This week, I am excited to share an interview with a HELLP Syndrome survivor. HELLP Syndrome and preeclampsia survivors are amazing and strong women who have faced some of the worst things you can face during pregnancy and postpartum. In the past few months, I have interviewed a preeclampsia survivor from the UK and her husband as well as a postpartum preeclampsia survivor. I have also interviewed a preeclampsia survivor who started her own Instagram page to bring awareness to NICU babies as well as one who created her own non-profit. I am in awe of these strong women who have taken something so traumatic and horrible into something that helps others.
If you would like to read my own premature birth story and journey with preeclampsia, click here.
Each week during the next few months I will be sharing the stories of women who are preeclampsia, eclampsia, or HELLP Syndrome, survivors. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list so you can see my next posts when they are published.
Table of Contents
What is HELLP Syndrome?
HELLP Syndrome is a life-threatening pregnancy complication that is a form of preeclampsia. It gets its name from the following symptoms: Hemolysis (breaking down of red blood cells), Elevated Liver enzymes Low Platelet count. The mortality rate of HELLP is high-up to 30%. This is why it is so critical for pregnant women to know the symptoms.
About Me
My name is Cinthia Garza. I am 28 years old, married to the love of my life, and a mother of twin boys. My family and I live in Mexico and I currently work as a strategic planning coordinator in an automotive Mexican company.
Pregnancy/Birth
Tell me about your pregnancy.
The journey of my pregnancy was hard. I was considered high risk since the beginning of it. I was put on rest starting at week 12.
What was it like the day your babies were born?
My twins were born on July 11th, 2018 at only 32 weeks. We arrived at the hospital, and all happened so fast. They started checking me and my blood pressure was 160/100. That was the first time my pressure was so high. They ran blood tests, and it was getting worse. So I received shots in my legs to prevent clots. I got pinched every hour in my ears to review my coagulation. I needed to be stabilized before I had any procedure.
It was such a painful night. I was put on the intensive care unit and reviewed every minute, they told me I had to have an emergency c-section once I was stabilized and the surgery had to be with full anesthesia because I had a high risk to bleed out and die (those were the literal words of the anesthetist). Above all that, I had to have a platelet transplant during the c-section.
The c-section story is harder and my recovery in the ICU is too. I had pulmonary edema, my heart was bigger (right now is ok thank God), my legs were super swelled, my skin was covered in bruises, my spleen and liver swelled, and I was anemic.
What made the c-section recovery so hard?
I was so swelled that they to leave a Penrose to drain all the bloody liquid. I had percussive therapy to help my lungs recover from the pulmonary edema and injections in my belly every 8 hours to help blood coagulation.
When did you know something was wrong?
Everything was kind of normal until my legs started to swell like crazy. Even though I was feeling ok I knew something was wrong, that was Friday, 6th of July.
On Saturday we went to the hospital to get checked and I seemed all normal. On Sunday I started with super contractions at 6 am so we went back to the hospital. Doctors were able to stop them and they sent me back home.
Thank God my sister just graduated from medical school and she was about to start her residency as an OB-Gyn. She was not comfortable with what the doctors were saying so she asked me to do a 24 hours urine test and with that, I realized that I went to pee only 4 times in the day!! That was crazy! My contractions were controlled but still had them, so on Tuesday the 10th my sister ordered me to have a urine test, complete blood test, and liver function.
The results were ready at 2 pm, when she saw the test results, it was like she saw a ghost. My platelet levels were below 100 and all the indicators were wrong. I called my gynecologist and went to the hospital as soon as possible.
Hospital Stays
Tell me about your hospital stay when you were diagnosed with preeclampsia/HELLP.
Thank God my twins and I are alive. We are a miracle. I spent 1.5 weeks in the hospital. My twins were 4 weeks in the NICU. Thankfully they only needed to gain weight.
Why was your hospital stay for almost 2 weeks? Was it because of your blood pressure?
Yes because of high BP. Also for my swollen spleen. They wanted to be sure that my platelet count was good. As well as the blood coagulation issue, and the anemia
What was the NICU stay like for you?
It was difficult. Thank God my twins were good; they only had to gain more weight. It was painful because I couldn’t walk. My family took me in a wheelchair until I was able to walk. I had the chance to know other mothers whose children’s health was really critical. I got the chance to support them so it was like we were supporting each other.
Reflection
How has your life changed since the preeclampsia/HELLP diagnosis?
I did not know I had severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome until my twins were born and after I was stable. HELLP and preeclampsia changed my life. I was a perfectionist kind of person and all that happened made me realize what the important things in life are.
Did you struggle with any emotions of failure/upset that it happened to you?
It was very painful for me to leave my twins at the hospital. I was very depressed but had no time for that because I needed to be okay with my children. I went to visit them every single day even though I was not feeling okay.
How long did you suffer from the effects of preeclampsia/HELLP?
I had high blood pressure for 1 year and then disappeared. Still struggling with terrible pain in my left leg because of the joint swelling. I had an appendectomy 6 months later and a hernia repaired.
Describe your journey with preeclampsia in 3 words.
Strength. Faith. Miracle.
What was your biggest support during this experience?
My husband and family were my rocks and I love them so much for being there all the time. God was with us all the time. We are living miracles.
Did you know that preeclampsia could occur before it happened to you?
I was aware that preeclampsia could occur but had no idea that HELLP syndrome existed.
What do you think doctors who are treating HELLP patients should know?
My doctors were very accurate with the treatment and I am grateful for that. I had all my follow-up appointments prior to the delivery. It really happened so fast. I think they should warn us more about these, not commonly known diseases.
What would you tell a woman currently diagnosed with HELLP?
Listen to your body. When you feel something is not right is because it isn’t. Prior to the delivery date, I didn’t want to sleep because I thought I was not going to wake up. A terrible and strange feeling. I had tachycardia, pain in the upper part of my tummy, and all the swelling.
What advice would you give to a mom whose baby is in the NICU?
Say your prayers. Have faith and patience. I was not able to hold my boys until 3 days after they were born. First, be sure that you are okay because that will help your babies more than going to NICU feeling bad. They need to feel all the positive feelings.
What have you done to heal from the emotional/mental effects of HELLP and a traumatic birth?
I went to therapy and was on medication for depression for a year. Sharing my story helped me feel better because I know I’m helping other pregnant women be aware of what they feel so they can get help in time.
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If you are a preeclampsia survivor or HELLP syndrome survivor and would like to share your story, please contact me through email at courtney@knockonmotherhood.com. I would love to share your birth story and keep spreading awareness. I am trying to gather as many preeclampsia survivors’ birth stories as possible to spread awareness.
If you are a preemie mom, I would also love to share your story. Please contact me through email at courtney@knockonmotherhood.com.
