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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

are there any long term effects of pre-eclampsia?

13 replies

deaconblue · 25/04/2008 10:25

Dh's friend's wife gave birth by emcs on Monday a month early due to pre-eclampsia. Dh has phoned but typically didn't ask any useful q's and I don't want to disturb the hubby again. Apparently she and baby are having tests and observations. I thought pre-eclampsia was just dangerous for the mother and only until the baby was born. Could our friend and her baby have resulting problems?

OP posts:

Original poster

deaconblue · 25/04/2008 12:24

bump

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EffiePerine · 25/04/2008 12:27

I assume the baby is being monitored as early? I can;t remember the typical hospital stay for CS, but presumablyy at least 3 days (plus she would prob stay with her baby anyway)

Original poster

deaconblue · 25/04/2008 12:30

It was the tests that worried me. Couldn't think what they might be testing for? Does it damage your liver or something? Yes, I guess he will need monitoring as she was only 36 weeks when he was delivered

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EffiePerine · 25/04/2008 12:46

It may just be the trauma of an emergency CS plus blood pressure monitoring - try not to worry! If I'd had an ECS at 30 weeks I'd bloody well expect to be monitored for a few days

imaginewittynamehere · 25/04/2008 13:32

After pre-eclampsia it takes a while for blood pressure to stabalise again - I was in hospital for 10 days & under gp care for 6 months. The hopital also worry about organ failure/impairment - they were particularly worried about my kidneys.

As pre-eclampsia affects the placenta they also need to be sure the baby is ok.
DD was 2 weeks early & they kept a close eye on her for a few days also (although were more worried about me tbh)

I am completely recovered now btw.

Joash · 25/04/2008 13:33

No problems afterwards - if given the all clear after a day or so.

kamsmum · 25/04/2008 13:41

It happened to me. DD was fine - they just monitor them as they are premature.

I received intensive care for a week and the midwife visited at home daily for about 3 weeks.I was on medication for quite a long time as I had suffered organ failure.
Pre-eclampsia is much more dangerous for the mother.

I am absolutely fine now. Panicked all the way through my next pregnancy but it didn't happen again.

kamsmum · 25/04/2008 13:43

DD was delivered at 32 weeks btw, and she thrived.
I am sure at 36 weeks averything will be fine!

sandcastles · 25/04/2008 13:59

Dd delievered at 36 weeks. She was perfect, just small due to IUGR because of the complications of Pre Eclampsia.

She scored 9 both times on the Apgar.

I was kept sedated [with round the clock care] for the best part of 24 hours, for my BP to fall & kept in for a week, for same reason. It didn't go back to normal for about 2 weeks after discharge. My urine took 36[ish] hours to clear of protien.

There can be complications post birth, depending on the seriousness of the complications.

Original poster

deaconblue · 25/04/2008 16:59

thanks everyone. So the tests will be to check her kidneys etc and to monitor her blood pressure. Poor thing, she was so looking forward to giving birth etc and her husband is all of a flap trying to get everything done that they hadn't sorted yet.

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madmumNika · 26/04/2008 22:36

I've had pre-eclampsia twice, and it can take a while to get better afterwards. With my first I had it badly and developed HELLP syndrome which involved my organs (liver in my case badly affected) so needed lots of care at first in HDU (first 48hrs post birth were a blur) but got out of hospital 8 days after DS was born (unfortunately he was in SCBU for 8 weeks as he was born at 30 weeks- but is fine now!). Both times I needed BP monitoring for 3 months post-birth and was on BP meds throughout this time. 2nd time round BP didn't return to normal for quite a while and it took just over 4 months for me to be allowed off BP meds. Thankfully no lasting damage to any of my organs (this is usually the case but rarely sometimes there is lasting damage). Like others have said the main risks are actually to the mum in most cases but reduced blood flow through the placenta may also have affected the baby so they'll watch the baby closely. Really hope they are doing ok it's a scary time xxx

PS. It may be worth having a look on the Action for Pre-eclampsia (APEC) forum (which is really good)- see: www.apec.org.uk/forum/

whomovedmychocolate · 29/04/2008 21:20

I sustained short term liver damage after pre-eclampsia - it took about nine months for things to really settle down.

However in future pregnancies the chance of recurrence is 4% rather than 12% in first pregnancies.

madmumNika · 30/04/2008 11:58

I think the rate of recurrence really depends on many factors. Unfortunately having had pre-eclampsia in a first pregnancy makes you more at risk than the rest of the population to develop in a subsequent pregnancy. I think early-onset (pre 30 weeks) PE is associated with a higher risk of developing it again in subsequent pregnancies BUT it usually occurs later in pregnancy and less severely... This was my experience also (developed PE at 28 weeks with baby #1, but not until 35 weeks with #2). Really recommend anyone thinking of having another baby after PE to see one of the medical experts (obstetric consultants who specialise in PE) listed on the APEC website. The consultations are free and they really help discuss what care/treatment may be suitable to lower risks of PE- low dose aspirin and close monitoring being the main ones.

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