HELLP Syndrom

J.- Do not let the HELLP syndrome scare you..... If the father of your second is the same as your first, you only have a 8% chance of getting PIH again. This time you will be watched more closely and if you do get PIH, they will induce you before it goes to HELLP. The only people that tend to get to HELLP for the second time are the Lupus patients because it happens so fast for them that the medical world may not catch it in time. You may need to for sure care with an MD instead of CNM, but you can go on to enjoy a pregnancy without any complications. I do tell all girls with previous histories though; enter your pregnancy without any exspectations. Especially the exspectation of working until close to the due date. Just be prepared $ wise, that if the pregnancy turns to bed rest the last couple of months, that you can handle this. Sounds as if you have a great support family wise; so know they may be needed to care for your older child, do household chores (including cooking, dishes & laundry) at the end of the pregnancy. If you end up on bedrest, you are preparred. If not then you were at least ready. Good luck!

I had pre-eclampsia with help syndrome with my first child and had to have an emergency c-section it was very scary. I have had two other children since and never got it again. My doctor told me that if I had another baby with the same father that it shouldn't happen again. I guess while it is unlikely to happen twice it is more possible with a different father because your body can treat it like a first pregnancy. Good luck!

I had the HELPP syndrome too with my first pregnancy. I've had two subsequent pregnancies and did not have the HELPP syndrome. I did have preeclampsia with one (not as serious as HELPP) and pregnancy induced high blood pressure with the other. A friend of mine had the HELPP syndrome at the end of her first pregnancy and did not have it at all during the second pregnancy. I've heard that the chances of getting HELPP again aren't that high. Good luck to you!

I also have severe pre-eclampsia with my first. I was on very strict bedrest in the hospital and at home for 8 weeks prior to being induced at 36 weeks. I was very worried about having another child, but I did have 3 more children and everything went well with each. I was monitored like a hawk with each subsequent pregnancy, especially with my second. Pre-eclampsia and HELPP are most common with your first child and with several risk factors. Prior to my first pregnancy, I was not too much into exercise. After baby #1 I started a regular exercise routine and continued it through pregnancies 2, 3 and 4. I don't know how much it reduced my risk of pre-eclampsia, but it definitely made pregnancy/ delivery and recovery ALOT easier.
Best of luck to you.

Hi J.-

I didn't have HELLP, but I did have preeclampsia with my first pregnancy. With my second pregnancy, I went in at 23 weeks with migraines and bp of 160/100. It was very scary because it was so early in the pregnancy, so I was in and out of the hospital until I delivered at 38 weeks. I was on bedrest for a total of 4 months. I never ended up developing true preeclampsia again, but did have PIH and migraines. In the end everything turned out fine. My daughter was born healthy and happy, and that's really all that mattered to me. Good luck with everything!
-L.
p.s. Have you ever checked out the website preeclampsia.org? They have some really helpful info as well as answers to lots of questions.

J.,
it is possible to have a second pregnancy with absolutely no problems after hellp. I had preeclampsia with HELLP and DIC(bleeding disorder)with my first...9 years ago. Took me seven years for my husband to convince me with our Doctor's assurances to try again. My second pregnancy was a Breeze. Absolutely NO problems! Work closely with your OB/GYN and do all the monitoring and followup that they request. Take care of yourself and I wish you luck.

I didn't have hellp but I did have SEVERE preeclampsia TWICE with 2 premature babies. With my last pregnancy my bp got up to 176/120 they thought I was gonna have a stroke, I had a horrible headache that wouldn't go away, went into premature labor and to be honest I got worse before I got better. I was severely sick 2 weeks AFTER delivery. I couldn't get the fluid retention, swelling or my blood pressure to stabalize or drop. I was a MESS.

What state do you live in?

I'm in Minnesota and with my last pregnancy I recieved my prenatal care from a team of specialists with MN PERINATOLGY located out of Abbott Northwestern and they had a location in Edina as well. They monitored me like you wouldn't believe and I basically lived in their office. They were all over me medically. If you do want another baby I would a consult with a doctor specifically a perinatologist specialist with obgyn before you get pregnant to outweigh the risks and get their opinion.

I personally am done having babies mostly because I'm scared to death. My Pre E got worse with my 2nd pregnancy what would happen with my 3rd?

It is totally possible to have another baby but you need to consult a dr. first.