Has anyone had pre-eclampsia?

Fran - posted on 09/23/2011

I had it with my first, it sent me loopy (they even threatened to section me at one point) I ended up having an emergency section at 26 weeks and a 1lbs 6oz boy (small for 26 weeks as he had been effected by the pre-eclampsia) I am still on blood pressure medication 6 1/2 years later as it has never come back down, but I had my second son at 39 weeks a year ago and he was fine. I was told you don't tend to get pre-eclampsia after 1st time, or if you do its not a server, but my sister in law had it with her 3rd but they said it was because it had a different father. Plus I was sick throughout the first pregnancy but no where near as much with the second good luck x

Jessica - posted on 01/27/2010

I had pre eclampsia too.. Dont worry about having other children!! Every pregnancy is different. You really have to just make sure you go to all your dr appointments! My mother had it too, and missed 2 dr appointments in a row, she got so sick she couldnt see and almost went into seizures. Luckily I knew the symptoms of pre eclampsia and when my legs started swelling to the point i couldnt walk, i went to the hospital and had to have a c section at 37 weeks!!! It can be very serious if you dont catch it.. then it turns to Eclampsia.. no pre. Dont worry love, you'll be okay =]

Lisa - posted on 01/11/2010

Ashlie, thank you for your well wishes....they are greatly appreciated. I try to share my story as often as I can to spread awareness. Everyone's story is their own and it's traumatic for everyone on some level or another. Any complications during pregnancy are scary as hell for all involved. I just try to get the word out there about HELLP as much as I can and will continue to research it to be able to spread awareness.

Glynis - posted on 01/11/2010

It is interesting the theory about different partners.My first two sons were with my first husband and as stated earlier I had severe pre eclampsia with my first son.The second birth was problamatic but for different reasons.Then I married again and my first son in this marriage was stillborn at about 36 weeks.This was not due to pre eclampsia I had not gained weight throughout the pregnancy and I started having abdominal pains.I went to the midwife and she sent me home saying it was probably Braxton Hicks.The baby died later that night whilst I was at home.There was no conclusive reason for Lukes death but some clots were found behind the placenta.As I had no bleeding I was not really aware of what was happening.I had my fourth son a year later and had bleeding at 18 weeks and had to rest but he was ok.Then the next year my fifth son was born with no major problems.So the first children with each husband were affected.

Ashley=) - posted on 01/11/2010

Lisa i am so shocked after reading your post.wow.I cant believe it.You are one lucky lady.I wont complain again about what i went through you went through so much.I am so glad everything worked out well in the end and you eventually got to hold your precious little girl.Thank you for sharing your story i had never heard of that syndrome before.Wish you all the best.:)

Lisa - posted on 01/11/2010

Also, I encourage any who have had pre e during a previous pregnancy to research HELLP syndrome if you do decide to have another baby...many doctors are not even aware of HELLP and it many times goes untreated until it's too late. There is no cure for HELLP and the only way to stop it and save mom is to deliver the baby regardless of how far along they are. HELLP syndrome is an after effect of pre e.

Lisa - posted on 01/11/2010

I had pre e when I had my daughter 10 years ago. The pre e developed into HELLP syndrome and my daughter was delivered 13 weeks early. The HELLP and pre e caused my lungs, kidneys and liver to shut down and I went into a coma for 7 months. I was on a ventilator and kindey dialysis for those months as well. Then had to go through physical therapy for 3 months to learn to walk and do every day normal activities. I was not supposed to survive. My daughter had no problems other than being a premie...she weighed 2 lbs 11 oz. I did not even get to meet her until she was almost 8 months old. I cannot bring myself to try again. Most people aren't aware that pre e can develop into HELLP syndrome and be even worse. Many times with HELLP, mother and baby don't survive. When I was in the hospital, at one point, my husband was told to start making funeral arrangements.

Anona - posted on 01/11/2010

with my first, i was diagnosed with pre-eclempsia at 6 months and put on bedrest for 9 weeks until delivery. it took a while for the swelling to go down- was hospitalized again 6 weeks after. with baby #2 i was only on bedrest for a week before delivery. this time , i am 20 weeks and so far doing ok. i'm still working but have to spend my days off in bed because of swelling. i never had a problem with nausea or vomiting with any of my pregnancies. it is ok to have more children, but your dr. will monitor you more closely next time. hope this helps!

