My story

In 2006 I found out I was pregnant for the first and only time. I was so excited and spent everyday planning for the baby coming. At the beginning of the pregnancy I had the normal morning sickness and it wasn't that bad but as the pregnancy progressed I had problem after problem. I had oedema in my hands and feet from about 4 months, I collapsed 5 times near the beginning of the pregnancy, I had a bleed and various other problems.

I couldn't understand how woman could enjoy pregnancy. I felt fat and tired the whole time. Everything was a effort.

At 33 weeks and 5 days. I woke up and looked at myself in the mirror, my face was swollen and I felt really tired. I had felt the baby kick when I was lying in bed that morning.

I got ready as I had a appointment with the midwive at lunchtime. I tired to pass urine for a sample but only could do a dribble. It was the warmest summer recorded in history so I thought I was just dehydrated. By this stage my legs were oedematous too.

When I got taken in for my appointment the midwive looked alarmed. She tested my urine and it had 4++++ of protein. She took my blood pressure and it was very high. She listened in to hear the babies heart beat but couldn't hear one. She called an ambulance and they took me to hospital.

At the hospital it was confirmed I had severe pre eclampsia and I had two ultrasound scans that confirmed that my baby had died.

As the night progressed so did the pre eclampsia. The medical staff and midwives were brillant and saved my life. My husband and family sat with me through the worst of it. They were told to expect the worse.

The next day when I had improved a bit they broke my waters and started me on a drip to induce me. It worked very quickly and at 12 15 on the 19th August our son Gerard was still born.

We got him blessed and photos taken of him. The midwive cut off a lock of his hair and took hand and foot prints for us to keep. They are tressured memories now.

Thank you for reading my story.

Bell.

Bell I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your precious little boy. I'm sure 2 years on it still feels very raw but I hope posting your story has helped in some small way.
We will all be here if you need to talk more or ask questions or just rant.
With lots & lots of love & hugs
Mouse xxxx

Hi Bell
Thank you for posting your story of this terrible condition that takes so much away from us. I am sorry to hear that in your case, it took away your precious Gerard. It must be so very painfull.
Unlike you, I enjoyed every single minute of my pregnancy, what a special time for me! The only sorrow I have is that it didn't last longer.
Wanted to send you hugs and let you know that we are here, whenever you need us.
xxx

Bell, I am so sorry to hear that you lost your beautiful baby. I hope that you can at least now feel that it wasn't your fault, but the result of this terrible illness that many of us don't know a great deal about. I too suffered in 2006, and have only just really thought about trying again. I hope that you feel a little better for telling your story here, I certainly felt better for knowing everyone here would understand.

Thank you for your replies. 2 years on it is still as painful as the day it happened when I think to deeply about it. But time is a great healer and every day is easier.

Bell.

Bell

I am so sorry for your loss its so tragic that this happens, I do hope that you can take comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone and will get help and support and hopefully encouragement from others (including my daughter) that have gone on to have succesful PE free pregnancies.

take care

Ingrid

Hi Ingrid,

I would love to have another baby so it is comforting to hear that your daughter had a PE free pregnancy and her baby was ok.
PE leaves you with a fear that it will happen again.

Bell.

Hi Bell

It is scary another pregnancy, I went with Samantha to most of her antenatals as her partner works permanent nights and I remember when they found +1 in her protien the colour drained from her and she was so anxious but it was clear the next week she gave a sample.
I remember her coming home from work crying her eyes out as she had pains in her groin and down her legs it turned out it was her ligaments stretching, every little twinge she got she panicked the only thing she was clear on was her headaches she knew the difference from an ordinary headache to the ones she suffered while carrying Brianna.

I too had a still born many years ago (29) dont know what caused it but I do remember being very scared all the way through carrying Samantha so I understand where you are coming from.

Samantha swears it was the Aspirin that helped and called it the miracle pill and she was also consultant lead and looked after all the way through. Samatha lost her little girl in September 2006 so it is nearly two years and it still feels like it was yesterday and I know when I read other stories like yourself it brings it all back.

I do hope that in time you will be able to make your decision in trying to concieve but as you can see from this forum there have been many happy outcomes and I do hope that this will be the same for you.

take care

Ingrid x

Hi Bell,

Welcome to the site, I am so sorry to read your story & the loss of your precious little boy.

I hope that you will find comfort, support and information from us that will help you to make your decisions and to achieve your own goals.

Warmest Wishes
Liz

I have been seeing some specialists recently to talk things through. I would love to try for another baby but I feel there are so many factors to take into account first and also would need to get myself to peak health.

After my baby died they did pathology on my placenta and it was found to have multi infarcts on it. So they did gene testing to see if there was anything that could have caused it. They found I have factor V Leiden. It is basically a gene mutation that makes your blood clot too much. In pregnancy your blood is naturally thicker and with this condition it just made it worse. I talked things through with a genologist and she felt that because of the factor V Leiden I should be taking 150 mgs aspirin per day.

I went to see a haematologist after that and have all my bloods checked to make sure nothing has been missed and she recommended that in a future pregnancy that I should take 40mg of clexane per day from when pregnancy is confirmed up to 36 weeks.

I went to see the consultant last week to get a pre pregnancy plan drawn up. After speaking to her it helps relieve some fears. She was very clear about what care I should get and what medications I should be on during pregnancy. It is a completely different hospital from where i was cared for through my last pregnancy and they are offering me scans and dopplers throughout a next pregnancy.

She sounded very supportive.

Bell.

Hello Bell

My heart goes out to you, I'm so sorry for what you went through. I can't even begin to imagine what that must've been like.

I'm so pleased you've had a positive meeting with your consultant, it sounds like they know what they are doing and will really look after you.

I know there are no guarantees, and this is what makes a subsequent pregnancy so scary. I know for me, one of the things I struggled with the most was loss of control over my own destiny, a few years ago I thought I'd have a huge family, as many babies as I wanted! Now I am just so grateful for the one I have, we do want to have another child, but the thought of a PE reoccurance is terrifying.

I'm sure that we can all support eachother here on our next journey into PE FREE pregnancies!

Love Nic x

Mummy to Jake born 37+4 by Emergency C Section due to Severe PE/Mild Hellp.

Hi Bell,

I am glad your meeting with the consultants have gone well. As long as everyone keeps communicating things should be a whold lot smoother for you.

From my experience, clexane is the preferred option for women who have FL-V and up until 36 weeks. So well done you for having the courage to seek out the answers to your questions in advance!

I hope that this positive road will continue for you.
Warm Wishes
Liz

Hi Bell.
I'm so pleased your appointment went well & that you've got a plan. In a way it must almost be 'good' to have a reason & a treatment.
I was on clexane in my first pregnancy until 32 weeks (only because I'd had fertility treatment) & PET started 2 weeks after I stopped - I'm pretty sure it wasn't a coincidence. I really hope that the clexane keeps away the PET for your next pregnancy & that being on it will allay some fears.
I'm not taking it this time round & although there's no obvious reason to be on it & everything seems to be OK so far I sort of wish I was!
Take care
xxx

Thank you to everyone for your replies. It is so good to talk to woman that know what we have been through and can understand our worries. Pre eclampsia is such a terrible event in a womans life and it is something we need to keep talking about. I sometimes think that talking to others about it is the only thing that has kept me sane. I made a decision early on to talk about it openly to others and I do feel that it has helped.