Preeclampsia in previous pregnancy

[LaVitesse2022]

Had preeclampsia in very late pregnancy with my first. Now starting TTC #2. If you had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, did you do anything different when TTC the next? Any supplements beyond the recommended folic acid? I read that there's a link between low levels of calcium and risk of preeclampsia so calcium supplements might help? I know you're usually prescribed baby aspirin once pregnant but not sure if there's anything I should be doing in the meantime.

Aspirin is the only known way to prevent it in some cases. Most won’t get it a second time. Its not lifestyle related. You're higher risk if you have a high bmi and are an older mum but most obese older mums don’t get it either.

I had preeclampsia late in my first pregnancy but can’t recall doing anything different in my second. Didnt get it second time around but had other issues non related and was induced. Didn’t have aspirin either.

Had it in first, not in second. I did take aspirin but I think it’s much lower risk in second pregnancies anyway.

I had it in three!
They dont know why

Aspirin would likely be prescribed when you book. If started before 16 weeks it is shown to help prevent pre eclampsia in a subsequent pregnancy.
You're right that adequate calcium levels play a role in preventing pre eclampsia. Be wary of calcium supplements though, they're not recommended unless actually deficient as there is a risk of complications from excess ccalcium. So unless you're having your bloods monitored for calcium levels then its not advised. What you can do is take Vitamin D supplements instead. Vitamin D helps to absorb calcium and in turn has been shown to keep calcim levels normal prevent pre eclampsia. And risks associated with vitamin D supplementation are less so.

Great, thanks everyone, that's all very helpful. I won't do anything and just wait until I'm actually pregnant and go by what midwives/consultant recommend for my case. Good to know some people didn't have it second time!

Thank you, that's helpful to know. As I spend a lot of time outdoors daily and it's summer I won't start vit D supplements just yet as I assume I'll get enough from sun exposure. I didn't know about complications of excess calcium, thanks for flagging

Oh that's annoying. Hope you didn't get any complications.Was there anything you had to do duringvpregnancies to control it?

I had it twice, worse in second pregnancy where I had a late miscarriage. Also had bp issues in my third pregnancy after birth but I managed to go full term. I only had aspirin in the third pregnancy. Im
now permanently on medication. I think most people only get it once though

I’ve had it 3 times too. And I took aspirin every time!

Each time they said it won’t happen again. This was 20 years ago, so no aspirin was given then.
Each time I was monitored twice weekly from 30 weeks, and each time it happened very suddenly and I had emergency sections at 36 weeks.
After my the third it took medication and a year for my blood pressure to return to normal

I had it on my first and it was quite bad, high dependency and a long hospital stay . I had it again on my second but not as bad and not at all on my third. It's very frightening OP so I totally understand but at least on subsequent pregnancies I was prepared for it and knew the signs and was organised for hospital stays and early admission

My sister had it with both her pregnancies - no one knows why.