What happens biologically during Pre-E

[caryn]

Yes, there is definitely a correlation with things going wrong in early pregnancy -- we now know that a history of miscarriage raises your risk of PE, presumably because it means that your immune system isn't responding correctly to the arrival of the placenta.

[kimana]

Abbie--thanks for asking these questions...I knew I wanted to know more, but didn't know how to phrase without sounding foolish...thanks for putting the words out there!

Thanks to everyone that has provided insight. I always feel better the more I know and enjoy learning new things. I better get DH on here to read this!!!

[auntshelly]

Wow this a great question. I have learned so much from your answers. This is the kind of information that is so hard to weed out when trying to do your own research!
Thank you
Michelle

[patricks mommy]

This has been a great thread! Thanks for all of the information. I just had my husband read it.

Thanks!!

[jillmushet]

Great post. I also had my husband read it.

[hayesmama]

Excellent posts. This is great info! I need to get dh in here to read this. May even print this for the doc (keeping all sources anonymous of course). I never had pe/pih issues until after my molar pg---interesting.

[kim]

Thanks ladies!! I appreciate this thread!

[countrymom2e]

Great explanations! One question - how does post-partum pre-e factor in to things? I would think that once the placenta is delivered, the body should start to recover? But what about when things worsen post-partum?

[caryn]

I think the theory there goes: during delivery, the placenta is quite hypoxic, because it's undergoing labor contractions that cut off its blood supply. So it dumps a bunch of sFlt-1 into your system. The only way for sFlt-1 to be removed from your system is for it to bind to VEGF, which inactivates it. So it rattles around your vascular system for a while, and your body keeps making VEGF, and eventually you've got enough VEGF to mop up all the sFlt-1, and *then* the VEGF your body's making can go to work plugging all the little holes in the vascular system.

So depending on how much got released, it takes some time for your body to begin to repair itself, and it can even experience further damage from the lack of repair postpartum.

Did that make any sense? [:D]

[deerhart]

Oh yes there is a strong corrolation between miscarriages and other problems, especially blood clots. In fact, most doctors you talk to will know the connection between blood clotting disorders and multiple miscarriages but not between it and PE (since a lot of woman with them end up with the miscarraiges instead of PE because they don't get that far along).

Having multiple miscarriages is enough reason to run a full set of blood work on both clotting and autoimmune issues.

As for post partem PE, well delivery isn't the only cure, time is as well. You could have clots in places other then the placenta (blood clots), there may be residual eneimes left over that your body is attacking (auto immune), hormones can still be out of whack (this can affect everything from clotting, autoimmune to toher conditions like PCOS, diabetes etc..).

Not only do you have to deliver, but you also have to have time pass for whatever is cuasing the PE in the first place to start to correct itself. For some it takes a matter of minutes, others it can take weeks and for some of us it can takes months or years for our bodies to come back to normal.