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Complications & Cesareans

HELLP Syndrome and Pregnancy

Understanding HELLP Syndrome

HELLP syndromeAt almost 28 weeks pregnant, 30-year-old Michelle Berndt of Nashua, N.H., was having a complication-free pregnancy. Feeling great, eating right and ensuring time for physical activity, Berndt and her husband were anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. With less than one week until her next routine prenatal examination, Berndt tried to ignore the signs that something might not be quite right. "I assumed my sudden weight gain was just part of being pregnant and that my chest pain was a bad case of indigestion," she says.

After almost a day of progressively increasing chest pain and difficulty breathing, Berndt relented and agreed to go to the emergency room. "I felt silly," she says. "I thought I should be able to tolerate some heartburn or indigestion."

HELLP affects mainly the liver because it is deprived of oxygen due to the clots.

With no history of high blood pressure or preeclampsia, being diagnosed with Hemolysis, Elevated Liver, Low Platelet, or HELLP, syndrome, Berndt and her husband found themselves in a situation they were completely unaware of and unprepared for. Devastated and terrified for the health and safety of both Michelle and their unborn child, the Berndts were reeling from the tests and medication being administered.

They contemplated trying to speed up her delivery with Pitocin. Berndt's condition continued to deteriorate and she and her husband were told she needed to have an emergency C-section. "I couldn't believe that Michelle had developed such a serious complication that we knew nothing about," says Bill Berndt.

What Is HELLP?
HELLP syndrome is a placental disease that is considered to be a variant of the complication preeclampsia. HELLP occurs when vasospasms occur in the body and blood vessels act like a muscle relaxing and contracting. Blood passes through the relaxing and contracting veins, causing damage to a special lining in the veins. As damage occurs, red blood cells and platelets try to heal the damage and create clots over the damage. The clots grow and begin to stress the body as it works to push the blood past this damage. HELLP affects mainly the liver because it is deprived of oxygen due to the clots.


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HELLP Syndrome and Pregnancy

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Jennifer says
4 days, 16 hours ago

I developed HELLP at 36 weeks. No signs, just experienced one blinding severe headache. Went into hospital for evaluation and they immediately induced. My son was born under 5 lbs. I spent week in hospital trying to get my platlet count back up. Got down to 50K, left with it around 120K. Now trying to decide if a second child is possible since I will soon be 36. High risk OB recommends going for it since my liver enzymes were around 300 vs her other patients that have much higher. But still very very scared to try. Also learned that fertility treatments increases risks in case you didn't know that!

Anonymous says
3 weeks, 2 days ago

I developed HELLP syndrome after going 39 weeks (full term.. thank goodness.) No signs of pre-ecclampsia or ecclampsia until I went in to the hospital because my water broke. Once labor started blood pressure rocketed, hyper-reflexia occurred, seizure happened and then HELLP developed. Needless to say healthy baby was born without c-section ( my doctor let me labor although I was post-ictal and don't remember any of it) Went on 2 years later and had another baby without any complications although followed by MFM. Super scary and we got super lucky!

Holly says
3 weeks, 2 days ago

I also like lynda had Hellp in my 5th pregnancy, we had 2boys ages 14 and 4 and 2girls that passed away form fluke things Alexis because of a bee sting during the pregnancy I'm allergic she lived 6.5 min and Scarlett from a CMV infection that caused major brain damage, she lived 18 days she was also full term. Imagine my surprise when I developed HELLP at 22.5 weeks our daughter, Sienna she had no brain bleeds and is doing well despite being born at 340gms (12)oz. She was in NICU fo 6 1/2 months. Jan-09 to July -09. We are having another daughter (surprise) despite best efforts to prevent, were happy but scared I'm 19 weeks. Anyone have HELLP again a second time after several full term births????

Lindsey says
January 26, 2010

I had HELLP with my first child. I had no warning signs of preclampsia or HELLP...atleast that I knew of. It turns out I was abnormally exhausted and this is a symptom. I woke up one morning with pain under my ribs. By the end of the day it had progressed to severe pain and at the end of the night I was in the hospital and the doctors are telling me I will have to deliver by baby at 32weeks. I was scared and unprepared. He was born 2 days later by c-section at 3lbs 1oz. He spent a month in the NICU and is a healthy, busy, normal 3 year old. I am pregnant again and am prepared for a similar pregnancy although my husband and I are hopeful I can go full term.

Francine says
October 27, 2009

Yes, HELLP can be very dangerous but you can get through it. I had HELLP with my 1st child 11 yrs ago, docs were not as familiar with it back then, one symton to watch for is also swelling. My ankles were as big as my thighs. I delivered by c-sction a healthly 7lbs 14oz boy, five yrs later a 8lb 7oz girl. I am 39 and considering another child. I am very woried and looking for all the advice I can get.

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