OK 1st pregnancy, HELLP 2nd, now what?

[featherhaze]

I was told by my OB that it is fairly rare to have a normal first pregnancy and to develop HELLP in a second pregnancy, but that's exactly what happened to me. I also never developed classic PE; I never had protein in my urine. I had no hypertension with either pregnancy until my 36 wk checkup with the second pregnancy when I had an isolated 170/100 reading. A week later I developed class II HELLP (I was successfully induced). Almost all the stories other posters have shared are about HELLP with a 1st pregnancy. Has anyone NOT had PE or HELLP in 1st pregnancy, had HELLP in 2nd pregnancy, and been brave enough to go for a 3rd? How does that effect risk factors for future PE or HELLP? I am trying to gather as much information as possible before deciding whether or not to go for #3.

[sam10]

I don't have an answer to your question, nor is my case in any way similar to yours, but I can tell you that every pregnancy is different. Just because you had HELLP in your second pregnancy does not mean you'd have it again. It is often mentioned that PE/HELLP is a sickness of first pregnancies, but this is not a hard fact, just more of a statistical observation.

To get the best possible answer you might want to consult with an MFM/peri (high-risk OB) or even perhaps two (for a second opinion). Your case of HELLP would be evaluated, as well as your medical history/background. If this has not happened already, you'd be tested for underlying disorders (e.g. clotting disorders, lupus, etc.). Based on all that information, the MFM will then provide you with a recurrence rate.

Perhaps somebody else with a more similar case as yours will stop by and tell you about their experience.

[angieb]

I had a nightmare first pregnancy, a normal 2nd pregnancy, and my third pregnancy it looks like we are heading down the pre-e road though not as bad as last time at least so far. (First pregnancy I only made it 23 weeks, this pregnancy I'm almost 35.5 and things are still okay enough but troublesome.)

The biggest thing I would worry about in your shoes is making sure there is nothing underlying going on. A lot of times when someone has a normal first pregnancy but a pre-eclampsia/HELLP second pregnancy, she has developed some kind of condition that puts her at higher risk, or someone that was not "advanced maternal age" in a first pregnancy but was in the second, or has a significant time lapse between the two pregnancies.

I don't recall seeing anyone else on here with HELLP in a second pregnancy after a normal 1st, but there might be someone.

[featherhaze]

There were only three years between my pregnancies and I was 29 when I delivered the 1st and 32 for the 2nd (my understanding is that advanced maternal age doesn't apply until age 35). I am not aware of any underlying conditions and I was never told I had any placental issues. I guess the next step is call the MFM specialist.

[tree]

We have a few posters (including me) who developed HELLP without ever technically meeting the diagnostic criteria for pre-E. Most of us did have it in our first pregnancies. I can only think of one poster who had a healthy first pregnancy followed by HELLP in the second, and she later had a healthy third pregnancy. Her user name is "Catherine", and you can search her posts if you are interested. Her story may provide some encouragement for you.
I agree with the suggestions above to consult with an MFM to talk about any underlying risk factors (many of us have none) you could have and what your chances of a healthy pregnancy look like. I agree with Julija that every pregnancy is different and that you could have a good outcome if you try again. We all focus so intently on the chance that something bad should happen. That is a normal response to stress, but it makes it hard to be optimistic. A good MFM can give you a realistic understanding of your risks and what you could do (if anything) to mitigate them. Good luck, and welcome to the forums!

[meesh]

I had a normal first pregnancy, followed by a severe pe one (Dr said I had hellp postpartum), then went for a 3rd with no pe. With my 3rd, I had an amazing doctor who was proactive about my care.