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Preeclampsia often provokes feelings of great loss, despair or confusion. In some cases, it is a traumatic event that leads to enormous emotional, economic or physical burdens. Fortunately, this website provides a place of learning and healing among the growing community of people who share an experience with preeclampsia.

Here you will find the face of preeclampsia and the many personal accounts of both survival and tragedy. Feel free to read and comment on their stories, view their photos, and take the opportunity to connect with them to share your story. Many people have found helpful support through this community. We hope you will too.

Please consider sending us your story for inclusion on this page.

I was about 30 weeks pregnant when I started having epigastric pain, right below my

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

I was about 30 weeks pregnant when I started having epigastric pain, right below my rib cage in the center. My husband and I were in NYC for our 5 year anniversary. We had eaten a huge, rich meal for dinner. We stayed over night at a hotel. That night I didn't sleep. I was in so much abdominal pain. I thought I had eaten something bad. I was popping Tums and drinking Mylanta, but nothing helped. The only relief I got was when I took a bath. For some reason this relieved the pain when I was in th... Read more

Hi. I developed preeclampsia and almost died with no warning at all too. I am

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

Hi. I developed preeclampsia and almost died with no warning at all too. I am a 38 year old female who was always healthy. I had three previous healthy pregnancies in 83, 88 and 89. In 98 I was treated for cervical cancer, then in 99, I was told I had a fibroid tumor which the doctors were just going to watch. I had not been using birth control in quite a few years because my chances for getting pregnant were very slim (supposedly). Considering the previous female problems and I also had a uteru... Read more

My name is Michelle Potter. I discovered that I was pregnant for the first time

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

My name is Michelle Potter. I discovered that I was pregnant for the first time in August 2001. My husband and I were thrilled. I was 29 years old, healthy, and ready to become a mom. I read a bunch of books about pregnancy, took my prenatal vitamins, ate a healthy diet, and received regular check-ups throughout my pregnancy. Everything looked great until Sunday, January 13, 2002. Just a week before, I'd seen my midwife for a monthly check-up. I had gained a bit of weight for that month,... Read more

I had my first child at age 18, poor nutrition and my first baby. You

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by

I had my first child at age 18, poor nutrition and my first baby. You would have thought I would get preeclampsia then. But I didn't. I ended up with preeclampsia with my second child. At 35 weeks my doctor noted my blood pressure was going up. He asked about lifestyle and if I had any changes. Then he ordered a 24 hour urine, and to see him the following week. At 36 weeks again they told me, lay down on your left side, again I didn't know why. They took the pressures and then ha... Read more

I can hardly believe there is even a web site for preeclampsia I didn't know

Posted On Friday, June 21, 2002  by Karen

I can hardly believe there is even a web site for preeclampsia! I didn't know of anyone and I didn't have access at the time. I became symptomatic in my seventh month approximately. I experienced unexplained dizziness, nausea, and migraines. I also started to pack on the pounds, despite my best efforts. My doctors attributed my problems from my history of migraines prior to pregnancy. They also told me to start watching what I was eating, despite me telling them I was in fact eating prop... Read more

I'm so happy to see attention being brought to this condition. I read the article

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Amanda

I'm so happy to see attention being brought to this condition. I read the article in this month's Cosmopolitan magazine, and saw your website information there. Prior to my own experience, the only knowledge of preeclampsia was through what happened to my first cousin about a year prior. She had a normal pregnancy, but near her due date, her husband woke to find her in seizure. She had actually knocked her front teeth out in the process. Luckily, both she and her baby survived. I didn't ... Read more

I was 28 when I got pregnant. My blood pressure always ran on the low

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I was 28 when I got pregnant. My blood pressure always ran on the low side. I never had morning sickness. In February of 2001, when I was in my 5th month, I started getting explosively sick. It was only when I had a bowel movement. It was horrible. Other than that, I felt fine. I did not like being pregnant though. The doctor was way off on my due date. To begin with they gave me August 17, 2001. Well, I knew that I had gotten pregnant in mid-October, 2000. So when I went to the doctor i... Read more

At 32 1/2 weeks, I began to experience pain unlike no other pain that I

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

At 32 1/2 weeks, I began to experience pain unlike no other pain that I had ever had. My lower back was extremely painful to the touch, and it hurt to sit, stand, anything. At first I thought that I was experiencing gas, but by 7 o'clock that evening, I called my ob-gyn and told him I was going to the ER. I was given demerol for the pain and when that would wear off, the pain would come back. Finally in the morning, I finally saw a doctor and a priest by my door. The doctor came ... Read more

