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April 25, 2002 - A Recent Update from Eleni Update:My next pregnancy was co-managed by |
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April 25, 2002 - A Recent Update from Eleni Update: My next pregnancy was co-managed by a superb perinatologist and me. I count myself part of the team, because I realized that my ignorance and a health care system that didn't respect the devastating power of preeclampsia are largely to blame for my daughter's death. In August 1999, our son, Jordan, was born early and small, and spent almost two weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but he and I survived this second bout of preeclampsia - which can occur in subsequent pregnancies, contrary to medical myth. Today, Jordan is a healthy, highly energetic and happy toddler. At night, when I hold him in my arms before putting him down to sleep, he rests his little head on my shoulder, clutches my neck with his hand, and sometimes looks up and gives me a spontaneous kiss. And for a moment, there is magic and innocence in my life again. And finally -- and I do mean finally! - with Jonathan (our newborn as of this writing in April 2002), I was virtually asymptomatic when we delivered him at 39 weeks. Early in this pregnancy, my abnormally high cardiac output suggested that I was destined for preeclampsia a third time, so we started a regimen of hypertension medication. I credit the preventative use of Atenolol and extremely close monitoring of mother and baby with this successful outcome. Before Nikonia, I had never heard of preeclampsia, either by medical care providers or experienced friends. That needs to change. In ignorance, preeclampsia can be deadly. We shouldn't have to sacrifice our babies and/or their mothers to gain wisdom. Eleni Z. Tsigas Portland, Oregon |
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