Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Maternal (Expert Forum)
HELLP syndrome
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
HELLP syndrome
by Pam__0, May 24, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by Pam on May 24, 1999 at 16:54:40
With my first and only pregnancy, I had pre-eclampsia at 13 weeks, at which point I was taken off work. At about 16 weeks I was put on bedrest. I was first hospitalized at 24 weeks then again at 26 weeks and finally for duration at 32 weeks. I eventually developed HELLP syndrome at 33 weeks, and my daughter was born by emergency c-section. Fortunately, she did very well and we brought her home twelve days later weighing 4 pounds 13 ounces.
My concern is that I would like to have another child, and I am of course concerned about the likelihood of recurrence and what, if anything, I can do to help insure the health of my unborn child and myself.
Since I don't plan to have a child for about two years, I do not yet wish to consult a Perinatologist, though I will do so before we start trying.
It has already been nine and a half years since the birth of my daughter.
What can you suggest?
Posted by hfhs.md.rcs on May 24, 1999 at 22:31:45
Dear Pam:
Pre-eclampsia, including the variation known by the eponym HELLP, is a disease of unknown etiology that occurs in first pregnancies and repeats in subsequent pregnancies in less than 10% of patients. Since the disease etiology is unknown, there is no prevention.
Entering pregnancy in good health (weight appropriate for height; balanced diet; regular exercise and sleep patterns; no recreational drug use; no tobacco use; multiple vitamin containing folic acid, 0.4 mg supplement; any health problems such as asthma, diabetes, primary bowel disease stabilized; any medications that can be stopped or changed to therapies known safe in pregnancy) is to every woman's benefit.
Pre-pregnancy consultation with an obstetrician to discuss your concerns is always wise.
Keywords: HELLP syndrome
This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your healthcare provider.
