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Preeclampsia often provokes feelings of great loss, despair or confusion. In some cases, it is a traumatic event that leads to enormous emotional, economic or physical burdens. Fortunately, this website provides a place of learning and healing among the growing community of people who share an experience with preeclampsia.

Here you will find the face of preeclampsia and the many personal accounts of both survival and tragedy. Feel free to read and comment on their stories, view their photos, and take the opportunity to connect with them to share your story. Many people have found helpful support through this community. We hope you will too.

Please consider sending us your story for inclusion on this page.

It all started just like many others this was my second pregnancy and everything seemed

Posted On Friday, July 05, 2002  by

It all started just like many others; this was my second pregnancy and everything seemed to be going just like normal. I was 34 1/2 weeks pregnant and I started to have pains in my stomach, and the on call doctor advised me to get some bed rest and drink plenty of fluids. I did this for 4 days and the pain wasn't getting any better, still the doctor said bed rest and fluids was my best bet. At midnight on June 4,2002, I awoken to a heavy feeling in my stomach and as I stood up my wate... Read more

April 17, 2002Where do I start I

Posted On Tuesday, July 02, 2002  by

April 17, 2002Where do I start? I... Read more

I was 26 years old and it was my first pregnancy. It was a perfectly

Posted On Monday, July 01, 2002  by

I was 26 years old and it was my first pregnancy. It was a perfectly healthy and worry-free pregnancy until about 36 weeks along. I began feeling discomfort in my chest area. I thought it might be what others described as acid reflex. The only problem with that theory is it left me feeling a bit achy. I became concerned after a few days and went to the doctor to be checked out. They sent me home and told me to take Mylanta.At 37 weeks and 4 days I began having mild contractions. T... Read more

As I read the stories of others, I realize that even though my experience was

Posted On Monday, July 01, 2002  by Suzanne

As I read the stories of others, I realize that even though my experience was not good, it could have been much worse. I was not diagnosied with Preeclampsia until it was too late. Six days after the birth of my daughter I expereinced an event which has changed my life forever. My symptoms started with a severe headache in the back of my neck and vomiting. I also had extreme swelling in my legs and feet. When I called my OB doctor I was told to "elevate my feet and take it easy." I foll... Read more

Let me start off with the beginning of my pregnancy. I officially found out that

Posted On Saturday, June 29, 2002  by Nadia

Let me start off with the beginning of my pregnancy. I officially found out that I was pregnant on July 31, 2001, twenty four days after my husband and I got married. We were very excited by the news. One of the first things that we did was go out and buy a pregnancy book. I read it over and over. I even wrote my birth plan immediately after reading the book the first time. The first two months of my pregnancy were great. I only had trouble staying awake. I was always so tired. Ev... Read more

My name is Kristy. I am a survivor of HELLP Syndrome and was blessed with

Posted On Friday, June 28, 2002  by

My name is Kristy. I am a survivor of HELLP Syndrome and was blessed with a 4lb 4oz, beautiful baby girl (Kelsey Olivia) on June 3, 2000.My story is this... Read more

My pregnancy had been going well, I was 39 weeks pregnant and patiently waiting for

Posted On Tuesday, June 25, 2002  by Ashley

My pregnancy had been going well, I was 39 weeks pregnant and patiently waiting for something to happen. It was shortly after midnight, March 5,2002. I started to feel my contractions coming on. This was my second pregnancy and I wasn't concerned of any complications. My water broke at about 4:30AM, at that time I decided it was time to go. My mother drove me to the hospital. I had no pain out of the ordinary, only thing of concern to me was that I was bleeding very heavily. And that seemed to b... Read more

I would first like to extend my deepest sympathies for the famalies who have lost

Posted On Monday, June 24, 2002  by Mada

I would first like to extend my deepest sympathies for the famalies who have lost a loved one and/or baby due to this terrible disease. After reading some of these stories from these brave women, I feel extremely fortunate to have a healthy son and my own health. I became ill with preeclampsia at 34 weeks, but when I look back at it, I believe it began earlier. As many you know, when you're not showing all the classic signs of preeclampsia, often times Dr.'s let it go untreated until ... Read more

I was 33 and a half weeks pregnant with our first baby. I had an

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

I was 33 and a half weeks pregnant with our first baby. I had an enjoyable evening with my husband and friends the night before and felt fine. At dinner I felt my baby boy give a very distinct kick, little did I know that was a good-bye kick. I went to all my prenatal visits, I did everything I was supposed to do. A week earlier I had gone to the doctor and my blood pressure was my usual 110/70. That night I couldn't sleep, I had a pounding headache. I took some Tylenol with codeine prescribed b... Read more

At the time I was 30 years old - 1/2 Caucasian, 1/2 Hispanic descent, married,

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

At the time I was 30 years old - 1/2 Caucasian, 1/2 Hispanic descent, married, average weight, upper middle class, and receiving excellent prenatal care. I had had an uneventful pregnancy until I was 32 weeks. At 3:15 am on Wednesday, February 14, 2001 after getting out of the bath I started to bleed pretty heavily. My husband rushed me to the hospital (only 2 miles away). Once there they hooked me up to the monitors and found that I was having mild, but regular contractions. To me it fe... Read more

Hi. Since your form for sharing stories is not up yet, I thought I would

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by Toni

Hi. Since your form for sharing stories is not up yet, I thought I would share this way (via email). I actually found your site a few months ago, but it looks like much more is on it now. Bless you for creating this foundation. My son Calvin died around the 29th week of my pregnancy, this past March. I was 30 years old, had started my pregnancy perhaps 20 pounds overweight and had normal blood pressure -- though my diastolic pressure had read borderline high once or twice in the year or ... Read more

I was 21, pregnant with my first child when I was told I had preeclampsia.

