I originally published my preeclampsia birth story in May 2020. Since its original publication, I have gone through a lot of therapy and have remembered parts of the story that I didn’t remember last year. I also have clarified some things and made changes to make the story flow a bit more. Everything I described is true and what I experienced. When you experienced a traumatic birth, sometimes you don’t remember everything as your brains’ way of protecting you.
If you want to stay updated on my latest posts and follow along with this story click here to subscribe. Click here to read Part 2 (Time For My Unexpected Hospitalization). To read part 3 (Have This Baby Immediately) click here. Click here for Part 4 (The Painful Time After C-Section). And click here for part 5 (Strong Emotions in the NICU).
Table of Contents
My Preeclampsia Birth Story: Something Was Wrong
Once I hit 28 weeks pregnant my doctors expressed concerns over my blood pressure. I saw many doctors in the clinic I went to including a Certified Nurse Midwife. Each time I went in for a routine appointment, my blood pressure was slowly rising.
At 30 weeks, the certified nurse-midwife in the clinic I went to, prescribed me a blood pressure cuff to use so I could take my pressure at home. I recorded my pressures before I went to work in the morning and before I went to bed. I was told if my pressures ever got to be 140/90 to immediately go into the clinic, if it was opened, or to go to L&D. I was never explained why that specific number or why I needed to seek medical care if I ever hit that number.
When I was 32 weeks I took my blood pressure like normal before I went to work. It read 142/91. Immediately, my mind started to race. With my hands shaking, I took the cuff off my arm and sat at my kitchen table for a few minutes to try and calm myself down before I took another reading. I then put the cuff back on and tried it again. 142/94 was the number I hit. I muttered a “crap.” And then relaxed again, hoping that it was just another fluke. On my third try, I hit 143/92.
This wasn’t good.
I immediately called my husband at work and told him, “I’m going into the clinic. My pressure is over 140/90.”
“Oh..okay.” His voice shaking with concern, “You sure? Did you take it a few times and relax?”
“Yes, I did. I took it three times”
My Preeclampsia Birth Story: Heading To the Doctors Office
I hung up and then grabbed my keys and drove to my doctor’s office. Once I was in my car, I called my parents, with tears streaming down my face and my voice quivering, “I’m going to the doctor. My pressures are high. I’m not sure what is going to happen”. I have a really good relationship with my parents so they were already well aware that I needed to keep an eye on my blood pressure. They reassured me and prayed with me over the phone. I then made a quick call to my boss and explained that I would be late.
I waited for a while at the doctor’s office, because I didn’t have an appointment. It was also a Friday, which is the busiest day at the clinic I went to. At my clinic, there was a group of 3 doctors and 1 Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and throughout your pregnancy, you met with each of them because whoever was on call at the hospital was who delivered your baby. At this point, I had only met 2 of the doctors and the CNM. The third doctor I hadn’t met yet at this point.
My Preeclampsia Birth Story: The Doctors’ Reaction
After a few hours of waiting, I finally was called back by a nurse. She took my blood pressure multiple times, several urine samples, and my weight.
After a few hours of waiting, I finally was called back by a nurse. She took my blood pressure multiple times, several urine samples, and my weight. She kept asking me if I was having bad headaches, spotty or blurry vision, or upper right quadrant pain. I denied having all of those symptoms. I was also asked if my swollen feet/ankles got any worse (I had already complained at my last appointment about my swollen feet and legs and was advised to wear compression stockings during the day). My swelling did get much worse, but I didn’t notice it much in my feet and legs due to the compression stockings I was wearing all day.
She then took me into a room to wait for the doctor to visit me. Meanwhile, my husband, Steven, got off of work and showed up at the clinic. Steven’s work was 4 miles away from the clinic and since we only had one car he had to walk over so it took him some time.
While waiting I overheard the doctor talking to the nurse outside of my room.
“She’s only 32 weeks?!”
I don’t think he or the nurse realized I could hear that part of the conversation. It definitely wasn’t reassuring to hear a doctor exclaim something like that when you aren’t even sure why you had to come in when you got that blood pressure reading.
My Preeclampsia Birth Story: I’m Glad You Came In
He then came into the room and introduced himself to me and my husband. The doctor ended up seeing was the high-risk pregnancy doctor in the clinic called a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist (MFM) and I met him for the first time that day.
He then took my blood pressure himself.
“Think of your favorite vacation spot,” he advised.
I thought of Pensacola Beach that Steven and I visited the summer before. I could taste the salty water and smell sunscreen.
He immediately frowned as soon as the cuff beeped with its results. He then used his stethoscope and did a manual blood pressure reading. Once. Then twice. A third. And then a fourth time.
His expression became soft and his voice was no longer exclamatory.
“You were not overreacting. I am so glad you came in. Your pressures are high and I am concerned that you have developed pregnancy-induced hypertension. You will come in twice a week from now until you deliver. Blood will be drawn every time and you will have an ultrasound and non-stress test every week.”
I wasn’t explained why I was going to be seen so often or have blood drawn every time. Or even why I was going to have an ultrasound or a non-stress test, but I also never asked why.
Click here to read Part 2
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Preeclampsia can come on fast. It is important to be on top of your pregnancy and prepared for anything. Checking my blood pressure regularly was very important to me and if you are pregnant it should be important to you. Here is the blood pressure cuff that I used to stay on top of my health. Click on the picture below to get one for yourself.
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Wow! i’m so sorry you had to go through this but I’m so happy to hear you and your baby are safe and healthy.
Thank you
This had to have been scary! I am so sorry for had to go through that all!
It was. Grateful to be alive.