Mary and Greg Pellegrino are thinking about having a second child, but they’re not considering the factors couples usually do, such as whether they can afford it or whether they have enough space in their house. Their decision rests squarely on this question: Will Mary die? She almost did the first time.

Key Takeaways:

• Mary Pellegrino, now 35, had a severe form of preeclampsia. The hallmark of the disease is high blood pressure, and it affects about 3% to 5% of pregnancies in the United States.
• Globally, the Preeclampsia Foundation states the number of women developing the condition each year is ten million, with an estimated 76,000 deaths from preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders.
• Studies show that a woman who had severe preeclampsia in her first pregnancy, like Pellegrino, has about a 20 to 40 percent chance of getting it again.

“Mary Pellegrino, now 35, had a severe form of preeclampsia. The hallmark of the disease is high blood pressure, and it affects about 3% to 5% of pregnancies in the United States.”

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/health/risking-life-for-second-baby-eprise-profile/index.html