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by Kathleen

I was 21, pregnant with my first child when I was told I had preeclampsia. I had not started my prenatal care until my fifth month. I was engaged to my husband and we did not tell anyone we were expecting, until I couldnt hide it anymore. I was getting my prenatal care thru our local health department. At each visit I was steadily gaining about eight pounds. The nurse had noticed my blood pressure was a bit high and she further checked my swelling. She then quickly informed the doctor who then r... Read more

I have been overweight for most of my life and have had hypertension for years,

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

I have been overweight for most of my life and have had hypertension for years, so when my husband and I decided to have a child, I went to my OB for advice on what complications might arise. HELLP wasn't one of the complications mentioned. At about 24 weeks, my blood pressure started to go up, so my MD increased my medication. That seemed to work for a couple of weeks. My ankles were swelling a little, as well. At 27 weeks I developed severe epigastric pain - I called my OB and ... Read more

Where do I begin Sometimes it all seems like a blur to me, one long

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

Where do I begin? Sometimes it all seems like a blur to me, one long recurring nightmare that always has the same ending. After years of being told I would never have children due to endometriosis I found a doctor in Utah who had given me hope. He performed my second surgery just before my 21st birthday and gave me one to conceive. I thought "Great! That's better than never being able to have children." Anyway 2 weeks before my 22 birthday, my fiance and I found out we were, alas, pregna... Read more

My first pregnancy was nearly flawless, with only some minor high blood pressure late in

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

My first pregnancy was nearly flawless, with only some minor high blood pressure late in the ninth month. However, it always subsided when I laid on my side. Jeff was born in February 1997; however, he developed breathing problems and ended up in the NICU for a week. He is now happy and healthy. My second pregnancy, while marked with lots of morning sickness, seemed very similar. Again, late in the ninth month I had the high blood pressure which always decreased when I laid on my... Read more

In August of 2000, I was seven months pregnant. One night I started bleeding and

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by Ashley

In August of 2000, I was seven months pregnant. One night I started bleeding and was rushed to the hospital. I had gone into preterm labor. The labor was stopped and I was sent home. A week later I was admitted to the hospital with preeclampsia. At this time I was 33 weeks pregnant. After numerous blood and urine tests and an emergency c-section at 34 weeks I gave birth to a beautiful 4 pound 9 ounce baby boy we named Alexander. Even though we are both fine now (and thank God he just tur... Read more

I have recently had preeclampsia for the third time, having lost two little girls at

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by Cora

I have recently had preeclampsia for the third time, having lost two little girls at twenty six weeks into my pregnancies, you never expect it to happen again. It came on so suddenly and unexpectedly. I still want to try for another baby, but I'm not sure, because of it happening again. My consultant has been very supportive towards us, and tells me that next time he shall put me on low dose aspirin, which I took on my second pregnancy but developed it again at thirty two weeks. I was in... Read more

My first pregnancy was fine, all things were going well, my bump wasn't huge but

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

My first pregnancy was fine, all things were going well, my bump wasn't huge but I was a big girl myself so maybe it just didn't look big. I had slight morning sickness at the start of the pregnancy, but that was all, and or course my hands and feet swelled up, but that was all part of the "fun" wasn't it?! At 32wks I went for my regular checkups with my midwife at the doctors surgery. Armed with my urine sample I saw her, had a quick check, said I was feeling fine etc.. then she took my... Read more

10-31-00 My name is Renee and I am 34 years old. I have a 3-week-old

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

10-31-00 My name is Renee and I am 34 years old. I have a 3-week-old son named Matthew who happens to be just beautiful (of course without any bias)! He was born on 10-7-00 at 3 P.M. The original due date was 9-26-00 so I was a bit late. Getting pregnant was easy and planned. Being pregnant, for me, was not so easy. Although I had a very healthy and uneventful pregnancy, it was just all the normal aches and pains I did not like dealing with. Additionally, I found the weight gain to be dr... Read more

Here's my long story. I hope it can help someone. I have now had pre-eclampsia

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

Here's my long story. I hope it can help someone. I have now had pre-eclampsia twice. After my daughter was born at 35 weeks due to pre-eclampsia I was told the chances of getting it again were low and even if I did get it that it would be less severe. We didn't hesitate to get pregnant again but my second pregnancy was anything but less complicated. At 22 weeks I began spilling protein with my daughter. I have type 1 diabetes and they chalked it up to having the diabetes for so ... Read more

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