This week, I am excited to share another interview with a preeclampsia survivor who had preeclampsia at 29 weeks. Preeclampsia survivors are amazing and strong women who have faced some of the worst things you can face during pregnancy and postpartum.
This post was originally published September 2, 2021.
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In the past, 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. 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
Table of Contents
Preeclampsia at 29 Weeks
About Me:
My name is Leilani, and I had preeclampsia at 29 weeks with severe features. I am a CNA at the same hospital where I was cared for during preeclampsia at 29 weeks. I am married to my wonderful husband of 2 years and I have two cats. I have my beautiful little girl that I had preeclampsia at 29 weeks and we spent 83 days in the NICU.
Tell me about your pregnancy.
My pregnancy had honestly been a breeze, I got morning sickness at 5 weeks that lasted till 14ish weeks. I got COVID-19 at 14 weeks pregnant, unfortunately, but I didn’t have any problems. I even asked my OB at 24 weeks if I was having a normal and healthy pregnancy, and she said it was a great pregnancy. That abruptly changed at 27 weeks when I got punched at work and then had a headache that just wouldn’t go away. At my 29-week appointment, my doctor thought something was wrong and sent me to the hospital to be checked out.
What was it like the day your baby was born?
I feel like a horrible mother saying this but it was a horrible day. The night before my BP just skyrocketed and they couldn’t get it down, I felt fine so I was confused and scared. I got told I had to have my daughter by emergency c-section right then and I had no choice. They wheeled me into the OR and I delivered at 1:25 am. She was born with no heartbeat from lack of blood.
While I was lying there on the table I was told they had been doing CPR for 15 and being asked if we wanted them to continue CPR and they were about to give up, after 21 minutes they got her back. I couldn’t see her until about 4 pm that day, but the second they got me into my room I sent my husband to go see her and take pictures.
When did you know something was wrong?
I knew something was up at about 27 weeks when I got a headache that wouldn’t go away and my feet started to swell. But I thought it was just the normal pregnancy stuff and the fact that I work nights at the hospital. I gained 12 pounds in a week too and I knew that wasn’t normal.
Tell me about your hospital stay when you were diagnosed with preeclampsia at 29 weeks.
So it started with a normal check-up at 28 weeks and 6 days, the doctor saw my vitals and symptoms and sent me to the hospital to be monitored for a couple of hours and see what they think. Well, 3 hours later the doctor came in and said I had preeclampsia at 29 weeks with severe features and was being admitted right that minute. So I had nothing. I called my husband’s work crying my eyes out and he came rushing to the hospital.
They got me on the magnesium drip, gave me the shot for my daughter’s lungs, and catheter, and told me to not move. I spent 3 days in that labor bed until I got rushed into an emergency c-section because my BP went into the 210s/110s and would not go down. I spent another 4 days in the postpartum unit I went home on BP meds.
How has your life changed since the preeclampsia at 29 weeks diagnosis?
I don’t drink caffeine. If I feel funny I check my blood pressure all the time. I still take hospital-dose BP meds. I’m scared to have another child because I don’t want to almost die again.
Did you struggle with any emotions of failure/upset that preeclampsia at 29 weeks happened to you?
I struggle big time with feeling like a failure, I didn’t even make it to 30 weeks pregnant. My daughter was in the NICU for 83 days fighting for her life before we brought her home. I’m upset I got rushed into an emergency c-section and that my OB never told me the risk of preeclampsia even though I had BP at all my appointments.
How long did you suffer from the effects of preeclampsia at 29 weeks?
I would say I’m still suffering the effects, I had my daughter in April of this year (2021) and I still need to take BP meds.
Describe your journey with preeclampsia at 29 weeks in 3 words.
Scary, frustrating, isolating
Did you know that preeclampsia at 29 weeks could occur before it happened to you?
I had heard it at my first appointment but it was in the middle of a long list of what can go wrong in a pregnancy.
What advice do you have for other preeclampsia survivors?
I would say my best advice is to listen to your body after diagnosis. Don’t push yourself thinking that you have to do everything and that everything is normal. We are survivors that went through hell and back because of preeclampsia and we need to heal, both mentally and physically. We didn’t have a normal pregnancy or delivery. Most importantly, try to not feel guilty or ashamed if you didn’t carry to term or didn’t have the delivery you wanted. I am personally still working on this myself.
Thank you to Leilani for sharing her story of preeclampsia at 29 weeks. Stories are a powerful tool to help spread awareness of preeclampsia and connect with other preeclampsia survivors. It is important for preeclampsia survivors to feel like they aren’t the only ones in the world to experience what they did, which is something stories do.
Preeclampsia at 29 Weeks FAQs
Can you get preeclampsia at 29 weeks?
Yes, you can. Preeclampsia can occur anytime after 20 weeks of pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum.
If you get preeclampsia at 29 weeks will you need to deliver immediately?
It depends on the provider and how the patient is doing. Preeclampsia is very serious and needs to be treated to so mom and baby can stay healthy, even if early delivery is required.
If I get diagnosed with preeclampsia at 29 weeks, how will my doctor treat me?
It will depend on the severity of preeclampsia at 29 weeks. Some providers will prescribe hypertensive drugs, some will suggest a hospital stay, and some will suggest delivery. It is important to listen to your provider since they have you and your baby’s best interest. But also don’t be afraid to ask questions about why they suggest whatever course of action they suggest.
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If you are a preeclampsia survivor or HELLP syndrome survivor and would like to share your story, please click here to submit a short summary of your story to be shared either on Instagram and/or blog post. 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.
UPDATE AS OF 2023: I am no longer taking submissions for stories to be shared.
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