did you see a consultant before ttc after pre eclampsia

[baddyfreckleface]

I went to see dr today as we are thinking or ttc after Dd1. She was born by emergency c section at 37 weeks due to pre eclampsia (picked up around 35weeeks).
The dr gave me general advice based on what i remember from Dd1's birth etc (not much tbh).
He said he was prepared to refer me to a consultant to discuss things but that he didnt think it necessary. He felt i "probably had a little bit of pre eclampsia" but that as long as I was not told by the last hospital to not have any more children, then I didnt need any extra scans, checks etc.

I honestly dont know if i am being a bit of a worrier (often am). I dont want to waste a consultants time or look silly if i did only have "a bit of pre eclamsia" - i dont know to what extent i had it. I dont recall feeling ill very much from Dd1, but my husband says i was out of it at the time (he can be a worrier too though!)

would love to know what others in similar positions have done wrt seeing a consultant before ttc. am i being ott to consider it?

No, I don't think you'd be bothering them at all - I think it's a legitimate concern. I have the same story as you and it's only now (son is 3 months old) that I'm beginning to understand the gravity of the situation e.g., that my kidneys were actually shutting down! :( Also my baby was in SCBU for 3 days... but like you - I was absolutely out of it and not really taking anything in.

I spoke to my consultant at the 6 week check-up and asked about the implications for a future pregnancy. She said that I was at a lower risk next time although I think they (and me!) will be looking for it more. The only thing I was told really wrt ttc was that I should give me uterus a full 6 months to heal before ttc (emcs).

I think if you want to speak to a consultant then it's perfectly reasonable - pregnancy does bring fears especially if you've been through what we have! You may well be referred to a consultant early in your pregnancy anyway due to the emcs and the pre-eclampsia - maybe you'll be classified as a "high risk" pregnancy simply because of how it ended last time. What about speaking to your GP first and asking what the normal scenario is? E.g., will you (if you want!) receive consultant-led care for a subsequent pregnancy?

For me, for my next one I'm quite happy to have consultant-led care and I want an elcs.

It happened to my friend in her frist pregnancy, although hers was mild, she was only a few days off 37 weeks, they induced her and she and baby were fine.

She wasn't referred to a consultant with her next one.

I had pre-eclampsia with both dcs, far worse with ds2. Never occurred to me to see a consultant before ttcing no2 tbh. I was under consultant led care from the start with ds2 because I was considered a higher risk pregnancy, but that just meant a few extra hospital check-ups in practice.

I had severe PE with my DTD's who had to be delivered at 33+6 as I was going into kidney failure. This time when I got pg (by happy accident!) I was then referred to a consultant (who, after 5 appointments I still haven't actually seen yet!) I see the midwife every 2 weeks for BP and urine checks until 32 weeks when it will be every week. I am on a low dose of daily aspirin. I also have an extra scan at 32 weeks to check placenta function. So far all is well and I am nearly 29 weeks. At my first consultant appt the registrar told me the chances of having PE again are about 15%, so am keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't happen again. HTH

goodlifemummy - i will cross my fingers for you too
alpinepony - thanks, i think its almost more scary after the time,when you have had time to read up on the internet about what could have happened

i think if it was just down to me, i would just go for it. However my husband is very worried about it happening again, and the fact that we now have our Dd depending on us. It also put him off that the Dr said the chances of it happening again was 1 in 4.

ah well, more thinking to be done I suppose!

I delivered dd1 at 31 weeks after early pre-eclampsia and Hellp syndrome which meant my kidneys failed and all my bloods went into reverse. So I wnt for pre-pregnancy counselling with a consultant who I got from APEC (Action on Pre-Eclampsia). She was brilliant and gave me a plan, including taking high dose of Vit C and E and baby aspirin, which I took to my local hospital and they followed it to the letter... I got to 36 weeks with the next baby and we decided to deliver. The third baby (yes, I know, crazy, or so my mother thought!), I had moved and I was within the catchment area fot Prof. Shennen at St Thomas' in London who, in my opinion, is Mr Pre-Eclampsia. We managed to get to 38 weeks with only one week in for a bit of a scare at 35 weeks.....

The most important thing is to get your GP to give you urine test sticks so you can check yourself and if your proteins start to go up, get yourself in!!!!

I didn't swell up with any of mine - I had dry pre-eclampsia, where I lost weight rapidly at the end. Normally much appreciated but not when you are pregnant.

Generally, if you have had mild pre-eclampsia, it tends to get better less of a worry with each pregnancy. It was only because my first was so early and severe that they reckoned I would be a risk.

Good Luck - all mine are lovely now, 13, 9 and 5 and no side effects....