pre-eclampsia with firt baby -nervous!!

[Boo100]

Has anyone else had pre eclampsia? I suffered with it and my son was delivered by emergency c-sec 3 weeks early. He's a beautiful, strapping 16 month toddler now despite his early start. I would really love another baby but am very nervous about the whole experience repeating itself. He also had bad colic and the first 3 months were a sleep deprived nightmare! The consultant said that as long as I keep the same partner - which I have!- there is no reason it should occur again.

I suppose I just wanted some encouragement and words of wisdom! Please let me know if you have had a similar experience and how you dealt with it.

Thanks!

FWW, my midwife told me that it's much more common with first babies than second babies. But my mother had pre-eclampsia when having me (her second child). You might want to research this. However, I imagine that they would watch you very carefully the second time, to catch it before it develops. Good luck!

Same happened with me. Make sure the midwives understand your worry - make a real pain of yourself seriously - it doens't matter - but you need to feel safe and confident. Make them do wee tests every other week if it makes you feel better.

www.apec.org.uk this is the action for pre-eclampsia website. I phoned them and they were great - really put my mind at rest.

hi i had pre eclampsia with dd1 which was detected with high protien in my urine (although they didnt tell me it meant pre eclampsia until i saw the midwife with 2nd pregnancy but anyway i was closely monitered through my 2nd pregnancy and i didnt have it i went on to have a vag delivery 10 days late as they cant induce you once you have had a c section due to the contractions being stronger and risk of rupturing the scar tissue. but having said that if there was a medical reason then they can induce you just means you will be even more monitored through labour. oldiemum is right though it is more common in the 1st pregnancy than 2nd.

Thanks. Same here- the "pre eclampsia" was never mentioned either. I always knew that there were problems but I wish they woul;d be more up front abot it. I'm going to talk to my Gp. Thanks very much, I'll go on the web site now.
xx

pre eclampsia is a discease of the placenta not the mother. was at risk of it due to other health probs and got weekly bp check. never developed it!

I had it with first pregnancy and was very worried with second one but was very closely monitored and did not have any of the problems I'd had with the first one. I was also told it was very rare to have it twice.

Boo100 do a quick serch on MN for pre-eclampsia. Lots of us have had it. I had it at 27 weeks and delivered a v prem baby. 2 Years later I had a baby on the due date without a problem. It can happen 2nd time around but is less likely, I was given vitamin therapy for my 2nd pg, but I had it V Bad, V early.

Good luck

Boo100 I had it with my first and only DD. I knew something was wrong in my pregnancy because of the weight I was piling on so quickly and all the swelling but nobody took it seriously until I got to 37 weeks and had a banging headache and protein in urine etc. I had to be induced at 37 weeks but managed to have a normal delivery to a healthy 8lb 3oz girl. The phrase pre-eclampsia was not even mentioned to me until after the birth. My dd was exactly the same as your son, she had terrible colic and would not settle to sleep properly until she was at least 6 months old. Unfortunately I never fell pregnant again but if I had have done I would have made sure that I was monitored more thoroughly throughout. Apparently they do say that its more common in first pregnancies so it may not even happen to you again if you were to become pregnant again. A friend of mine had pre-eclampsia with her first pregnancy, then went on to have 3 more children without any problem. All I could say is just see how it goes and try not to let the first experience worry you too much. I think you'll find that they would monitor you quite closely considering your experience the first time round. Take care, Louise.

Boo100, I had pre-eclampsia with first - delivered by emergency c-section at 32 weeks. He was a strong baby and grew exceptionally well with none of the problems you experienced with yours. I have since had 2 others and NO pre-eclamspsia. Seems to me you have two issues bothering you - pre-eclampsia and baby days. The thing about each is they are both very individual and not necessarily related! The Drs are great a predicting the likelyhood of recurring pre-eclampsia, and will monitor you according to the circumstances of your pre-eclampsia last time. But as they will tell you, if it does recur, it is almost always later and milder. You were term at 37 weeks so there isn't much later for you really! Colic and sleep deprivation happen in kids unfortunately, but I don;t think they are related - you were probably just unlucky and have earn't your brownie points for the next one! If you want more babies you should trust your body to do what it is made to do, trust the Drs to look after you, and trust yourself that your are a good enough mum having done it all once to do it all again. The baby days don't last long and what your are left with is another little person that you brought into this world! Good luck!

I had pre-eclampsia with my second child. It's not just about being more common with the first child - as your consultant seems to be aware (not many are) it actually means the first child with a different partner.

Subsequently had DS with same partner and had the best pregnancy (and birth) ever.
Your GP will keep a closer eye on things

i had pre eclampsia, i have a new partner now so does that mean im at risk of getting it again?

Apparently it is more common not just in first babies, but in first babies with a new partner. Speak to your GP. I did before going ahead with DS (3rd child - 2nd with DH). That was when I found out that it is not as simple as just first child, it's the partner that counts. They simply said that because DS was the 2nd child with DH, the risk of getting it again was reduced even though I had already had pre-eclampsia once and they kept a closer eye on my pregnancy. Not sure if that makes much sense.