Anyone have another child after having HELLP?

[wbailey6510]

Hi! I'm Whitney Bailey, I like most of you suffered from HELLP syndrome that hit me out of the blue. Not many people around me know much about it at all. I was wondering if any of you had another child after having HELLP and if so how was your experience? My husband and I think about it daily and pray for a answer but we are just not sure what to do.

[sam10]

Many of us around here had succesful subsequent pregnancies. Some without developing PE or HELLP and some who had some complications. HELLP mostly affects first pregnancies, but this is not a hard and fast rule. I would schedule a consultation with a specialist (MFM - maternal fetal medicine specialist also called perinatologist or high-risk ob.) You will discuss your case of HELLP, your medical history and would most likely get tested for clotting disorders and other diseases that are believed to raise the risk of PE. Based on all that info, s/he will give you an estimate of recurrence. You would also be seen (usually more often than the regular pregnant ladies) by the MFM in a subsequent pregnancy.
A great site to search for one is here: www.smfm.org/MFM%20Member%20Locator%20Page.cfm
or you can go to the website of your hospital. These usually list all their docs by their specialty.
Welcome to the PF forums.

[wbailey6510]

Thank you so much for your help. My current OBGYN advised that I could have another child but the chance of me or the baby not making it was too high and she doesn't think its a good idea. However, I think there's a lot of factors in her decision and maybe lack of knowledge. I never saw a High Risk OBGYN except for the week before I went into HELLP and it wasn't for a serious issue. So I wasn't really checked while I was there for blood or protein leaking. I only had a sono. After reading what some of the people on here posted I have a little hope now. I plan to do a lot of research and try to find the best MFM in the DFW area I can. I never thought I'd only have one child but if its Gods will then he will guide us. Any advice anyone has is amazing to me and I greatly appreciate it. PS. I also saw a caridologist because my heart enlarged due to the trauma HELLP was putting on my body. Anyone else have that happen by chance?

Sincerely,
Whitney

[misspagan]

Hi Whitney,

I didn't have hellp but had serious pe with my first (mild w/ my 2nd). About 5 years after I had my daughter, I had some heart issues & they did a stress echo. They found I had a slightly enlarged right ventricle but couldn't figure out why. I always wondered if my pe had something to do with this since I had no risk factors or family history of heart issues. At the time, there was no research that supported pe as a risk factor for heart issues. Research has changed that opinion now but I don't know if any dr will say that's the cause of my enlarged right ventricle.

Good luck with your decision on expanding your family. If you do choose to try again, just know you'll have a lot of supporters sending prayers & good thoughts your way.

[sarahkm]

Hi Whitney,

I too had HELLP come on very suddenly in my 37th week (I had a normal prenatal appt. 48 hrs before our tragedy happened) and my placenta abrupted leading to our son being stillborn. I was told not to get pregnant again mostly due to my poor kidney function...I was on dialysis for 3.5 months and my kidney values did not improve as fast as wanted/expected after that.
So we had been trying to adopt for the past 4 to 5 years. Now I am expecting again after getting the ok to get pregnant from my OB and MFM. My kidney function has improved and my blood pressure is quite stable. So far things are going well. I'm at 17 weeks. I'm being seen every 2 weeks by my OB at this point and have seen the MFM once so far, but will see him again at my 20 week ultrasound.
I did have an echocardiogram when I was in the hospital which showed some mild abnormalities due to the HELLP syndrome, but then had another 1 year later and things looked better. I don't remember them saying anything about having an enlarged chamber.
I think it is a very good idea to consult with an MFM and go through your history, maybe even talk with another OB that is know for high-risk care. Get as educated as you can about HELLP and preeclampsia, this website is a great resource!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Sarah

[shadow2356]

I had class 1 HELLP and delivered my daughter at 34 weeks. The abdominal pain started at 24 weeks so I know my HELLP really started then. I went to a perinatoligist who felt I could get pregnant again but I had a huge risk of a very premature baby. We decided to do gestational surrogacy and my son was born at 26 weeks. He is finally home and doing well. I guess preemies were my destiny.