Pre-eclampsia - likely to happen again 2nd time? Should I ask for planned induction??

[Jupiter118]

Had PE with first pregnancy - BP started going up at 28 weeks, v swollen ankles etc and lots of monitoring. Protein discovered at 37+ weeks induced (successfully) at 38 weeks. BP wouldn't go down after birth (or ankle/leg swelling) and ended up readmitted to have beta blockers at day 4 and had to stay for further 3 days. So....

Is it going to happen again?
How much monitoring will I get/ should I ask for?
Is there anything I could do to minimise the risk?
should I be asking for a planned induction?

Am currently 20 weeks - scan this week and consultants appointment. So far no additional monitoring as GP neglected to write about history on referral letter to hospital.

Any experiences of others in the same situation v welcome.

Thank you!!!!

Not had first hand experience of this but I just wanted to share a friend's experience. She had pre-eclampsia with her first who was born at 33 weeks by EMCS. She was monitored with DC2 but had a VBAC with no problems at 39 weeks, didn't develop pre-eclampsia again. She has since gone on to have DC3 and DC4 with no problems. I know she had closer monitoring during her pregnancies due to the previous pre-eclampsia but luckily she didn't have it again.
Good luck

Hi Jupiter, I had pre-eclampsia in my first pregnancy and my second pregnancy was fine. They treated the second pregnancy as though it was my first, so lots of midwife appointments. I also had extra scans at 28 and 35 weeks, to check the placenta and the baby's growth. From conception I was taking baby asprin until about 37 weeks or so.

I was really worried through out the whole preganacy (I had severe pre-eclampsia, which went undiagnosed until it was critical) and was kind of expecting it to happen again) but it was all good, second time round! Good luck, hope it all goes well for you too!

FWIW, my mum had pre-eclampsia with me, her first, leading to my induction 5 weeks early. She went on to have her second, my sister, with no PE problems - in fact she had to be induced at 5 weeks overdue (this was the olden days, I know they wouldn't let you go that long now!)

Hi I had severe PE in my first pg (twins) from about 30 weeks babies delivered at 33+6 am now 33+3 with dc3. Have been taking aspirin everyday since 12 weeks and been monitored by mw every 2 weeks for bp and urine. I had an extra scan at 32 weeks to check placenta function etc, but so far so good. Apparently 36 weeks is the next point it could kick in, but the chances of developing it again are about 15% I believe. Hoping for a vbac and a baby with a rocket shaped head hth xx

I had a similar experience to you in my first pregnancy - BP got generally higher from about 30 weeks and from 35 to 38 weeks I was in and out of hospital. They were going to induce me at 38+3 but waters broke naturally at 38+2 and DS was born at 38+3 on his own.

With DD I was a bit concerned about whether the same thing would happen again, but the only time I had high blood pressure was the day before she was born. She came at 40+4 and those last two weeks felt very long

I had PE with my first, was closely monitored from about 35 weeks and delivered at 36+6. Second pregancy I was under a consultant as well as my midwife, so lots of appointments, tests, scans etc. I was induced the second time, but I had other factors, and my BP had only just started to increase when I delivered at 38+2.

A friend of mine had PE with her second pg, but not 1st and 3rd.

I think it's best to just wait and see. You may well have no symptoms whatsoever, but they will certainly be keeping a close eye on you (I would hope)

Best wishes!

Hi jupiter (my an buddie )
you wouldn't have had any additional monitoring anyway so far because pre-eclampsia only occurs past 20 weeks, The earlist I have seen is 26 weeks.

It doesn't mean you will get it again different studies have shown different reaccurance rates- A good authority on pre eclampsia knowledge has quoted a 1 in 20 risk.

As for monitoring you will get to see the consultant anf they and mws will decide on any extra monitoring as different hopsital do thiongs differently though I'm sure you want extra bp and urine checks they will accomodate you. (if not you can do these yourself)

as for minimising the risk- Again no proof that you can do anything, though keeping weight gain under control and eating a balenced diet can help.
some consultants start women on aspirin 75mg in early pregnancy as this is thought to reduce the risk (ask consultant about this)

I wouldn't ask for a planned induction if everything is going well.

I hope this helps and make sure you ask cons lots of questions write them down because i always forget what to ask!

here is a leaflet from APEC-Action on pre eclampsia
www.apec.org.uk/translations/afterpreeclampsia.pdf

also their main website though mainly aimed at health professtional has some excellenct info and contains their own guidelines but please note the hospital does not have to follow these but apec research has shown there are the gold standard for monitoring for pre eclampsia.
www.apec.org.uk/

Thank you all - much appreciated. Jx