If You Suffered Severe Toxemia Can You Have Another Baby?

If you were unlucky enough to suffer severe toxemia during your first pregnancy, you know the pain and anguish of your pregnancy is not something you ever want to repeat again. But what are the chances of severe toxemia repeating in a second pregnancy? Below are a few tips you should know about what you can expect about a second pregnancy.

The first thing you should know is that not every woman who suffers from toxemia in her first pregnancy will be hit with it again in subsequent pregnancies. I had a hairdresser who suffered from toxemia and then went on to have two totally healthy pregnancies. However, when I was in the emergency room with severe toxemia 2 days before I would eventually have an emergency c-section, I was told that woman who suffer from severe toxemia will almost always get it there second pregnancy and almost always have a worse experience. So what is severe toxemia? Severe toxemia does not hit you two weeks before your due date and cause you to have to be induced. Severe toxemia hits you two months before your due date and causes you to have an emergency c-section.

So what can mothers who suffered severe toxemia do? The most important thing is to choose a doctor who you trust completely. Because of the high risk of my second pregnancy, I was shuffled from doctor to doctor and ended up at a local clinic where my care was sporadic and generic. I never felt like anyone paid me any attention or took good care of me. Having a doctor you can talk to and trust will go a long way into making this pregnancy a smoother one.

Know that you will worry so much more this pregnancy! I was diagnosed with toxemia 3 days before giving birth to my son during my first pregnancy. Up until that point I didn't even realize I was sick! During your second pregnancy you know from day one that you have the potential to be dangerously sick and you will sweat that out until the day you give birth. Every little hiccup will send you screaming to the doctor. It is okay to stay on top of your medical care and your condition but try not to let the stress of the situation take over your life.

Prepare yourself in every way possible. Although I desperately hoped for a full pregnancy, during my second attempt I replayed everything that happened with my son so that I could be prepared for anything that came my way. I envisioned the hospital and what it was like to visit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I talked about it with friends or family who had not experienced the first pregnancy and tried to stress to them the importance of what we were all dealing with. However, remember that no matter how well you think you are prepared, this is a totally separate pregnancy and can and probably will have totally different results. Just because certain things happened the first time does not mean they will happen the second. Maybe you will get luckier in some areas, but you should also prepare yourself for the unluckier aspects as well.

Finally, know that it is okay to be scared. During my second pregnancy, I part of me was scared not to get sick, because I didn't know how to deal with a 7 month pregnant body. I knew how to deal with hospitals and nurses and wheelchairs. There was comfort in the familiarity of things. While I never wished to be sick, I was scared to wish for a happy, healthy baby. I was worried I wouldn't know what to do and would somehow do it wrong. This seems so silly now, but many of the things we worry about seem silly once the threat is past. Know that it is okay to be scared and worried but that you and your doctors are working very hard to make this pregnancy a successful one.

Severe toxemia is a very serious and very scary outcome to any pregnancy and I wish everyone the best of luck. Hopefully these few tips will help with the mental aspect of knowing what is going on. If your mind is prepared just maybe you will get lucky and your body with follow suit!