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If you have had preeclampsia in one pregnancy, you may worry that you will get it again in your next pregnancy.

Women who have had preeclampsia are much more likely to get it in their next pregnancy than women who have not had it before.¹ But the good news is that most women don't get it again. And those who do tend to get it later on in their next pregnancy, when it is likely to be less serious for mother and baby.²

You are most likely to get preeclampsia again if any of these things apply to you.

• You had preeclampsia early in your first pregnancy. Women who got preeclampsia before 30 weeks have a 4 in 10 chance of getting it again in their next pregnancy.^{3 4}
• You have a problem with the way your blood clots. You may have found out about this when you had preeclampsia the first time.⁵
• You had preeclampsia for the first time in a second or later pregnancy.⁶
• You become pregnant by a new partner.

If you had severe preeclampsia early in your first pregnancy, you may not have an entirely normal pregnancy the next time, even if you don't get preeclampsia. For example, you may have a smaller baby and an earlier delivery than a woman who didn't have preeclampsia before.⁷

If you are thinking about getting pregnant again after preeclampsia, see a specialist doctor first. This will give you a chance to:

• Ask questions about what happened in the earlier pregnancy
• Have tests that will show if there are any things about your health that would put you at risk for preeclampsia next time
• Talk about what care you will need during your next pregnancy.

In your next pregnancy, you should be cared for by an obstetrician or a perinatologist (an obstetrician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of problems during pregnancy). And you should have checkups more often than usual during this pregnancy.⁸

There is no sure way to prevent preeclampsia. But you may be able to lower your risk by:⁹

• Taking a very small dose of aspirin every day during pregnancy, under strict supervision by your doctor
• Taking calcium pills every day (you may hear these called calcium supplements).

To learn more, see Treatments for preventing preeclampsia.

Always check with your doctor before you start taking anything new if you are pregnant. He or she can tell you if it is safe for you and your baby.

There is also no sure way for your doctor to tell if you will get preeclampsia again. That's why he or she needs to keep an eye on you with more frequent checkups.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.