Why Me?

Why did I get preeclampsia? How likely is it to happen to you?

Fact: Preeclampsia can happen to any woman regardless of age, race, socioeconomic class, lifestyle, or health status. That is why EVERY woman should be aware of the signs and symptoms. The risk for the population as a whole is around 5% in any pregnancy. There are some conditions that raise that base risk.
* a first pregnancy, or a first pregnancy with a new partner
* personal history. After a mild case at term, the risk may be no higher than a first pregnancy, but the earlier and more severely it struck, the greater the risk of recurrence.
* Age: teenagers and those over 40 
* Women who have chronic high blood pressure outside of pregnancy have a 25% chance of developing PE, and this is also true for women with a predisposition for high blood pressure that has not yet shown up.
* Autoimmune disease such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
* A blood clotting disorder such as Factor V Liden and MTHFR
* A family history of PE, especially if either grandmother had it while pregnant with Mom or Dad
* Carrying multiples
* Obesity

In my case, I have a blood clotting disorder, a suspected autoimmune disease, and a history of severe PE preterm. I also had twins in my last pregnancy.

Source: Preeclampsia Foundation
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