Have any of you dealt with preeclampsia on more than one of your pregancies? I had preeclampsia with my 1st pregnancy, and contemplating a 2nd pregnancy. Just wondering how subsequent pregnancies went for those of you that've had problems with the 1st pregnancy.
Hi Amy I have had it twice out of 4 pregnancies. Didnt with my first cause it was with a different father and with the 3rd I didnt and I havent a clue why. But with my first I had it postpartum but nobody told me that was what it was until I had it with my 4 and last. I had it so bad and I had such an incompitent doctor that she ignored ALL of my warning signs. I was becoming psychotic from the water on my brain. I hated life. Anyway it wasnt diagnosed until I went into the ER 4 weeks before my due date cause I thought my water might be leaking. There they did the regular urine test and it came back with high levels of protein. I was told by my awsome nurse that I was just a day or so away from seizures. I had to take anti seizure medication and 24 hours later gave birth to a completely healthy baby girl. I knew from that moment on I was done having anymore. I know it is very rough to go through so if you need any support please let me know I am here if you need me.
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.
Hi Amy,
There is a medical study going on at Univ of Miss by a Dr Doug Odom OB/GYN
He has had marvelous results by first putting all of his high risk ladies on Juice Plus ...whole food concentrates in capsules.(then added all of his patients) He talks about using them as prenatal food supplements and the benefits he has experienced in his practice.
You can find out more about Juice Plus and the medical research at www.jphealth.net/starwar.
He had a video on that site under "what the doctors are saying"
You can also listen to recorded calls by health experts on a Juice Plus Healthline 24/7...(800)942 1260
Heres to your health,
Susan
[email protected]
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!
I had a friend that had it with her first..but not her second! I would not worry to much about it unless there is a family history of it!
Hi Amy,
I had preeclampsia with my first pregnancy as well. I did not have preeclampsia with my second or third pregnancies. Hope that helps!
Good luck!
Angela
I had it with my first but not my second hope this helps!!
I had preeclamsia with my first son in 2000 and had to have a c-section because I was so swollen up. I got pregnant again and everything went normally. I was scheduled for another c-section and I went into labor 2 days early, because my dr. had jury duty that day I got to have a natural birth(vbac) which is not liked by most doctors, but since everything was completely normal I got to do it and had another beautiful son with no problems.
I haven't had it, but my best friend did. She was really severe in her first pregnancy because it caught her off guard and she and the baby nearly didn't survive, but they did make it and are both doing great! She got pregnant about a year and a half later and went full term with no complications. Good luck!
Hi Amy,
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
I has it with my first child at 18 years of age. I was put on bead rest toward the end and even enduced due to the preeclampsia. I recently has my second child (at 24) and had a text book, picture perfect pregnancy. I discussed everything with my doctor initially (after finding out we were preg.) and she said that under 20 and over 35 you are at a higher risk but if you have had it before you are also at a higher risk for having it again. I was told that every pregnancy is different and just because you have it with one does not mean you will have it with another. They will monitor you closly for signs of it but I did not experience anything with my 2nd. It really makes me consider having a 3rd in a few years :)
I am a certified childbirth educator and birth doula. The likelihood of recurrent pre-eclampsia is low in a subsequent pregnancy, although it does exist. Unfortunately, this is one of those things there's not much a mom can do to prevent. I would advise you to just make sure you eat well, keep active (you will with a toddler!) and make sure you take time for yourself, to relax, meditate, or ??? to help keep your BP down. If you are one of those moms that just gets Pre-E, then so be it. Hopefully, a second pregnancy will be much smoother! I a had client who have had horrible pre-e (had to be induced at 34 weeks) that had perfectly normal and healthy full term pregnancy the second time around. Good luck!
I had preeclampsia with my first, but not at all with my 2nd. My doctor said it is mainly a first pregnancy problem. I guess due to your body not being used to it...not sure, but anyway, I had a very good 2nd pregnancy, no issues at all.
I had it with my first but had no problems with my 2nd. Of coarse that doesn't mean that you couldn't have a problem again I wouldn't think.
Amy, 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.
Hey Amy....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!!
Meghan
Hi amy! I personally did not have to deal with preeclampsia. However, my sister and two of my friends did. They had it on their first pregnancy and the second pregnancy was fine. I think you should consult your doctor to set your mind at ease. Best of luck!
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,
Kim
Hi Amy, I guess I'm the exception! I had pre-e with all 3 pregnancies. All three turned out well.
I'm in very good shape, work out daily, have a healthy diet, healthy weight my whole life. I don't smoke and I don't drink. No pre-existing medical conditions. And my weight gain was normal during all three pregnancies.
My first pregnancy went well until my 37th week when my blood pressure shot up, swelling overnight, and I was induced the next day. Second pregnancy, same thing except it happened five weeks early. Third pregnancy things turned sour at 32 weeks. All three babies were born without complications and were healthy enough they did not require oxygen. My last baby was in NICU for about three weeks until she reached 5 lbs (she was 3'11"). I was also in the hospital for a while as my blood pressure was very high.
I'm grateful things turned out well! Like stated above, you never know but it's unlikely. Good prenatal care is a must! Talk to your doctor and things will be fine. Good luck!