Educational Conference Brought Controversies to the Forefront
Preeclampsia is a complex disorder that often confounds even the most skilled clinicians, and there are very few postgraduate courses offered on this subject. One of the missions of the Preeclampsia Foundation is to fill this gap by facilitating healthcare provider education on the subject with the aim of improving health care practices. Almost every year since the inception of Saving Grace, the Foundation has sponsored a major continuing medical education event for healthcare providers in that region.
Click to read more… (www.preeclampsia.org)
Also check out:
The Preeclampsia Registry (www.preeclampsiaregistry.org)
The Preeclampsia Registry is a “Living Database” bringing together those affected, their family members, and researchers to advance knowledge and discover preventions and treatments for preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia Foundation Facebook Page
© Preeclampsia Foundation 2013 | www.preeclampsia.org
I just signed up for this foundation. Thanks for posting about it. I never knew much about preeclampsia or HELLP my doctors never really explained what I went through or how to deal with the after effects. All I know is that mine was severe and I’m just glad there is an organization out there trying to figure out why. I’m trying for another baby and I’d love to avoid getting both of these again.
I’m so glad I was able to help you find this great resource! I too had no idea what was happening to me, and had no warning at all when I was told at 28 weeks that I had the severe form HELLP Syndrome and had to deliver immediately or I could die. In the end I survived, but my son did not. We have been trying again for 3 years now, but unfortunately we have had 3 miscarriages since then. However, I still have hope we will become pregnant and it will stick again, but then the real fear will begin. The fear of getting preeclampsia again. The truth is, there is is no answer if any of us who have gone through this will get it again. I know some moms who had it with their first pregnancy but were fine with their next, and others who had it with every pregnancy. There’s no prevention for it at this time but the foundation is constantly looking for answers. For now the key is information and early detection.
I pray that you become pregnant again soon and that you don’t have to go through this ever again!
*hugs and prayers*
So sorry about your losses.. 🙁 I hope no other women have to go through this. It’s so scary .. my doctors refused to tell me what was going on in fear that my bp would sky rocket and I’d seizure.. scary times.
I’m so very sorry for your loss too. I’m absolutely shocked that your doctors didn’t tell you what was happening! You must have been so frightened! It’s bad enough you had to go through this, but to be kept in the dark during it is shocking and appalling! Regardless of the health risk, you should have been informed. Please know I’m always here if you want to talk.
Thank you for your kind words. The situation was pretty terrifying and my husband was so afraid he’d lose me and the baby. To be honest I don’t know if I would’ve been able to understand the diagnosis because I was so sick and in pain.. I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance because I was vomiting and in serious pain.. Which turned out to be the liver failing,,I remember waking up the next morning and the doctor came in and said “we are taking the baby” I said “TODAY..???” He said “yes” and then I was prepped for surgery..I was scared because I only turned 35 weeks that day…
Minus the vomiting, your story is almost the same as mine. I had severe pain in my upper abdomen and was told that was my liver failing too. I was seeing a Perinatologist for a problem with the placenta. He dismissed my pain because I mistakenly thought it was heartburn. He instead indicated that there was a problem with my son and that he had barely grown since my 24 week scan. He then sent me to another Perinatologist at a different clinic because her clinic is connected to hospital with a higher level NICU. So we went there the next day and it was the beginning of our nightmare. The Perinatologist was a major bitch. She did an ultrasound and said in the coldest voice I have ever heard, “you have to accept that even if we delay delivery as long as possible, your baby will probably die”. She left the room because I was crying uncontrollably, but then came rushing back in a few minutes later because she reviewed my vitals and in a panic said, “you have to go for STAT blood work, right now! You’re severely preeclamptic!”. I went for the blood work and was ushered to labor and delivery. When I got there, they already had my blood test results and they said I had HELLP syndrome and the pain I was experiencing was liver failure, and if they didn’t deliver immediately I could have seizures and die. I was only 28 weeks, but because of the problem with the placenta, my baby only measured 24 weeks. In a blur, several doctors,nurses, residents, surgeons and neonatologists all came in and starting prepping me as they talked to us and told me what was going to happen. I barely had time to sign all the paperwork and absorb everything before I was wheeled into surgery. I know what you mean about your husband. They had to take my husband into another room for a few minutes because he had a panic attack from the anxiety and fear. Afterward, they told me the problem with the placenta likely caused my preeclampsia, but they don’t really know for sure. I don’t have any predisposing factors for it so it’s a complete mystery why I got it and why I got it so early in pregnancy. We can’t turn back time and change anything, but I’m still so angry about it. The entire ordeal was the most terrifying experience of my life and losing my son was the worst thing we’ve ever had to go through. I so wish you didn’t have to go through this too. Sending you a big preeclampsia sister hug.
Prayers, neither of us ever has to go through that again!
: hugs: what a scary experience 🙁
Big hug back!