I had pre- elamsia in 2010, I am keen... - Action on Pre-ecl...

Action on Pre-eclampsia

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I had pre- elamsia in 2010, I am keen to have another child but amd so scared it will happen again.:(

snoonan profile image
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snoonan
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bp1969 profile image
bp1969

It's difficult isn't it, I had it in 2007, my daughter was prem and we both had a hard time. Then in 2010 after some deliberation we decided to try for another baby, the midwife kept a close eye on me and I was booked in for extra scans and visits to hospital. I was told I may not get pre eclampsia again, but I met all of the risk factors, so I though I would. I relaxed after the 29 week mark which was when I had Emily, got to 33 weeks and it started, this time tho, the rise in blood pressure was slower, over days and weeks, not hours like last time, and it responded to labetalol, I was in and out of hospital 4 times, stared mat leave at 29 weeks and just took it easy. At 38 weeks I felt pretty rough, bp stopped responding to the drugs and I was very swollen, having visual disturbances. So, I had a section and my second baby was bought into the world, she was fine, about 3 times the weight of my first! And we are doing well.

It was hard, I think quite a few women get it again but like me, get it later in the pregnancy and less severe, like me. I am glad I took the risk, it was hard being poorly and looking after my first little girl, but I planned for it with people to look after her. I wouldn't have another tho. Hope this helps, a story from someone who did get it twice but was ok.... Good luck xxxxx

snoonan profile image
snoonan

Hi, thanks for that. I was 35 weeks preg when my started and it was so servere, and so frighting,, and haunts me to this day to be honest it doesnt help that i am overweight and i have a bmi of 32, weather that affects it or not i dont know, I had alot of stress around the time too which could have prompted me to get it. its just so worrying at what is the best thing to do ..

benburger profile image
benburger

I had pre-eclampsia with my first and gave birth at 33 +1, with him weighing 4lb 3oz. I wanted another baby and sort advice from my consultant. I was told there would be an 85% chance it would not happen again and if so most likely to be less severe. With this advice I went ahead and like bp1969, they kept a close eye on my development. At 27/28 weeks I knew something had changed in my body, you learn to recognise symptoms much quicker the second time round. I was hospitalised for a month and my daughter was born at 32 +6 weighing 2lb 8oz. For me, the pre-eclampsia was much worse the second time round. However my children this week have both turned 7 & 4 are are both in great health. No one can predict if it will happen again and if so better or worse than before. The thing you have to remember is you know the signs and symptoms much better and the professionals will keep a better eye on you. Only you can make the decision. I don't regret mine even though it was horrendous the second time round.Time heals.

VirtuallyAllSorts profile image
VirtuallyAllSorts

Me and my husband deliberated over this very dilemma for a good while. Eventually, we both decided not to risk putting us all through the trauma again. The rationale was that I'm not getting any younger (!), our little girl is very good but demands our attention, I wouldn't want to be in and out of hospital constantly having bp checks, samples done and being prodded and poked around. To this day, if I see a bp machine arm cuff, never mind hear the velcro, it takes me right back to my week long stay in hospital and being woken up every hour for my bp to be taken... Not for us but everyone's different, as is every pregnancy.

Carol Cameleon

Please support my efforts to raise money and awareness of pre-eclampsia by following this link. Many thanks.

virtually-all-sorts.co.uk/v...

ffionsmummy profile image
ffionsmummy

Snoonan I just wanted to say - I went back to hospital for a debreif months after having had my daughter, and it was really helpful. One of the things I asked my consultant was if anything I had done had made a difference. I was very slightly overweight at my checkin appointment and quite stressed throughout pregnancy. She said there was nothing I could have done. The pre-eclampsia would have happened whether or not I was stressed or not, or a healthy weight or not.

I really think it's up to you you know best. Maybe a visit to a consultant who had your notes would help your decision? Everybody's different. My pre-eclampsia was genetic factor, my mother had it with both pregnancies and her mother died of it (way back in the 50's). Like Carol, my husband and I have decided to leave it to one child. But saying that I have heard of lots of folks having a fine pregnancy second time around. Hope you find these posts helpful and good luck with whatever you decide.

