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From Jill
paavo@mninter.net (Bayport, MN) I am currently 21 wks pregnant with our second child. Our son was born at 35 wks gestation due to complications from HELLP syndrome. I had Type 3 HELLP syndrome and was first treated at our local hospital. I went in with severe epigastric pain that had been growing progressively worse over the previous 3-4 days. I was treated by the on call OB. He immediately did blood work and told me I was in end stage clotting failure as he had never seen a D-dimer so low. I was transported via ambulance to the nearest hospital (1.5 hrs away) where an ICU and NICU were available. At my regular prenatal check that week I had protein in my urine, increased swelling, and a significant weight gain compared to previous months. My OB was not concerned as I had a very healthy, normal pregnancy up until that point. Furthermore, my blood pressure never was elevated (even in the most severe stages of HELLP). I was lucky the on-call OB was able to immediately pick up on and diagnose my condition. He felt had I waited much longer without treatment my liver would have ruptured. Approximately 15 hours later our son was born. He required bagging to start breathing. He was admitted to the NICU and ended up spending a week there. He has been relatively healthy other than constant upper respiratory infections which have been attributed to a number of things including prematurity, complications from RSV which he was hospitalized with at 6 months of age, possible asthma and/or allergies. My current pregnancy took us by surprise as it was unplanned. We are very excited to be pregnant but also very scared. Every sign or symptom that even vaguely reminds me of my past pregnancy worries me. All of the OBs I have spoken with assure me I have a very small chance of having HELLP again but I also know they have very limited experience with this condition. They keep telling me my blood pressure looks great so not to worry. My blood pressure was also great during my last pregnancy but I still had HELLP. Despite all of our worries we are very hopeful and anticipating the healthy and timely arrival of our baby.
From Sharel
soconnel@nttc.edu (Washington, Pa.) Check out the February issue of ePregnancy magazine to see Sharel_s "Relativity" essay. It will be the back-page article! The magazine is available at Walmart, Target, etc.
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