Preeclampsia

Hey A.....I had a problem with high blood pressure at the end of my first pregnancy (2 years ago)---I had my second child 3 months ago and I had absolutely NO problems....make sure you eat 80-100 grams of Protein per day and that should help keep you low risk. Check out bradleybirth.com for more info....we had a bradley birth the second time and it was amazing!!

M.

1 mom found this helpful

I had preeclampsia with my 3rd child. I went my whole pregnancy with perfect blood pressure and the last month it went crazy. They say the cure it giving birth...well not for me! 2 weeks post partum I went into the ob's office and my pressure was through the roof and had to be admitted to the hospital (after having my daughter my pressure while I was in the hospital my pressure was fine). They never figured out why, but I developed high blood pressure after that and just when I finally got the meds right- it was very hard to control- I had a HUGE surprise and found out my 4th child was coming! While I did have to take blood pressure meds during my pregnancy, I never had ANY problems what so ever.

So my point is that there is no reason to believe you will have preeclampsia next time, you will just be watched closer for it. Most likely your ob, will do like mine and have you have one visit with a perinatologist at least once. That way if it does become an issue, you already are associated with one and their screenings are more thorough.

While you will always be at risk, there is a huge chance that you may never have preeclampsia again with any of your pregnancies.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I also had pre-e with my first. So bad I was induced at 23 weeks and lost my daughter. However we did try again and no pre-e this time, as I write this with my 4 month old in my lap. I also have a clotting problem so I was on blood thinners, but I have read several articles about preventing pre-e with baby asprin, which I was on till 36 weeks. If you want more info feel free to contact me at ____@____.com.

1 mom found this helpful

I had extreme preeclampsia with my 1st pregnancy. The whole nine yards - swelling started at 25 weeks, high blood pressure, protein, and he was early - born at 35 weeks. Exactly a month before due date. Born June 22, due July22. The very good news is that preeclampsia is usually a 1st pregnancy thing. The women who have it in subsequent pregnancies are the exeption, not the rule. I now do ultrasound in an OB/Gyn office, so I'm around it every day. Of course you will be concerned, but chances are more likely that you will not get it the second time around. I did not. My 2nd was perfectly normal. I certainly would not let that worry keep you from a 2nd wonderful little addition. If you're concerned, as your OB/Gyn. They will likely be happy to discuss your chances with you.
Good Luck and God Bless you,
K.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi A.,

I am a L&D nurse and have some comments for you. While you are at increased risk of having pre-eclampsia again b/c of the history, your doctor will most likely monitor you very closly during the pregnancy and you may be just fine. Typically, pre-eclampsia does not present until well after 20 something weeks, otherwise it is considered chronic high blood pressure. Pre-eclampsia does generally happen in the later part of pregnancy and delivery IS the cure. HOWEVER, women are still at risk of developing pre-eclampsia for 6 weeks into the post-partum period. So although delivery is the cure, it does not get you out of the danger immediately.

Hope that helps a bit. Don't stress about it. Get good pre-natal care, go to all of your appointments, and know the symptoms to watch for: sudden increase in swelling in hands, face or feet, severe headaches that are generally not relieved by Tylenol, blurred vision or spots in front of eyes, or dull achy pain constantly under your right breast area.

Have a great day and happy baby makin'......

Jaime Nguyen, RN, BSN

1 mom found this helpful

I have had pre-elcampsia twice; however I have more than one risk factor including a family history of pre-eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia is more common in first pregnancies, but having had it before does increase your risk of having it again slightly. If you do get it a second time it is usually hits later or milder than the first time.

I have found http://www.preeclampsia.org/ a good source of information and support.

Also if you are concerned about the future you could schedule a pre-conception consultation with a maternal fetal medicine specialist. http://www.smfm.org/ They should be able to give you a better run-down on the odds of PE striking again, taking into account your personal medical history.

Good luck!

ETA: My second bout of pre-eclampsia was much milder, since we were monitoring more agressively and caught the symptoms sooner. I was close to term so we went ahead and induced. It was hard being on modified bedrest towards the end of my pregnancy, but delivery was a piece of cake compared to my first. My blood pressure didn't become freakishly high, and I was able to avoid a magnesium IV.

1 mom found this helpful

A., I had preclamsia with my first pregnancy and I too was concerned about having another child. I was assured that it was rare. I have had five children and never had a preclamsia problem with any except my first one. I think you can be confident that all will be fine.

1 mom found this helpful