How I lost my baby at 7 months to preeclampsia

Posted On Monday, July 18, 2011  by flora

After the birth of my son in 2001, it was now 5 years having a Norplant and I felt that it was now was good time to try and have another baby so I had Norplant removed. I immediately conceived in 2006 and so I thought it would be a similar to my first pregnancy which was smooth with the usual morning sickness. I attended antenatal clinic at private hospital where they had a package which was cheaper, I thought than having a private doctor.

At about 5 months in the pregnancy I started swelling all over my body but I didn't think it was anything I just thought it was just normal pregnancy weight.  During my regular clinic from the usual urine test they noticed protein and also after examining my blood pressure it was 140/100 above the normal rate. The doctor in charge when he saw my file he asked me if I had a family history of B.P and I looked at him and asked if there was a problem.  He told me that they needed to control my pressure so he prescribed some drugs to lower the pressure.  So I left the clinic and went home and followed the instructions.

Next clinic the doctor was not happy with the report, the pressure was very high and to the point they had to do a blood test which revealed some signs of HELLP syndrome.  At the point the Head of Antenatal clinic with other doctors decided to admit me for further review.  I was admitted and while in my room being teaching hospital many doctors and interns came to check on my progress, blood tests done regularly to monitor how I was doing, I felt like a guinea pig.  2nd day after admission, the head doctor came to my room to talk to my husband and me to say that my progress was not so good, that my clotting system was failing, liver platelets were very low i.e. HELLP syndrome at 78 which normal is 400.  With that, he concluded that they needed to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible.   That same day I was scheduled to be induced and this took place, very painful labor and at about 7pm I gave birth to my premature baby girl, she had to be resuscitated, which she responded and was rushed after to the I.C.U.  The following day I went to spend time with her but about evening her breathing started failing, the doctors tried to resuscitate her but it didn't work, she passed away an hour later.  We buried her 2 days later.  I had named her Mona Rose. R.I.P

Because of this experience I felt that I needed to be health conscious: having shared my story with a friend, she introduced me to juicing vegetables, which I introduced in my diet and started exercising.  It bore fruit i lost a lot of weight. I was not on any contraceptive.

God is gracious and merciful a year or so later I conceived and this time round I had a personal doctor who monitored everything to make sure all was ok from the beginning till the end; he put me on aspirin 1st trimester and other supplements.  9 months later I gave birth to a baby girl with no complications, named her Hope because of the hope God gave me to pull through and encourage someone else who may go through a similar experience or worse. Hope is now 2 years, 4 months today.  We really thank God for she brought so much joy to our lives.

Be encouraged.

Flora Kariuki

Health and Fitness in Kenya