HELLP Syndrome - Dickinson,TX

M.

I too had HELLP Syndrome with my first pregnancy. My son is now 18 months old and he was 5 weeks early. So far things are going great. He has no know side effects from all of the trouble I had. It was a very scary ordeal. After everything was said and done I switched doctors. During my first visit with the new doctor I explained everything that happend and made sure she understood my worries about another pregnancy. She did, and about a week after seeing her for the first time she personally called me telling be about a pannel of blood work that can somewhat predict if you will be prone to HELLP again. I would suggest you talk to your doctor about this. My results came back good and she thinks I will have nothing to worry about next time.

Good Luck! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Hi M.! I had HELLPS with my first pregnancy back in 2001 and was TERRIFIED of having another baby! I had lots of complications after I delivered as well (Bell's Palsy, Gallbladder removal, My blood pressure continued to rise weven after delivery and I was put on meds to control it and I am on those meds even to this day). However, I finally got up the nerver to try again for another baby at the end of 2005. My son was born last year, one month early, due to pre-eclampsia,and I still had BP problems after I delivered. My doctor was amazing!!! She was very on top of things and took good care my the baby and I! If you had HELLPS with a prior pregnancy, your chances will be doubled of getting it compared to a woman with a normal pregnancy. I would encourage you talk to your doctor about your concerns and give yourself plenty of time to heal before trying to concieve again. It is possible!!! Let me know how things turn out! A. W.

This is from an article I found on the syndrome. Hope this helps.
C.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/990901ap/829.html

Prognosis

Patients who have had HELLP syndrome should be counseled that they have a 19 to 27 percent risk of developing the syndrome in subsequent pregnancies.28 They also have up to a 43 percent risk of developing preeclampsia in another pregnancy.28 Patients with class I HELLP syndrome have the highest risk of recurrence.28 When the syndrome recurs, it tends to develop later in gestation and is generally less severe after two episodes. Patients who have had HELLP syndrome may subsequently use oral contraceptive pills safely.29 Patients who develop atypical early-onset preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome should be screened for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies.30

HELLP can be a scary ordeal! I know there is bloodwork that can be done to determine the likelihood of it happening again. Also, check out the dietary guidelines at www.blueribbonbaby.org , which have been shown to prevent/reverse these types of syndromes.

On a personal note, a friend of mine had a baby a year ago very early after developing HELLP. The outcome was not good, but I am happy to say that she now has a newborn and all was well with that pregnancy.

Enjoy your little boy, and I'll pray you get the little girl you dream of having someday too!