Pre-eclampsia with first pregnancy - wondering if it's safe to have another baby

[Syd35]

I developed pre-eclampsia towards the end of my pregnancy with DS who is now nearly 4. Luckily the early signs were picked up by my midwife and I was admitted to hospital just on week 40. I ended up with an emergency c-sec. It was a fairly daunting experience but DS and I were fine in the end which is all that matters.

For a long time I was against having another child for fear of it re-occurring. I have spoken to the GPs but they cannot say for sure if it will happen again so i'm in a bit of a quanderry as I have started to feel like the time is right to try for another baby.

Has anyone else developed the condition in their first pregancy then went on to have any subsequent pregnancies - if so did it re-occur or was second time round better?

Thanks

I developed pre eclampsia with DS - was in and out of hospital from 34 weeks and he was born at 38+3.

With DD I had no problems - only had one high blood pressure Reading and that was the day before she was born.

I think that you are more likely to get it again than another second time parent who didn't have PE the first time, but there is no increases chance of you getting it again compared with your first pg.

I developed PE at 30 weeks, but wasn't picked up for a couple of weeks. Sent straight to hospital and was very, very ill until I had an c-section at 34 weeks. DC was born very small and was in SCBU for 3 weeks but was absolutely fine. It was a pretty scary experience, but I decided not to let it worry me and am now pregnant again. They keep a much closer eye on you as the most important thing with PE is to pick it up as soon as possible. I am now 30 weeks and so far so good. I was told I had a 40% chance of it re-occurring, but that they really didn't know my risk factor. We also simply hope that if I get it then it will occur later than before. I've had more scans than usual to check growth and the placenta and umbilical cord and I check my blood pressure once a week.

I developed pre eclampsia at 41 weeks and was immediately induced. I had suffered high blood pressure all thru the pregnancy. Am now 40+5 in second pregnancy and have had absolutely no blood pressure problems at all this time. They have kept a close eye on me but thankfully it's been a completely different experience this time!

Similar story to Lawrie. With DS I had pre eclampsia from 32 weeks when I was taken into hospital until I was induced at 38 weeks.

DD was born exactly two years later. Had no problems throughout pregnancy, although the day before she was born (37.2weeks ) I had a higher bp reading but nothing to worry about. I had a bad cold and she just decided to come early.

Had it with DS1 - spent last 6 weeks in and out of hospital, followed by induction and emergency c-section.
DS2, I was allow to transfer from the care of the consultant to the community midwife as I had no problems, and a succesfull VBAC. And with DD, I was under the care of the community midwife from the start with no problems, and a second VB.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's encouraging to see so many of you went on to have good subsequent births.

Just need to convince DH now as he's not keen on no.2!

Syd I don't think there are any guarantees unfortunately. :( I was diagnosed at 36+3 and emcs at 36+5.

Whilst I am determined to have more children I've had to try and accept (reading these boards and other PE sites) that there is a possibility that next time if it were to happen again, I might not be "lucky" enough to make it to 36 weeks and I might have a stillbirth. It's horrible to think about, but I need to remain logical.

My sister had PE with DNep1 and then went on to have Dnie (5yrs later) and Dnep2 (7yrs later) with no problems whatsoever.

Had sudden, late preeclampsia with DD1 and since she was frank breech and I was expecting a planned section, that was brought forward to 12 hours later, on my birthday! She'd have been 35-6 weeks.

To be honest, I didn't think of how scary it was at the time but reflect back on it and thank my lucky stars that I was under private care and had weekly scans and checks anyway. If not

Daughter was smallish but not IUGR and never spent any time in NICU although under lights for jaundice.

Breastfeeding was fine and 2-1/2 years on still at it.

It never once occurred to me there would be a repeat, although I knew there was an elevated risk with subsequent pregnancies, but am under consultant care and he has explained it is roughly a 20 percent risk of developing PE again as opposed to a 5 percent risk for general public, but not to worry about that risk as you will be monitored for high blood pressure and protein from early on.

I'm 6 months pregnant and no signs of elevated blood pressure and baby is bang on 50th centile.

Very good luck.