I find myself compelled to write my story for two important reasons, the first being |
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I find myself compelled to write my story for two important reasons, the first being the fact that my family doctor has recently suggested I have my tubes tied and the second being how thankful I am for having a healthy and wonderful little girl named Sara. I became pregnant with Sara when I was 20 and just like any first-time mother, I was scared and excited at the same time. Unknown to me, my great-grandmother had died of eclampsia, my grandmother had pre-eclampsia, and my mother also had pre-eclampsia during all her pregnancies. My pregnancy seemed perfect until a routine ultrasound during my 5th month showed some slight abnormalities with my placenta, which the doctor did not see as a concern. During this time, I was in the process of moving from California to Pennsylvania and needed to find a new doctor. I had never had any problems with my blood pressure and there was no indication of protein in my urine. By the time my 6th month came along, I had started sufferring from terrible headaches, some blurred vision, and stomach pains. Having not been educated on the symptoms of pre-eclampsia, I never mentioned these symptoms to my doctor. I basically thought they were just part of being uncomfortable during pregnancy. My water broke on my due date and I thought things were progressing perfectly. The minute I arrived the hospital and my blood pressure was taken, I was put in bed and not allowed to move. They automatically put an internal monitor to check on Sara, and put me on medication. I don't remember much of my daughter's delivery due to being extremely drowsy by the medication, but remember being cold and not being able to feel my face. My daughter was born with underdeveloped lungs, her color was grey, and her hands and feet were black. She was given steroids and put in an incubator for five days. It took four days for my blood pressure to drop from 202/106 to 160/84. My daugher is 6 years old now and remains an only child. I have been on high blood pressure medication ever since and my kidneys were damanged during this process. Luckily, and under the circumstances, I am healthy and most importantly, my daughter is healthy. I am a single mother and always wanted to have more children. Both my family doctor and OB/GYN agree, that for my to become pregnant again would be very risky. Even though I am under 30 years of age and am single, I'm making the decision to have my tubes tied. This has been a very had decision to make, but I feel that it would be the best course of action for me and my child. I only wish that doctors educated their patients more about pre-eclampsia, it's risks, and what it can do to your body. Pre-eclampsia not only affects you during pregnancy, but it also can affect your life after pregnancy. |
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