A reader consulted us recently if preeclampsia is repeated in new pregnancies. And although we have talked extensively about this disease that affects 15 percent of pregnant women, we have not talked about that point that worries many mothers who have suffered from a previous pregnancy and wish to become pregnant again.
Preeclampsia is a potentially serious disorder for both the mother and the baby that can complicate the pregnancy, causing among other things premature delivery or delayed fetal growth.
It is characterized by a rise in tension caused by pregnancy that appears around 20 weeks and disappears after delivery. If it is detected in time it can be controlled and treated properly to reduce the risks.
It is a disease that it occurs more frequently in the first pregnancy (nulliparous), who are exposed three more times to develop preeclampsia than those who have already had one or more previous pregnancies (multiparous).
In the second or subsequent pregnancy, the risk of developing preeclampsia again is 60 percent.
Indeed, having had a history of preeclampsia is a risk factor for developing it again, however women who have suffered from the disease are especially monitored in a new pregnancy from the beginning to, knowing the tendency, prevent it from developing again.
Therefore, if you have suffered preeclampsia in a first pregnancy does not mean that it necessarily happens again.
The general recommendation is that you can look for a second pregnancy. It will be the doctor in each case, depending on the severity of the previous preeclampsia, who will weigh the risks and benefits, or indicate the most appropriate preventive treatment before seeking a new pregnancy.
