Has anyone had pre-eclampsia more than once

[loueytb3]

and if so, did it start earlier in subsequent pregnancies???

Had it in my 1st pg, but I had twins, so more likely anyway and it didn't start until 32wks ish. Went to Drs before TTC again and he told me that my risk of developing PE again was the same as for a first-time mum. I have seen stuff since which suggests that is wrong.

Anyway, I think it may be happening again. Had MW appt 10 days ago at 21wks, trace of protein and diastolic bp up to 83 from 60 at booking. She said it could be the early onset of PE or a urine infection. I then developed what I thought was a urine infection but the sample didn't grow any bacteria.

I've just noticed my hands are starting to puff up (I think). Not due to see MW again until 24 wks. No other symptoms apart from feeling generally very grotty and knackered (not sleeping well). I can't work out if I'm imagining my hands swelling because I'm getting paranoid about things. I don't know what they will do if it is PE this early on.

Not me personally, but my friend did. DD1 was born at 30 weeks in an emergency situation and DD2 was born at 27 weeks. With DD2 she was admitted to hospital at 25 weeks and given steroids.

She was being monitored closely with DD2 so perhaps this is why it was picked up earlier.

If you are worried call your midwife, she can repeat all the tests and make a judgement if it's PE again or not. You are more aware of the symptoms this time round too.

Hope everything is ok and good luck!

Oh and friends DDs are both perfectly healthy little girls :o

Not wanting to be nosey, but is your partner the same as for your first pregnancy? If its a different partner then the risk is the same as a first pregnancy. If he is the same one, then subsequent pregnancies have a far lower risk and if you get it you should get it later in the pregnancy.

Pregnancy 1 - Pre-eclampsia at 26 weeks, Emergency CS and DD died 1 week old.
No 2 - Onset at 31 weeks, rest of pregnancy on bedrest.
No 3 - Onset 31 weeks, DD born at 35 weeks
No 4 - Onset 37 weeks
No 5 - Onset 38 weeks

21 weeks is incredibly early for onset of pre-eclampsia, so hopefully it was the infection. It would be very unusual, but perhaps have BP checked by MW to reassure yourself. Good luck.

PositiveAttitude - Same partner both pregnancies. You've had a really rough time, losing your dd1 must have just been awful

I think I'm going to see how I feel over the weekend and if I don't feel any better, I will call the hospital. I know I'm more aware of the symptoms now which is making more paranoid when I probably don't need to be. If the urine sample had come back positive I wouldn't be wondering whether it was PE because I would have assumed it was all due to the infection. Argh.

Thats good. Let us know how you do this weekend. If the MW was worried she would have wanted to check things out sooner. As its the same partner the chances are very slim indeed that it is PE already.

I had it three times! Same partner for all, although I think the number of times the drs asked even made him begin to doubt it! Started earlier with ds 2 but managed to get to near due date with all as they were monitoring me so closely and I did have to go into hospital a couple of times in all pgs. I had beta blockers and aspirin in all pregnancys to keep blood pressure down which was the only way I could get through it. (was a difficult decision to make as on the whole I am anti-drugs etc) pe started around 15 weeks with ds2 but later with dd no3. I guess I am just crap at being pg-will stop now!

It may make you a bit paranoid but I bought myself a blood pressure minutes from lloyds chemist. Wasn't expensive but did mean I could keep a check on my own bp-the readings were consistent with mw readings so worked well.

Get checked out if you are worried. Don't wait.

I had late onset pre-eclampsia with DD1. Symptoms started at 36 weeks she was induced at 38 weeks. With DD2 I developed 3+ protein at 21 weeks. Cue panic as no sign of infection. Luckily BP was only up a little (my first trimester is lower than my non pregnant BP so a small climb was normal). The protein stayed throughout my pregnancy so I had regular checks but everything else stayed normal and DD2 arrived of her own accord at 41 weeks.

Artichokes - thats reassuring that you can have protein that early and still get to term. I am most worried about having a prem baby again.

Shopalot - am already paranoid so I doubt a bp monitor would make it worse. How much was it?