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Hello, my name is Natasha and I was 20 years |
| Hello, my name is Natasha and I was 20 years old when I formed Preeclampsia. I had never even heard of this disease when I got it and I didn't know how bad it was going to get. It started when I was 33 weeks pregnant and I went to the hospital because I felt a rush of liquid go down my leg. I was frightened so I called my nurse and she told me to come to the hospital to get checked out. The liquid was just urine, I guess I lost control of my bladder late in pregnancy, but something else alarmed the doctors. My blood pressure was 189/100 and rising. They sent me home that night and had me do a 24 hr. urine test. When I came back to the hospital to return the urine they tested it and told me that my protein levels were high, but they sent me home to do another one. Which, in my personal opinion, almost cost me my life. The next day I went back to the hospital and the nurse took my urine jug and sent me home. It was New Year's Eve. Right after the ball dropped I began to get dizzy and seeing "spots" in my vision. My fiance rushed me back to the hospital. They checked me out and sent me back home again! The next day I had a check up and still did not understand what was going on with my body. I stepped on the scale and I had gained 15lbs. in two days. The nurse told me it was all part of late pregnancy, but something inside me told me it was more. I talked to my doctor and he told me he would continue to watch my protein levels. Two days later I came in for a non-stress test when they noticed I had gotten a lot worse. They emergency transported me to another hospital because the hospital I had chosen to give birth at did not have a NICU. I arrived at the hospital and they put me in a room over night for observation. The next morning the doctor came in and told me they would be inducing my labor and that a nurse from the NICU would come in and tell me the risks that my unborn child could be facing. I was induced at 10 AM that morning. My labor was very difficult, as are all, but my blood pressure was in stroke range and I could not get in down. I was so swollen that the IV's they had in my arms were popping out, and they couldn't find anywhere to put them. The veins in my left arm collapsed, so finally they tapped it down as much as they could. Eighteen long hours later they called in the doctor and 5 nurses into my delivery room, my daughter was finally coming. The last half hour was the worst, I quit breathing, even though I was trying hard to breath, and my daughter's heart rate dropped to 70 bpm. I felt my eyes rolling back in my head and thought I felt myself starting to shake. I told myself that I was going to have a healthy baby, even if it meant that I would have to die. I gave one last push and she was out. I blacked out and I thought I had lost my battle. All of a sudden I heard a tiny cry and my eyes opened. She was ok! Emily Madison was born 5lbs. 10oz and 19 1/4 in. I thought she was pretty big for being six weeks early. My problems didn't end there though, they couldn't stop my bleeding and I was feeling like I couldn't go on any longer. The nurses moved me in a room and pumped me full of magnesium. I only got to see my daughter for about five minutes the next day. Emily couldn't stable her own body heat and she wasn't putting on weight, so they had to keep her in the NICU. One of the hardest things for me was having to leave her in the NICU while I returned home. But luckily Emily was fully developed and she got to come home four days later. Preeclampsia was hard for me, and I haven't fully recovered. I still have no energy and still get pounding headaches, just like I did in delivery. Emily, is doing fine though. A little behind in development, but I love her just the same. She's Mommy's little trooper. I still don't understand why there isn't much information out there on Preeclampsia. Most women don't even know what it is, like me before I got it. I hope that they're will be more research on this because I am so afraid of getting it again, I don't know if I want to try for another baby. Even though I've always wanted more than one. But I am thankful that I am alive and that my daughter is healthy. |
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