Hellp Syndrome and future pregnancies

justme04

I delivered my baby last sunday (9/6) at 34 weeks 3 days because i went from mild pre e to full blown Hellp Syndrome in 24 hours.  My son is doing fine...he has been able to breath on his own from day one and takes a bottle although sometimes he gets tuckered out quicker then others when he can take the whole bottle.  His doctors and nurses are hopeful that he will be able to come home next weekend.  I was in the hospital for a week myself just monitoring my condition and making sure my enzyme levels and platlet count went back to what they should be.  But I was just wondering from others on here who have suffered from Hellp Syndrome what your doctors have said about having another child.  The doctor who delivered my son says that there are no strong statistics one way or the other concerning the possibility of developing the syndrome again.  My research says the odds are low. 

mommamorris

i have developed HELLP syndrome twice now. but, for me it is secondary to APS. the APS makes me prone to clots (IUGR), and early onset HELLP. i suppose this makes my case pretty different than most.

my mfm said that every pregnancy stands alone... that it is a complete toss up with each time. i could develop it at 21 weeks again, or deliver at 39 with no problems. (of course, now i have to have c-sections.

from all my research it seems like you have a higher chance of getting it if you've had it before, but it's far from assured. from what the doctors have told me they don't know exactly why it happens, or how to prevent it either.

you just have to weigh the options and make a decision with your husband. (we still haven't decided if we'll try again.) good luck!

mrspaul07

I was told that I have a 25% chance of developing HELLP again, but that if I did, it would most likely develop later than it did with my first pregnancy.  DD was delivered at 31w6d via c-section.

jkipp82

My ob said it could go either way, but that there is no reason we shouldn't try for another baby in the future - so we definitely will - knowing what could be in store for us - and watching everything right from the start.

BrainySmurfette

It depends on whether you have an underlying clotting disorder or other additional risk factors.  I had all the testing, and I do not have any of the clotting disorders (the APS mentioned by PP is an example of a clotting disorder).  I did develop permanently high BP from my HELLP experience, and I have a nasty family history of pre-e.  My doctor put my risk of about 1 in 3.

I am seeing a high risk doctor (MFM) for this pregnancy who practices at one of the major teaching hospitals in the region.  I'll be monitored very carefully this time, and I will likely be admitted to the hospital sooner if things start to look bad.

SBMBride406

mrspaul07:

I was told that I have a 25% chance of developing HELLP again, but that if I did, it would most likely develop later than it did with my first pregnancy.  DD was delivered at 31w6d via c-section.

My dr said the same.

ShanaNChris

I have 2 blood clotting disorders, so think that puts me at a slightly higher risk, but my Dr.'s are very optimistic about "next time"