Hope for Pre-E mommies......second time around

sunshyn/dagoon

i hope i am not being an AW by posting this but thought i'd share my story to give hope. I have Lupus, an auto-immune illness with no known cause or cure. I was diagnosed in 2004 and was told that i'd be considered high-risk whenever i got pregnant. One of the most common issues with Lupus and pregnancy is pre-eclampsia, which I developed with ds#1. I was induced at 36wk 6days with him and ended up having a c/s. I have always been told that in subsequent pregnancies the onset of pre-e would be earlier so I was prepared this pregnancy and was sooo aware and looking for signs and symptoms of pre-e to develop. Well I am happy to say that i am 40wks and no signs of pre-e so far!!!! My BP has been great and my protein hasnt been that high. No sure what was different about this pregnancy but I am thankful and just wanted to share my story to give hope to others that may have developed pre-e to know that you won't necessarily have to develop it again. I just know I was soo walking on eggshells kind of just "waiting" for pre-e to come. Now I am entering all new territory and trying to vbac w/ a sched c/s on the 10th!

GL to all, hang in there, stay encouraged and many blessings!

FemmeNat01

Thank you! Good luck with your v/bac on the 10th! I hope it's successful. I know this will be encouraging for women who are considering a 2nd baby. I have pre-e but this is it for me!

K8ENC28

Thanks for sharing your story.  It gives me hope that should I decide to have a second things could be different.  I have a similar story to yours in that I was diagnosed with lupus after my daughter was born at 32.5 weeks due to severe pre-e.  I'd love to have another but am scared after what I went through the last time to have her.  Were you on blood thinners this time around?  Just curioius as to how your lupus symptoms were managed during pregnancy as well?  My rheumatologist has been very encouraging which is helpful as well. Hearing successful stories is what gives me the most hope that things could turn out differently next time.

sunshyn/dagoon

I was not on blood thinners (ever) my lupus is very well managed by taking plaquenil, and prednisone for flares only. The only meds given was the magnesium for my BP while I was in the hosp being induced, etc! When my son was 2wks old he developed neo-natal lupus, and had to see a rhuematologist but it was just my anti-bodies running thru his system. He had the discoid rash I used to get before I was diagnosed and placed on meds. It lasted until he was 8wks (and then just went away as fast as it came), but was perfectly healthy! Glad to help I know its a rough road.