entire twins pregnancy. Actually, my pressure was the lowest it has ever been in my life during the pregnancy. I did deliver them early, but it was due to my size (I'm 4' 11", and the doctors think that my uterus couldn't hold 2 babies any longer). My doctor assured me that every pregnancy was different, and that with a history, I'd be given the utmost care. I was watched like a hawk by my OB and a perinatology group, and that is how they found that I was going into pre-term labor because I wasn't feeling the contractions. WHATEVER you decide, know that your doctor can give you the best advice. Good luck!
~Beth

I delivered my 34 Weeks Baby Girl due to severe Preeclampsia and Eclampsia on June 18, 2004 after my midwife ignored my symptoms and complaints for weeks, I was in induced, hard, failed labor for 36 hours (33 1/2 of those hours were spent at 4 Centimeters), my blood pressure hit 220/190 before I passed out, I finally had to go in for a Cesarean just before 12am and at 12:02am Kylee Nicole came into this world, sadly She grew Her wings February 1, 2005 at 2:31am. I mustered all the bravery and strength I had in me and conceived again on December 6, 2006, and on September 6, 2007 at 11:21pm I delivered Leonidas Ronald after a completely healthy pregnancy. He will be 9 months on the 6th, and it was so worth it to take the risk of having another Baby. If you would like to read Our Story, it's under the blog 1InHeaven_1AtHome.

Reading these postings are like reliving my life about 5 months ago and words can't express how comforting it is to know that there are others out there that know exactly what my family and I went through and the feelings that continue. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 33 weeks after my blood pressure spiked. Until that point, my pregnancy was going great besides some excessive swelling that my doctors kept telling me was normal. The day I was diagnosed, my doctor said, "So, are you ready to deliver a baby today?". The thought of having a baby so early and unexpectantly was so fearful. However, I was put in the hospital and monitored very closely for 5 days. It was so strange because my doctors kept going back and forth as to whether or not I could go home. However, they kept saying that preeclampsia was so sneaky and could go from bad to worse very quickly. And it did. On the fifth day of my stay (which by the way had been the best day yet with my blood pressure levels and everything) a very sweet nurse informed me that my condition had gone into HELLP and that I would be delivering my baby that night. The plan was for me to be induced which changed when my blood platelet levels were dropping quickly. So, I was given an emergency C-section delivering a beautiful baby boy weighing 5lbs. 2oz. He came out breathing on his own and luckily did not have to go to NICU. He is now 4 months old and doing wonderfully. I don't why but lately I have been having overwhelming feelings about whether we are going to be able to have anymore or not. It's so encouraging to read that so many had other normal pregnancies after preeclampsia which gives me a newfound hope. I guess my greatest fear is that if I get pregnant again and things don't go as well as they did the first time that my precious little boy would have to live without a mother. I feel like my son would rather have a mother than a brother or sister. But, I still can't shake the feeling of having another.

Hey Chelsea! My name is Heather and I am 24 years old. My daughter, Bailey Alyse, was born on January 4, 2008 at 33 weeks weighing 4lbs 12oz and inches long due to preeclampsia. I had an emergency c-section after staying in the hospital for 2 weeks off and on. She was only on oxygen for about 17 hours and only in the hospital for 7 days, no NICU!! When we brought her home she weighed 4lbs 4oz. She's now 5 1/2 months old (almost), weighs over 11lbs, over 24 inches long, and extremely healthy and smart. Her pediatrician said you wouldn't even know she was a preemie except for her size! My husband and I have been talking about having another baby, but I, like you, am so scared to go through it all. I read tons of great things about others who had a baby after having pre-e and their pregnancy was fine...but then I read one not so good story, and it scares me all over again. My husband wants another baby, and I do as well, but right now I'm leaning more towards my daughter having a mother that will always be there for her, opposed to having a brother or a sister and not a mother. I'm just scared, but hopefully after talking to my OB and my family physician, then I will find out more info and see where to go from there. I still take bp meds because my bp stayed high after I had my daughter. There's a website that I am on, not sure if you are, but there is a group for preeclampsia survivors and it helps me out SO much!!! The website is www.cafemom.com Hope to see you there and take care! Peace!!

Hi everyone, my name is Alison and I have a 3 year old little girl named Emma. She was born at 26 weeks and weight 1lb 7oz. She spent 8 weeks in the nicu and is now perfectly healthy. I know what a miracle I have been blessed with. I knew that I wanted to have more than one baby and now the baby itch is very strong. I have done some research on having preeclampsia again and from what I have found there is about a 25% chance. It scares me but I would do it all over again to have what I have with my daughter. The only problem is that my husband is so afraid of something happening again that he won't really even discuss it with me. I have tried sharing the statistics with him but he just keeps focusing on what could happen. Have any of you had issues with this and do you have any suggestions on how to help my husband and I work through it. I just really want to give my daughter a little brother or sister. My husband and I both have siblings and it is very important to me that our daughter has that experience.

Thanks for listening,
Alison