FunkyMumma profile image
FunkyMumma

I had severe P.E.T (as it was known then), and told not to have anymore children. I went on to have another 6. My experience was that if you stick with the same partner the severity reduces. If you change partners, you are highly likely to get it again. That's what happened to me. I've had it 4 times with 7 children and 3 partners. My daughter had it with twins last year. I'm surprised they haven't cracked this syndrome yet! Pigs get it and other mammals. The last thing I was told was that there are changes that happen in the placenta between 10/12wks, that don't happen if you will go on to suffer the illness. It's something to do with the immune system and it's reaction to your partners antibodies in the fetus. And I was told that 10yrs ago.

FunkyMumma profile image
FunkyMumma

The thing I hated about Pre-eclampsia is your birth plan is out of the window. You have to be induced and pulled about which is horrid. Natural labour is so much better and less painful than being hooked up to syntocinon.

hendo105 profile image
hendo105

I also had pre-eclampsia in 2010 with my third pregnancy. Unfortunately my son was born by emergency section at 26.5 weeks and only survived for a few hours. I had never had PE before and my three pregnancies were with the same father. I do suffer from high blood pressure but this had never been a problem in any of the pregnancies before. We seen the consultant a few months later who explained things to us and said if we wanted to try again we could have a pre pregnancy consultation. That was three years. Myself and my husband had a terrible time after losing our son but have got back to a better place and are stronger than ever. At the moment we have seen a new consultant to find out how our care would go if we fall pregnant again and we are happy to try again. They have said I am likely to get PE again but not so early or so severe. I only had it for 2 days in 2010 but it came on that quick.

snoonan profile image
snoonan

Thanks for all the comments, I al now pregnant with my second baby, this time a girl same partner and on aspirin. I am consultant led care. I am currently 26 weeks preg, baby growing well, all scans normal getting bp taken and urine checked every 2 weeks, and it is stayin low.I am feeling well. At 30 weeks bp will be taken every week. All going well the plan is fro vaginal delivery .. Will keep you posted :) x

rukaiyakushu profile image
rukaiyakushu in reply to snoonan

hi,we need updates of your delivery

daisyd profile image
daisyd

Morning I have Hughes syndrome, it's on here and had a lot of problems in my pregnancies. My son was born at 31 weeks weighing 1lb 14 oz. Not many people are pleased to have had a DVT

but the treatment for that saved my life.told not advisable to have any more Children so we adopted are lovely daughter when she was 2 this was 32 years ago

Good luck

Kate27 profile image
Kate27

I had pre eclampsia with my first son and he was born at 30 weeks, it was picked up at 27 weeks. I went on to get it again with my 2nd son 5 years later and he was born at a higher birth weight at 27 weeks, it was picked up at 20 weeks. My consultant told me after birth of my first son if I went on to have another pregnancy involve the consultants straight away, that way it was picked up at 20 weeks. I was on aspirin and closely monitored, went into hospital at 24 weeks but managed to hang on until 27 weeks, Recovery the 2nd time was a lot longer. My son came home on oxygen after 3 months and was on it for a year. My mum had pre-eclampsia when she carried my brothers so I guess its in my genes, My advice is it can happen again and it can happen earlier, but involve hospital as early as possible and it can be a good outcome for you and baby. Personally I think because I had it once, my care was 100 times better the 2nd time and only for that I would not be here. Long term effects are that I still have high BP but nothing like I had in pregnancy. Thankfully I have my two boys now 14 yrs and 9 yrs.

shazza87 profile image
shazza87

Hi im so glad I found this is so nice to hear other women have been through very similar experience x I had moderate high bp from 36 weeks but nothing of concern but I went for a growth scan at 38 weeks and 5 and the checked bp it was high and protein in urine I was immediately admitted to hospital and they induced me that night and I delivered my beautiful girl the next morning ... I really felt odd aftrr headaches that would come and go and just bad sinus pain they let me hone 3 days after I gave birth but 4 days later I was readmitted with feeling very sick and woosy while I was in hdu I had a eclampsia fit .... it was do scary I felt so scared I have just given birth to my beautiful baby and felt like what if I die!! Tgeybkept me in another week untill my bp stablised and my bloods were good x it was hard ... I had this dream of brining my baby home and starting my life with her from wrd go ... but the whole experience was very traumatic! Did any of you feel like this? Im so glad to hear you guya have went on to have another healthy baby I so would like anothet in th future but I petrified x