Pregnancy-induced eclampsia: experiences and advice?

Two years ago, I went through a total nightmare with childbirth. Preeclampsia wasn't even caught during those final weeks, so I ended up in emergency C-section territory with my blood pressure hitting 230/125. Against all odds, my pressure wouldn't drop after delivery either, which led to an eclamptic seizure that night. It trashed my liver and kidneys for a bit. After sticking to a super strict diet, things finally started leveling out. I'm doing okay now.
Since medical science basically has zero answers when it comes to why eclampsia happens, I’m flying blind regarding any future pregnancies. And honestly, I really want another baby...
Has anyone else been through something this intense? Did anyone actually decide to try again after a trauma like that? If so, how did the next pregnancy go?
Please, if you can, share your stories. Real-life experiences are the only thing that might help me make this decision. Thanks!

My sister-in-law went through this right toward the end of her pregnancy—I think she was about eight months along. It ended up being a C-section, and she gave birth to a little boy who had to be rushed straight to the NICU because he was so premature. Sadly, he passed away after just two days due to underdeveloped lungs. 😢 She eventually recovered physically, but she hasn't been able to have any more children since then.

I actually dealt with HELLP syndrome myself, which, from what I understand, is closely tied to preeclampsia. It usually starts with high blood pressure, elevated liver enzymes, and protein in the urine—thankfully, I didn't have those specific markers. But then you get the platelet drop, red blood cell breakdown, and before you know it, the liver, kidneys, and lungs start failing... Honestly, if it isn't caught early, about 80% of moms don't make it, and a huge percentage of babies don't either. I was lucky enough to have doctors who caught it just in time and moved straight to delivery. It was at 33 weeks, but thank God everything turned out okay. My blood pressure stayed up, though, so since I’m still breastfeeding, I’m staying on the same medication I used during pregnancy. I’m planning to switch things up soon because my doctor is definitely not thrilled with what I’m currently taking. They told me there's about a 10% chance of high blood pressure returning in a second pregnancy, which brings back the risk of eclampsia and HELLP again. But I am absolutely planning on having another child. I went through IVF and I still have a few frozen embryos that I refuse to let go to waste. Lucy turns one today, so maybe I'll wait for one more before starting the whole process all over again. My doctor insisted that for my next pregnancy, I'll definitely be having a C-section. In cases like mine, they monitor your blood work and blood pressure incredibly strictly, and they usually induce early just to eliminate any possibility of something going wrong.

Thanks, Kimberly Nelson5! It’s honestly heartbreaking reading stuff like this... I feel so bad for your sister-in-law. I actually need to hear these kinds of horror stories, though, because I’m seriously second-guessing whether I should go through with a second pregnancy.

Thanks, Grace Foster37! Your story ended on a high note, and you’re definitely brave for getting through that. As you can see, I’m still stuck in limbo... knowing that things like eclampsia or HELLP syndrome can be so fatal makes it hard. I really hope more people share their experiences here, hopefully with better endings next time.

is it just us three unlucky bastards?