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to an ectopic pregnancy. It was not discovered right away and when it was finally treated, my tube had to be removed. I was told my other tube was 100% blocked and it would be impossible to get pregnant again. Whoops- in January, I was pregnant again. Everything was going great in the pregnancy until the 33-wk mark. I was so excited because I had gotten past the 32-wk mark and could have the baby a lot closer to home than the first time.(Level 2 nursery was only 25 mins away, instead of almost 2 hrs for Level 3) At 33 wks., the new baby was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which untreated, is 100% in the first 3 weeks of life. The only way this baby would survive was if she had life saving open-heart surgery in the first week of life or a heart transplant. In order to have the surgery, she had to grow. Luckily, I did not have a reoccurrence of HELLP Syndrome and Abigail Hope was born at 39.5 weeks weighing a good 7 lbs., 4 ozs. My pressure remained stable throughout the entire pregnancy, actually becoming lower towards the end!! I had a trace of protein one time. I was followed very closely by my local OB, and then by the high-risk docs when the baby was diagnosed with HLHS. I love reading your newsletter and just wanted to share my story...there is HOPE after HELLP Syndrome!!!
UPDATE: Abby is just 13 days old, and is currently a week post-op from the Norwood. I just was so excited that my pregnancy was HELLP free. The HELLP newsletter always brought such good news that I may get through the entire pregnancy unaffected. With Emma's birth, I had a seizure 24 hours after she was born so I was really scared of a repeat and since I had not planned to get pregnant with Abby, I was even more worried because I hadn't prepared myself. I forgot to mention in my original email that I took a baby aspirin everyday until I got the first indication that there was something wrong with the baby. Abby has a website, www.caringbridge.org/ia/abigailhope that I try to keep updated with her progress
From Claire
claire_grandgeorge@yahoo.com (Frisco, TX) My husband and I are so excited to announce the birth of our son, Jack Alexander. Jack was born September 19th, weighing 6 pounds and 14 ounces. I had a wonderful HELLP free pregnancy. He looks so big to us compared to his big sister who was born about 9 1/2 weeks early due to severe HELLP. We give all of our praise to God. We also want to thank you, your family, and all of those wonderful people out there that are part of the HELLP Syndrome Society.
From Janie
jpollard@tiv.com (Frisco, TX) At age 43 I became pregnant unexpectedly and the baby was born 3 months premature weighing 2 lbs. 2 ozs. They don't know why, just too many contractions and I went in for my 2-week appointment at 25 weeks and I was 80% effaced and dilated to 2. Her name is Katie Grace and she is truly a miracle baby. She just turned a year old two weeks ago and we are amazed. Keely (HELLP) baby is thrilled to be a big sister.
hurstcastle@gotnet.net Our firstborn, Caleb Everett, was born 4/22/02 by emergency c-section at 36 weeks after it was discovered that I had HELLP. I had some classic preeclampsia symptoms such as increasing blood pressure and protein in the urine when I saw my doctor for a routine check up that day; the plan was to simply induce labor and expect the baby within a few days. I had begun having some upper stomach pain some five days prior, which would come and go; the doctor's office staff and I had concluded it was a stomach bug as I also had diarrhea. Only when I was at the hospital later that day, to begin the induction, did the blood work reveal HELLP. After his birth, I continued to be very sick, became a distinct shade of yellow, and had three bags of platelets transfused before my body was able to begin the recovery process. My blood pressure continued to be elevated for several weeks. Both Caleb and I stayed in the hospital for nearly a week with he needing oxygen during that time. He now is a happy, healthy toddler. Baby Zachary Michael was born on 9/4/03 at 37 weeks due to preeclampsia symptoms...which did not turn into HELLP, thankfully. Your supportive newsletter has helped me to deal with the fear and emotional recovery that I experienced related to HELLP. I now realize that symptoms I had with my first pregnancy should not have been ignored and I feel I can be a person to spread the word to others about the dangers associated with HELLP since it is something most have never heard of until they experience it.
