Anyone had an eclamptic seizure after/during birth? What was your second pregnancy like?

[starsareshining]

I've just been reminded of my eclamptic seizure shortly after giving birth and am wondering what the risks of a second pregnancy are.

Blood pressure rose whilst in labour but midwives assumed it'd resolve itself once I'd given birth since I hadn't had any problems with blood pressure during pregnancy. I ended up having a seizure whilst breastfeeding for the first time and dropping my newborn (who was luckily caught by his dad). Woke up to find family crying around my bed because they'd been told that I may have brain damage and were also, quite needlessly and insensitively, told that I was lucky I'd already given birth or my baby would probably have died

Before I left the hospital I was told that I must consult a doctor before TTC again. They said that there is an increased risk of having pre-eclampsia next time around because of eclampsia with first child. This experience has really scared my family and I think they're dreading the day I tell them I'm pregnant again.

I've searched for information online but, because eclampsia is quite uncommon, I've been unable to find any real information about what my second pregnany might be like. Have any of you suffered with eclampsia and then delevoped pre-eclampsia the second time around? Or did you have a normal pregnancy? What is it even like to have pre-eclampsia? I was high on pain relieving drugs so don't remember anything other than laughing at my arm convulsing

There is information here

What a dreadful experience you had. I'm not surprised you're worried.

The hospital gave you the wrong information, though, about the likelihood of you having pre-eclampsia again. I had it first time round (DS1 was delivered at 34 + 4 by ECS) but my symptoms were all resolved by delivery (although I did give the hospital a scare four days after delivery when my blood pressure shot up and I developed a serious headache).

But my obstetrician told me that pre-eclampsia is a disease of first pregnancy, and it's very rare for it to recur in subsequent pregnancies. For some reason they don't understand it can recur if a woman conceives a child by a different father second time around. Having said that, DH has a colleague whose wife has had pre-eclampsia in all three of her pregnancies. (I didn't have any trouble with DS2.)

Pre-eclampsia only starts after 20 weeks, and the symptoms are protein in your urine, swelling of your body and face, extremely high blood pressure; and you know you're in trouble if you develop a headache and start seeing flashing lights. And ultrasounds will show that the baby is not growing properly - with mine DS1 continued to grow for the first four weeks that I had pre-eclampsia but then stopped, which is why he was whipped out with two days' notice; apparently the placenta degrades in pre-eclampsia so the baby doesn't get the nourishment it needs to grow, and for some reason this then leads to eclampsia in the mother.

But on balance, I don't think you need to worry about getting it again. If you are (understandably) worried, then ask your midwife to test your urine for proteins after the 20th week and ask to be referred to an obstetrician as well. And maybe consider an ELCS?

Forgot to say - one more symptom of pre-eclampsia is putting on weight extremely quickly. I put on a stone in the first seven months of my pregnancy with DS1, and then two stone in the four weeks that I had pre-eclampsia because I swelled up so much.

here

pre eclampsia

Sorry first link didn't work for some reason.
APEC is a great sire for information.

ttalloo - pre-eclampsia can occur again in subsequent pregnancies. You are 8 times more likly to develop it if you have had it before.

So I see from reading your link, mears. But it's reassuring to read that if it does recur it tends to be later in the pregnancy and milder in form.

Do you know what the NHS policy is on monitoring subsequent pregnancies of women who have had pre-eclampsia?

example of guidelines

Depending on the severity of previous pre eclampsia or eclampsia - low does aspirin may be advised. This is when it is good to have a discussion with the obstetrician prior to conception, to have a plan.

Elective CS does not prevent pre eclampsia. In some cases, women are on intravenous medication to control blood pressure and to reduce the risk of seizure and then induced. Labour often progresses very quickly. It all depends on the clinical findings at the time.

Hello, thanks for your replies. Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I went out after I'd posted.

That information was very useful. To be quite honest, I didn't feel like I was told much about it at all. I suppose it's more likely that I was told but have no memory of it. They did say something about my pregnancy being handled differently next time, possibly said something about a consultant and more checks, but I really don't know exactly what. Can you shed any light on that? Are there a lot more appointments next time? I'm imagining it all to be terrifying and full of hassle and trips to the hospital now :(

stars, I had pre-eclampsia in both pregnancies. Your experience sounds terrifying for you and your family

More trips to the hospital may be more hassle, but it will also give you more opportunities to know that you and baby are safe and well. At least if you are being monitored closely, they can take early action to respond to anything that's not quite right and nip it in the bud.