Pregnancy after pre-eclampsia

[orangelemons]

DH and I are planning to TTC number 2. Our first is 20 months and was a fairly uneventful pregnancy (apart from awful first trimester sickness ) until 37 weeks when I was admitted with high blood pressure. I was observed for a few days and treated with labetalol, before being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and induced at just over 38 weeks (leading to an emergency c-section but all fine in the end!). No follow-up was discussed and none of the medics I met seemed at all concerned. My GP had me complete a postpartum BP diary which was all fine and I haven't thought of it again until today!

My question really is how likely am I to get pre-eclampsia again? Obviously I know no one can tell me but I'd be keen to hear other's experiences. I got pre-eclampsia despite taking aspirin (I was taking it from 12 weeks as my DM had pre-eclampsia in one of her pregnancies, again very mildly) - does this mean I am extra prone to it? My final question (and again, aware no one can tell me for sure) is about travel and pre-eclampsia. We are due to go to a wedding in Italy when I'd be at very most 7 months pregnant (if we conceived on the first try). Is travel insurance difficult with previous pre-eclampsia? Is travel not advised? Obviously I'd always put any pregnancy first but it would be useful to manage my own expectations.

Grateful for any experience / advice

Your risk will be lower this time if your DH is the father of your eldest too (I'm presuming so). However, it's not as low as someone who didn't have pre-eclampsia in their first pregnancy.

https://www.preeclampsia.org/the-news/community-support/after-preeclampsia-another-pregnancy-or-not

My PE with no. 1 was on a very similar timeline to yours. I was pregnant again before the year was out and didn't get PE with no. 2. BP started to climb in the last trimester and I was moved from midwife to OB care, but he made it (almost) to term without any issues.

I had severe pre eclampsia and HELLP syndrome with my first. my DD (now 16) was born at 34 weeks and was teeny tiny. Had my 2nd 3.5 years later and didn’t develop pre eclampsia until 39 weeks during delivery, it was much milder and my DS was on the small side. If you had PE in your 1st pregnancy, you should be under consultant care for subsequent pregnancies
All the best

Sorry, but I had PE three times, worse each time.

I was admitted to hospital at 30 weeks with pre eclampsia after initial symptoms at 28 weeks. DD was born by ECS at 35 weeks and was tiny. I went on to have 3 more children without pre-eclampsia. They all had the same Dad. They did keep a closer eye on me with my other pregnancies and said that my daughters may be more susceptible to it themselves during pregnancy, but that might be an old theory now.

I can’t answer your question yet. I had PE in my last pregnancy with my son, started at 30 weeks with high bp and I had him at 35 weeks. I’m now 27 almost 28 weeks pregnant and on asprin this time and so far my bp has stayed low. So no signs so far.

Oh my DS is now 21 months old. No idea if it matters, I guess a similar timeline.

I had preclamsia with my 1st and haven't had it since. I've had a further 3 pregnancy all same dad.

I had PE with DD1, diagnosed and admitted at 37 weeks but i had symptoms developing weeks before that. Baby born by ELCS at 38 weeks.

Now 31 weeks pregnant with DD2 and I'm high risk for a number of reasons including age, bmi, and increased risk of PE. So far so good.

Oh, and re the travel, you'll need a fit to fly from 28 weeks or thereabouts depending on airline.

Most will allow travel up to 35/36 weeks .

The issue you will have is finding a company to insure you when heavily pregnant regardless of past issues - a lot won't actually insure you over 30 weeks.

I had Preeclampsia and HELLP with my first but was fine with my second. I asked for a referral to a specialist at the John Radcliffe hospital who said she had a gut feeling I would be fine second time around based on her experiences and I was. Why don’t you ask for a referral to discuss it.

I had pre-eclampsia with DC1, had hypertension with DC2 which came on at 38 weeks and is still ongoing at 2 months pp. I'm on a kitchen sink-full of meds which just about control it.

As I'm asthmatic I'm unable to take aspirin, which they usually give you in subsequent pregnancies to prevent pre-eclampsia if you've had it in a previous pregnancy. So I almost know I'm going to have BP issues if I've had them in both pregnancies! If you get pregnant again they should prescribe you aspirin.

I did express my concerns, which are the same as yours, to my doctor during my hospital stay. She reassured me that it is by no means a reason not to have more children and that, having had BP issues twice and pre-eclampsia once, I'd be on very close watch anyway.

Pre-eclampsia and induced with dc1 at 39 weeks.

Two years later - absolutely fine and normal with dc2. Induced at 41+5 just because he was overdue.

Dc3 - Induced at 39 weeks. Not officially diagnosed with pre-eclampsia but my BP was high over about a week so they thought inducing was safer, just in case, because of my history.

I’m unsure of the risks but I had pregnancy-induced hypertension and have an upcoming appointment with fetal medicine to discuss the chance of it happening again - is this something you could request (probably via your GP)? They will be able to look at your medical history in detail and should be able to give you some advice!

I had it with my first, he was born by emergency section at 35 weeks. Also got it with my second - my consultant actually asked ( in front of my husband!) if it was the same father (which it was)! A second emergency section, and was strongly advised to be sterilised afterwards as the risk of another PE was too great. Thankfully we'd already agreed we only wanted 2 children.