My Gut Feeling Saved My Life: Interview With Brave Rachel

This week, I am excited to share another interview with a preeclampsia survivor who had a great gut feeling that saved her life. 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 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.

I am a preeclampsia survivor, and if you would like to read my premature birth story and journey with preeclampsia, click here

About Me:

My name is Rachel. I am 26 years old. Married to a wonderful husband and mom to a beautiful baby girl. I’m from Texas but loving in Ohio.

Tell me about your pregnancy:

My pregnancy journey was hard if that’s even the correct word to use. It started off great, don’t get me wrong, I was a newlywed, so to find out I was pregnant was exciting, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the road ahead and the gut feeling that would save me. At 19 weeks, I was diagnosed with an Incompetent Cervix. I had an emergency cerclage to keep my baby in a bit longer. 

What was it like the day your baby was born?

My daughter was born in April 2020 at 27 weeks. 2 weeks prior I was admitted. The doctor admitted me to the hospital to keep a close look at me and my daughter. I remember him telling me when I first got admitted the baby could come any day. But they will try to keep her in. If blood pressure continues to go up, they’d deliver. I had an emergency c-section to save my life and my daughter’s life. 

When did you know something was wrong?

With my pregnancy, I knew something was wrong when I started having migraines that wouldn’t go away and the throwing up got worse. I was pregnant but it felt as though I was sick. I actually had to switch OBGYN’s. The first one I had, my first OB didn’t listen to any of my concerns, her response to anything I came to her with was “ that’s normal, it’s a part of pregnancy” … I remember leaving that appointment and telling my husband if I continued to listen to her it would only lead to my death. I had a gut feeling that something was off.

You said you had a gut feeling something was wrong. Can you talk about that more?

Honestly, it was just a voice in my head, the first OBGYN I had didn’t listen, at all. I went to her twice and each time I told her about my gut feeling it was always those are just “part of pregnancy”… she never seemed interested to even have a conversation. So I remember cutting that appointment short when and leaving, I told my husband when he picked me up “if I stay with this lady, I might as well be signing my death certificate” .. so that same day it was a Thursday, I started looking for a different doctor. I found one not too far and He had a spot open for Monday and I took it.

Later that same Thursday night, I go to use the restroom. Noticed blood, so panicking we rushed to the emergency room. I was told my cervix was dilated. I was going to be transferred to a different hospital and the doctors there can tell me what was happening and how to go about it. The following morning, the doctors came into my room and told me I had an incompetent Cervix, at the time I was 19 weeks. The doctor came and laid out three scenarios:

“We could terminate the pregnancy, we could do nothing and go into labor, and there’d be nothing they could do or I could have a procedure called an emergency cerclage.

We chose the third option, to do the emergency cerclage. “ it was risky” I remember the doctor saying, along with everything that could go wrong. I remember while she was talking my mind completely blocked her out. I began praying, asking God to save my baby. After I prayed, every ounce of fear that I had literally went away. Thankfully the procedure was successful and the cerclage did its part until preeclampsia.

What did your new doctor say about your gut feeling?

He was a bit surprised at how I was treated by the other doctor at the other location. Once I told him all about my gut feeling, he ordered a blood pressure kit for me to have at home and had me do a 24 hr urine test.

Tell me about your hospital stay when you were diagnosed with preeclampsia.

I was hospitalized 2.5 weeks prior to having an emergency c-section. After birth, I was also hospitalized for another 2 weeks. My baby girl was in the NICU for 2 months 

What other symptoms did you experience?

The blurred vision, migraines that wouldn’t go away, nausea nonstop, I was throwing up when I wasn’t even eating. 

How has your life changed since the preeclampsia diagnosis following your gut feeling?

My life changed honestly. Now I know complications that do come with pregnancy, it doesn’t happen to everyone of course. But these are things I wish I knew or was made aware of. It’s as if no one really talks about it until you’ve gone through it. 

What was the hardest thing about your daughter’s NICU stay?

The hardest part about my daughter’s NICU stay would be just having her in the NICU. She’s my first baby ever, so how I imagined my pregnancy going– it went completely left. The nurse was nice, always there to help. Also being an hour away was hard.

Did you struggle with any emotions of failure/upset that it happened to you after you got the gut feeling?

What I struggled the most with was leaving my daughter in the hospital. In my head, I had my pregnancy planned out. When things took a turn, though it was upsetting, I left it in God’s hands. 

How long did you suffer from the effects of preeclampsia?

I’m still dealing with high blood pressure now, and it’s been six months.

Describe your journey with preeclampsia in 3 words.

Scary, Faith, Miracle.

Did you know that preeclampsia could occur before it happened to you?

No, I didn’t. I actually had never heard of it. 

What advice would you tell someone who was just diagnosed with preeclampsia?

You are amazing! listen to your gut feeling, advocate for yourself. When you feel like something is off, that’s because it is. Ask questions, lots of questions. 

What was your biggest support? (Family, friends, religion, etc) 

My m husband, family, my best friends they and of course God.

What have you done to heal from the delivery and pregnancy?

Because my delivery was traumatic, I got therapy. Sharing my story has helped me heal. As well as talking to other NICU moms and praying.

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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.

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