From Alysha
RICKALYSHA@aol.com On August 22, 2003, I gave birth by repeat c-section to Gavin Caleb Laurence who was born at 40 weeks. He was 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 21 in.! He had low oxygen levels (which they attributed to the cesarean not flushing everything out of his lungs like a vaginal delivery would have) and stayed in the NICU over night, but other than that, we had no complications and the pregnancy was HELLP free!!! My husband, Rick and I have a son, Jarod who was born 1/17/2000 at 31 wks. due to HELLP. He was delivered emergency c-section. He is now doing great and enjoying preschool. We also had a daughter, Laiken who was born 9/15/2002 at 24 wks. due to HELLP. She was also an emergency c-section. Laiken sadly was too premature and only lived 1 1/2 hours. She had IUGR and was more like a 22 wk. old baby. I have another daughter, Arianna (with my ex-husband) who is 7 yrs. next month who I had no HELLP symptoms with. The dr. said this is due to my husband's and my chemical make up. We feel so blessed to have had Gavin. We think that we are done having kids. I miss my Laiken so much and wanted to have another little girl, but know it is not a smart move. I just want to let others know, who have lost a baby, that there is HOPE. I took Heparin injections from 6 weeks. up until the day before delivery as well Aldomet and Labetalol for my high b.p. (something I never had prior to Laiken's birth besides when I had the HELLP). This helped to keep things under control during my pregnancy. I also took baby aspirin from the time that I lost Laiken last Sept. until I became pregnant in Dec. I think all of this helped. I was willing to try anything and had a great doctor who suggested these. I wanted to also say thank you for this website. I have met some great friends by posting a notice after Laiken passed away who I don't know what I would have done without. They were, and are, my lifeline through this long, sad, scary year since having lost her. I wish none of us had to meet this way, but am so thankful we did meet.
From Julie
Julie.Moran@co.nevada.ca.us (Auburn, CA) We are very happy to announce that we had our third child, a baby girl, via inducement at 37 weeks, on March 12, 2003...HELLP free!! During my first pregnancy I was induced at 36 weeks due to the protein levels in my urine and my blood work showing my platelets dropping quickly. Logan was born on January 18, 1997 and we both spent five days in the hospital, getting healthy enough to go home. On April 14, 1999, Riley was born at 34 weeks and he stayed in the ICN for 2 weeks, putting on weight and ridding himself of jaundice. I left after five days, anxious to get home to Logan and my husband. After lengthy discussions with my perinatologist and being diagnosed with two clotting disorders we decided to try for a third. We were hoping for a girl and really wanted to see a pregnancy through to the very end and experience a "normal" birth. We started trying for #3 in April '01 and unfortunately experienced the trauma of miscarriage. In 2001 I lost two pregnancies in 3 months. Life was hard for a while but we decided to try again in June '02 and we got pregnant in July. We were blessed with a perfect baby girl, Lucy Madeline, on March 12, 2003. We got our wish, a beautiful daughter and a HELLP-free pregnancy/delivery, thanks to twice daily heparin injections and superb prenatal care. Now all we need is a sister for Lucy.....but that's still being discussed and debated. Guess we will just have to wait and see! Thanks for all of the support!
From Jill
paavo@mninter.net I am pleased to announce that my daughter Teija Vesa was born in April. The pregnancy went well with few complications. I did have problems with reoccurring bladder infections during my third trimester. I also had right sided back pain 1-2 weeks before I delivered which my midwife felt was due to the baby putting pressure on my kidney (both are symptoms which did not occur during my HELLP syndrome pregnancy). She was born at about 38 weeks gestation and there were no signs of HELLP. I had severe HELLP two years ago during my first pregnancy with my son. He is doing fine now but definitely had a rough start compared to my daughter.
From Patricia
(Co-Rep for Ohio) Pbcollins516@msn.com (Fairview Park, OH) I just wanted to give you my exciting news. I gave birth to John Robert on Oct. 10 and am happy to say HELLP Free!!! John Robert weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz., 19 inches long. Anyone who has had a loss should not give up!!!!! I have had 2 subsequent pregnancies HELLP Free!!!
From Kim
KimorBrand@aol.com (Gilmer, TX) Our baby boy is here. Grant Parker was born 10/30/03 2 lbs. 15 ozs.
I have been in the hospital a few weeks and still trying to fight the problems it did to me. I developed the severe preeclampsia and the HELLP Syndrome again and this time it was worse. I'm still having problems with my liver & kidneys but I did get home!
Grant is doing GREAT!! He is now 3 lbs. 7 ozs. and growing fast and having NO PROBLEMS!! He was healthy at birth, but had to go on the ventilator a little while afterwards and was only on the vent a few days. It saved his strength and now he is doing AWESOME!! GOD IS GOOD and we will have our little boy home with us soon!! (Praying for Thanksgiving, but will be looking at 2 wks. before Christmas being when he can come home!) He has lots of hair and looks like his big sister Savannah and his Daddy!
I am not allowed to do anything what so ever and I had to beg to get online to email everyone! I'm heading back to bed and will contact you all again soon. Please keep praying that my liver enzymes and labs will continue to get back to normal ranges.
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