Hope for the HELLP/Pre-e mommies

Mommy2Gav

I know there have been a lot of questions lately about TTC again after HELLP. I usually don't say much since I am in the middle of my pregnancy but every appointment gets better and better. Now I feel compelled to share my story.

 When I was pregnant with ds, my swelling started very early- like around 15 weeks. By 20 weeks I could wear any rings or normal shoes- crocs only...I thought this was normal. I was also extremely tired all of the time. By 20 weeks I had frequent headaches and vision disturbances yet my bp was always ok while at the OB. Because I had polyhydramnios, I started getting NSTs at around 28 weeks. By that time, my bp was high everytime and I would often have to stay laying on my side for hours before they would release me. At my 32 week appt, my bp was so high I was sent straight to L&D I was there for 2 days and sent home on strict bedrest with a follow up appt. at 32w4d. At that time my bp was 190/116 so I was sent back to L&D, where I remained until HELLP set in, my liver shut down, and I had an emergency c-section. Gavin was born at 33w1d.

 Now on to this pregnancy. I was very nervous in the beginning that history would repeat itself. However, I have never been as tired as I was during my first pregnancy. At my first ob appt my bp was 145/95- not good...I was started on calcium suppliments and magnisum suppliments. I am now over 26 weeks and I STILL don't have swelling.  At every visit since the first, my bp has gone DOWN! At my appt yesterday, it was down to 120/80. My ob really thinks I will not have the same problems this time and WILL go full term. I KNOW I still have a long way to go but everything has been so different this time. I just wanted to share my positive story with others. I was so nervous about TTC #2 and I loved to hear any positive news. 

Anyway, good luck to everyone out there. I will continue to keep you posted and hopefully it will continue to be good news.  

RRHsMom

Thanks for posting and please do update us when possible.  I was a pre-e mom too but my swelling did not start until I was 30 weeks.  It progressed quickly though when it began.  By 32 I could not wear rings, or shoes.  By the end I could not even get crocs on my feet and had to wear flip flops to my shower and a wedding I went to.  I was on modified bedrest.  It hurt to go up and down the stairs bc my ankles were so thick that they could not bend anymore. I was being checked every 2 days and at one of my checks I gained 10lbs of water in 2 days!!! They were just waiting for a spike in bp or protein in my urine as a sign to take me and did the day my bp spiked (we thought I was 37 weeks then but pedi says I was only 36 at the most).  I am very worried that I will have to be induced again, even if it is late like it was last time and that I will have another baby with under developed lungs do a nicu stay.  I am very encouraged by your story and thank you for sharing!

mommamorris

thank you so much for sharing. i have antiphospholipid syndrome and have been pregnant 4 times now. we lost our son max at 20 weeks last year, and i delivered our daughter, wren, at 27w4d just last month.

 whether or not we try again has been a hot topic... we're just not sure. your story gives me hope that we can.

tierelieber

Thank you so much for your story! I am so excited to TTC again and so nervous!

mhop

Thanks for posting! We're ttcing right now and I'm pretty terrified of a repeat pregnancy.  It's great to hear stories like yours.  They give me hope!

lona.hunn@gmail.com

I really think all you ladies will do great with your consecutive pregnancies. I was told and researched that HELLP usually occurs to the younger mothers on their first pregnancies only.

I was the oddball to that theory. I'm older than dirt and it was my second pregnancy. However, my children are 10 yrs apart and different fathers. Nobody really knows why HELLP develops. There are theories, but it's still a mystery...we're special..

Ali05

Thank you SO much for sharing and do keep us updated! DH and I haven't even discussed TTC again but probably 2 years from now. We always wanted 3 to 4 kids but my pregnancy scared us! It's so encouraging to hear your story. It helps me brave because I really do not want DS to be an only child. 

jennigator3

I really appreciate you posting this, we are TTC again in the fall and not a day goes by now that I don't wonder if history will repeat itself. I have changed my habits recently, I work out more, eat better, and I take vitamins and fish oil. Do you think it's a good idea to go on Magnesium and Calcium right away?

I hope you go full term, but your experience so far gives me a lot of hope and a lot to look forward to. Update as often as you can, we'd love to hear from you.

 

Mommy2Gav

jennigator3:

I really appreciate you posting this, we are TTC again in the fall and not a day goes by now that I don't wonder if history will repeat itself. I have changed my habits recently, I work out more, eat better, and I take vitamins and fish oil. Do you think it's a good idea to go on Magnesium and Calcium right away?

I hope you go full term, but your experience so far gives me a lot of hope and a lot to look forward to. Update as often as you can, we'd love to hear from you.

 

 

My ob thinks calcium plays a large part in HELLP and I already knew I had a calcium defiency. If I had know it would cause such problems, I would have started suppliments sooner. Once he ds was born and I was told that calcium issues were a possible cause, I began taking 2 suppliments a day. I upped it to 4 once I actually got pregnant. So I would say yes, start taking calcium as soon as you can. I don't know enough about the magnisum suppliment to get an educated answer. Good luck!