Alicia - posted on 01/11/2010

i had mild pre-eclampsia with my first born...came on at about 20 weeks and was annoying but not serious...my next pregnancy it started right away and got very serious were i had to be induced early....they say if you have it the first time your chances of having it again are raised....i ended up having a tubal ligation done after my last birth because the pre-ecplamsia got so bad...if you do decide to have another be sure you talk to you OB prior to conception so that you can have allyour bases covered..good luck

Samantha - posted on 01/11/2010

My best friend just had her baby and she had pre eclampsia but the baby was born at 2 months early, 3 lbs 1 oz but her longs were developed thankfully. She asked the doctor if this would ever happen again, and he said no as long as you dont change partners, than it is a possibility. hope this helps:)))

Robyn - posted on 01/11/2010

I had food poisoning and sepsus at 33 weeks, i was really sick, my fever was 103 at the worst of it.i had this for about a week and a half and spent 5 days in the hospital and finally got better. a few days after i was discharged i had a follow up appointment with my ob and was sent back to the hospital b/c my blood pressure was really high. i was diagnosed with preeclampsia and induced immediatley. 4 hours later my daughter was born 5lbs1oz. i was 35 weeks pregnant but some women don't get it until later, some get it earlier. it was scary but they reassured me that it wouldnt happen again the next time. i plan to have one more baby sometime in the future

Heidi - posted on 01/11/2010

I had it when I was pregnant with my first son. It was the early stages, so at 5 months I was put on bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy. Other then going to the doctors I really didn't leave my place at all. With my second pregnancy everything was totally fine. My doctor monitored me more carefully only because of my first pregnancy. So it is definitely possible to have a normal pregnancy the second time around. So if you choose to have another baby I am sure your doctor will monitor you more closely to be sure.

Heather - posted on 01/11/2010

I was pre-eclamptic with three prgnancies. Every pregnancy is different, regardless. I delivered at 37 weeks and 34 weeks. The third was a placental abruption at 6 months. My best advice is make sure everything is normal before getting pregnant again, get a monitor for yourself and keep a close eye on it, and most importantly, if you notice your pressure staying high or steadily rising, DO NOT let the doctor overlook it. That's what they did with me and I lost a little girl.

Shannon - posted on 01/11/2010

I had it with both of my pregnancies as well, even though the doctors doubted I'd have it with the second pregnancy. My oldest was born at 32 wks by emergency c-section. The doctors said I was lucky to survive with my oldest. I had lost my visine completely and was incredibly swollen. Wasn't as bad with my youngest, delivered via c-section at 36 wks. I entered the hospital with him at 32 wks on and off until I delivered him at 36 wks. My oldest is still small for his age and my youngest was born deaf and has malformed kidneys.

Sarah - posted on 01/11/2010

I had it with both pregnancies. When I was pregnant with the 2nd I just watched for the signs real close and went on bed rest when they showed up. Both kids turned out fine.

Danielle - posted on 01/11/2010

Well I think you definitely will need to look into a different ob-gyn. Toxemia/Pre-eclampsia should be taken very seriously. It's the reason why I was induced early. My son is almost 8 months old and I am 6 weeks pregnant with baby number two. I'm pretty anxious, overwhelmed, and super excited...I just really hope I don't have the complications I had in my last pregnancy because I spent a lot of time feeling worried. If it does work out that way though I feel confident my ob-gyn will take good care of baby and I like he did last time.

Sara - posted on 01/11/2010

I had it with my first child. I was undetected too. Don't know if it was bad doctors or what. But I went from and healthy pregnancy to unhealthy very fast. I found a good doctor before I was pregnant again and had a very uneventful second pregnancy. I could call this doctor at 2 in the morning and they would always call back to talk to me, not some nurse but someone that actually knew my previous problems and fears. I loved them. lol It is possible to have another pregnancy if your body is up to it. I would get the testing done and find out. Then find a really good doctor for you and baby.

Ashley=) - posted on 01/11/2010

i had undetected pre-clampsia for my second preg which caused cloths to form behind the placenta thank god i started passing cloths while in hospital for lack of my baby's movements.I was kept in for four days before this happened.during my preg i had protein twice but the gave me the all clear and i had constant pain in my tummy and a hard tummy throughout but it was all over looked.the cloths made the placenta detach and only on delivery of my baby at 40 weeks & 3days by emerge-c-section it was found out.Very serious and the signs were there but over looked i knew something was wrong.My baby girl was born healthy and needed no further care.She was 6lbs 50z and by scans from 37 wks 4weeks under growth but very healthy just tiny.I would never have another child because this experience has shaken me so bad.:)So glad to hear things turned out well for you in the end.its hard to want to have another child when you realise how quickly things can change in a pregnancy and how things can go wrong.Knocks you for six.

Karey - posted on 01/11/2010

I had severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome with my first pregnancy. They had to take the baby at 31 weeks...she was 2 lbs 9 oz and had no health problems other than being early. (She is 17 y/o now and you wouldn't have a clue she had been a preemie!) Prior to delivery, my kidneys shut down and they warned us that if it were to happen again in a subsequent pregnancy, I stood a chance of losing my kidneys altogether. There are blood tests they can run to see if there is an underlying cause for the pre-eclampsia. All mine were negative and a consult with a neonatologist prior to my next pregnancy confirmed that my risk for having it again was next to nothing. I had another baby 8 years later, carried full term and no blood pressure or pre-eclamptic symptoms or problems. It isn't the same for everyone. Consult a high-risk specialist and have the testing done. Good luck! Hope all goes well!

