RE: Pre-eclampsia, HELLP & future pregnancies
Cindi Winkley (cindiw@zianet.com)
Thu, 28 Mar 1996 20:40:31 -0700
Hi everyone!
Doesn't it just gall you that OB/GYNs never tell you about all of these =
disturbing statistics?!!? I was NEVER told of the chances of a 1st =
pregnancy experiencing Pre-eclampsia, HELLP or even prematurity for that =
matter.
I'm really not an angry person.
Regards,
Cindi Winkley
----------
From: Sally Edsall[SMTP:SEDSALL@nswtf.org.au]
Sent: Friday, March 29, 1996 5:46 AM
To: preemie-l@vicnet.net.au
Subject: Re: Pre-eclampsia, HELLP & future pregnancies
Marci,
There seem to be quite a few rather misinformed medical people out=20
there who say that having had PIH, HELLP, pre-eclampsia, or whatever,=20
you are unlikely to get it again.
The incidence in first pregnancies is about 10%. Not all those cases=20
are as serious as each other; some develop quite late in the=20
pregnancy when the trauma of prematurity is not as significant.
If you DIDN'T have it in your first pregnancy, the chances of it=20
occurring in a 2nd or subsequent one are minimal (but not unknown).=20
If however, there is a different father for a subsequent pregnancy,=20
the chances revert to the same as for a 1st pregnancy (hence research=20
into possible contributions from the father's genetic structure).=20
The cruch number though is where you had it in a first pregnancy.=20
Then your chances of recurrence go up to about 20 - 25%. So, if=20
you're part of the "lucky" 10 % the first time round, you increase=20
your chances the second time round. Still, there's a 75% chance you=20
WON'T get it a second time and lots of women go through a trouble=20
free 2nd or subsequent pregnancy.
Sorry to bang on so much, and sorry about the number of posts in one=20
day. We had a backlog of email throught the server, and I had a day's=20
leave and am just clearing it now!
Sally
> Because I developed PIH in both of my pregnancies (common usually only =
> in the first), three docs have told us not to plan on having anymore=20
> children. Apparently, in cases like mine (I'm the exception, not the=20
> rule), the PIH would get progressively worse and would come earlier =
with=20
> each pregnancy. I have since heard about two different family friends =
> who developed serious PIH *very* early and had to abort so as not to=20
> jeopardize their own lives. I would agonize over making a decision =
like=20
> that. I am scheduled to have my tubes tied at the end of April. =
While=20
> I feel *very* blessed to have the two children that I have, I am going =
> through a grief process that the decision has been made for us not to=20
> have any more. I can't express in words how difficult this has been =
on=20
> me. I am blessed with a very loving and supportive husband who has =
been=20
> a great shoulder to cry on and has wonderful listening ears.
>=20
> Sorry this is so long. This is definitely one of those "do I send it =
or=20
> not?" Hope it's okay.
>=20
> Blessing to all and hugs to the little ones, {{{ }}}
> Marci, mommy to Kyle (2/94, 40 wks) and Melissa (11/95, 32 wks)
>=20
>=20