Our Stories
A happy, healthy married woman, I was 21 years old when we found out we |
|
A happy, healthy married woman, I was 21 years old when we found out we were going to have our first baby! We were over the moon! I got pregnant in late may 2009 and was given a due date of February 26th 2010. I would be 22 at the time. I was being sent to a high risk practice in a fabulous hospital where I live in Baltimore, MD. However I was not high risk, or at least not at the time, but God knew and thank God I was with the practice I was! My grandmother had placenta previa with my mother. The doctors did not think my grandma or mother would make it. Both did. When My mother got pregnant for the first time she developed preeclampsia and had no idea. She went into labor at 35 weeks and the placenta broke away and sadly my sister did not make it. My mother went on to have my brother and me, both born healthy and almost full term. However my mom has blood pressure issues to this day. Back to me. When my doctor asked if there were any birth defects in either of my husband or my family I originally said no. Then I remembered my sister and explained to my doctor that my mother had preeclampsia and that my sister did not make it. My doctor said she didn't think preeclampsia would be a problem for me because my blood pressures were so low- always 90's/60's. In December I started feeling crappy, but could not explain it. I went in for my 30th week check up and they discovered I was measuring a tad small. After a sonogram it was concluded that my son had IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction). I was put on a very strict bed rest and tests twice a week. My first test being on Christmas day. I went home and was on bed rest until the first test, I remember I felt horrible but could not explain it, When we arrived for the test my pressures were 140/90's...very very high for me. They kept me overnight and ordered tons of labs assuming I had developed preeclampsia. The next day my doctor came in and told me I did have preeclampsia and I would need to stay on hospital bed rest for the duration of my pregnancy. I was 31 weeks. I stayed on hospital bed rest for 10 days before my son was born at 32 weeks, 2 days gestation. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia, PIH, and treated for Lupus in pregnancy. My son was very small for his gestational age and weighed only 2 pounds, 14.2 oz at birth. Due to the steroid shots given to him about 5 days before he was born he came out breathing on his own with no health complications! We are Blessed. God is amazing! I remember I just prayed every day in the hospital for Jesus to speed up all of my baby's development so he would be born healthy. On Jan 3, 2010 my sweet baby boy came into the world via emergency c-section, He lived in the NICU for 3 weeks. Other than being tiny he was perfect. Now 4 months later he is catching up quickly and almost off the preemie scale. After the birth, my pressures were 175/120's. I was put on MAG for 24 hours after his birth, and didn't get to see my baby until he was two days old. As hard as this was for me I knew that we were both lucky to be alive and I count my blessings every single day! I was on a very high dose of blood pressure meds for 8 weeks after my baby was born. The doctors are still determining if I have Lupus or not. My health is so-so right now so we will see what happens. I will update in a few months or so. If any moms that have been through what I have I would love to chat! |
|
|
Please login to write comment
Featured Story
.jpg)
I hadn’t been feeling well for a few days. I decided I would go in to work super early and give directions to the staff and then go home and go to the doctor. I got home and lay on the couch un...
Read more
Featured
Make a Difference
Help us continue our vital research, education and advocacy programs.
Join Our Mailing List
Copyright © 2013 Preeclampsia
Foundation. All rights reserved.