Katie - posted on 01/11/2010

I also had this. I had high blood pressure all through my pregnancy and went to the hospital a few times to monitor the baby and myself. I never had morning sickness or anything and my pregnancy was great up until I found out I had to have my daughter at 35 weeks. They induced me and I was in the hospital for three days. My daughter was healthy and so was I. I did have early contractions and I was swollen everywhere the last few days of my pregnancy and I did have the headaches too. I really want to have more kids and probably will in a few years! Preeclempsia is a scary thing but if monitored closely and if you really pay attention to the signs of it then it shouldn't be too horrible. Stress is also a factor so try and take yourself out of stressful situations if you choose to have another baby.

Sophie - posted on 01/11/2010

i had pre eclampsia and developed eclampisa after i gave birth naturualy after being induced. Eclampsia is a sreious after effec. It was scary as i kept telling the doctor my symptons but he kept saying i was fine. at 37 weeks i was induced after having severe headaches, protiens in my waters, high blood pressure and i blew up like a balloon. they say its from the mans sperm. when i fell pregnant for the second time with a diff dad everything went fine with no probs. try not to worry if you want to try for another one just have plenty of bed rest and buy a home blood pressure monitor. hope this helps. good luck. xxx

Jessica - posted on 01/11/2010

yeah you where lucky!!! it still scares me to have more.... plus the one i have is a hand full enough lol.... hope you have a good day though much love to you and yours!!

Kellianne - posted on 01/11/2010

I had pre eclampsia at 32 weeks... Was in and out and in and out of hospital! Then towards the end i was kept in till i had the twins! They wouldnt let me walk anywhere i was brought everywhere in a wheel chair, to keep me in my bed they strapped me to a blood pressure monitor to keep record of my blood pressure and to make sure i wouldnt get up to walk anywhere! I felt like a prisoner even going to the toilet, it was awful. I remember wakin up at 6 o clock the morning before i had the twins to the monitor beepin and 5 midwives running to my bedside i was taking straight up to the delivery suite to be enduced such a panic. But it wouldnt put me off having anymore i know its dangerous but i was really looked after by the doctors and mid wives well i was lucky that it was spotted as early as it was and i was kept monitored i was in hospital every 2 weeks for check ups and scans because i was having twins and at about 28 weeks i was in every week for check ups so i guess i was lucky

Jessica - posted on 01/11/2010

i did after my c-section.... i think it was because he was my first child and i was scared... but because of it i will not have more... because of the chance of dying....

Marcia - posted on 01/11/2010

my daughter had this. had a little girl 11 wks early...weighed 1lb 14oz. baby & mom had a hard time. both fine today tho...thank God! she wants another baby too....feels like you do......

Jo - posted on 01/11/2010

Hello, I had an awful birth with my son, i lost 4 pints of blood so had to have a transfusion, then to top it off i got pre-eclampsia 2 days after having him!! I had never heard of this as i always assumed you got pre-eclampsia during pregnancy! I would love more children, but like you i am very scared that this will happen again...my midwife did suggest (not in so many words) not to have anymore, which has put me off even more...hopefully there will be some better advice in the future!! Good luck!

Glynis - posted on 01/11/2010

Hi
I had this with my firstborn in 1975.I put on about four stone extra and was hospitalised from about five months.I was in hospital for a few weeks then discharged but went back in until he was born three weeks premature in July 75.He was quite small at four and a half pounds as he did not get sufficient nutrients due to conditiom.The good news is that I never had it again and I had another four sons over the next 17 years.I think woth some people like me it seems to be a sort of bodily reaction to pregnancy.I do know of women who have had it in subsequent pregnancies but as I say in my case never had it again.Hope this helps.
Glynis.

Michelle - posted on 01/11/2010

I had my daughter back in '97 and i had Pre-eclampsia....very scary stuff. I wasnt informed actually until i was rushed by ambulance to a hospitol 2 hours from home. We had Madison 2 weeks later in a emergency c-section. Ive never had another baby i was too scared. I also was sick 24 hours up until about the 7 month. Not a great exprience for sure.

Brenda - posted on 01/11/2010

I personaly have not had this, but I just went through this with my little sister. Her first pregnancy went off without any complications, then like yourself at 37 weeks, she started to have all of the tell tell signs of pre-eclampsia, she started retaining massive amounts of fluid, and then her B/P went way up, finally it got to the point she looked like a chipmunk swollen from fluid, and induced labor early. While the baby turned out just fine, my sister suffere with B/P problems after-wards for a while, and the fluid retention took some time to go down.

When she went for her post-natel appt. she realized how bad it was, her doctor told her if she were to try to have another child, she could die, she chose to use the Nuvo Ring for the time being, and hopes in the future, maybe with some bedrest, and future advances in medicine she might be able to have another.....