In 1989 I gave birth to my 3rd child, had a great pregnancy and a

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Rebecca

In 1989 I gave birth to my 3rd child, had a great pregnancy and a fast delievery. I dilated from 4 centimeters to complete with the aid if my first epidural,it was great.3 days went by and I got a terrible headache my husband took me to the emergency room and they immediately sent me by ambulance to a larger hospital 45 miles away with a blood pressure of 230 / 110, I was in critical care ICU for almost 2 weeks with congestive heart failure and pre eclampsia, they at one time did not know if I w... Read more

My name is Linda and I got pregnant when I was 34 years old after

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

My name is Linda and I got pregnant when I was 34 years old after only 3 months of trying. We never dreamed it would be so easy and quick and really thought that the rest of the pregnancy would be just as easy. I never had morning sickness like other women - only extreme fatigue that I later found out was due to the fact that I was expecting twins. The first trimester was very easy and then toward the latter part of the second trimester I started experiencing headaches. I remember buying... Read more

My HELLP Story. At age 31 after several years of trying and some mild fertility

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

My HELLP Story. At age 31 after several years of trying and some mild fertility drugs, I was due for my first appointment to start the "serious" fertility treatments when I discovered I was pregnant with my first child. My husband, 42, and I were ecstatic to say the least! I attributed my good fortune to having lost 30 lbs. in an effort to trick my body into ovulating. I had an uneventful pregnancy for the first 32 weeks. No morning sickness, I bragged that nobody could even tell... Read more

I was just turning 20 years old and had been married for just 8 months.

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I was just turning 20 years old and had been married for just 8 months. My pregnancy was High risk from the start, I had high levels of protein in my urine, levels ranging from 3+-5+. To top it all off I had suffered for a very severe form of ecoli called HemoliticUremicSyndrome at a young age of 15 months old. I had thought all my problems from the sickness were gone, until I got pregnant that is. I had an appointment with my regular Dr. every 2-3 weeks and had to see a Kidney specialis... Read more

Hi my name is Kerri Bond of Gladstone Queensland Australia, I have decided to send

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

Hi my name is Kerri Bond of Gladstone Queensland Australia, I have decided to send you a copy of Alanah Rose's birth story. Alanah died exactly 2 years ago as a direct complication of pre-eclampsia. I went on to have another baby very quickly but she was an emergency c-section at 32 weeks with the pre-e developing again very quickly. I hope that this is suitable. ... Read more

In 1999, while pregnant with my first child I got preeclampsia. And it wasn't just

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

In 1999, while pregnant with my first child I got preeclampsia. And it wasn't just that I went above and beyond preeclampsia I went eclamptic. I had a full blown seizure and when I was rushed to the hospital my blood pressure was 230/140. The next step was either a stroke, heartattack or death for both of us. So that day I ended up having an emergency C-section at 36 weeks. My daughter was born at 3 pounds, 10 ounces and 16 inches long. She was a small baby for being born only a month ea... Read more

Hi,I was born July 21, 1976 at six months and I weighed two pounds nine

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

Hi,I was born July 21, 1976 at six months and I weighed two pounds nine ounces. I was born by c-section in Gainesville, Florida at Shands to a mother that was twenty one years old and had preclampsia. Fourteen months later my mother had a c-section with my sister who was born at six and a half months who weighed two pounds thirteen ounces. With my sister, my mother had eclampsia and had a blood pressure of 250/151. My mother's tubes were tied and she is now forty six years old and has been o... Read more

April 20, 2002 - A Recent Update from Karin The past year and a half

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

April 20, 2002 - A Recent Update from Karin The past year and a half has been sad, scary and very wonderful. I found out shortly after submitting my story that in addition to Antiphospholipid and Anticariolipin antibodies I also have Factor V Leiden and Factor II Prothrombin. Basically, I am a "super-clotter". Of course this concerned me because I wanted to try again for another baby, but at the same time I didn't want to lose another one. I spent six months after losing Elliot d... Read more

I was 23 weeks pregnant, and my husband, Andrew, was in England on family business

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I was 23 weeks pregnant, and my husband, Andrew, was in England on family business when I started to feel wrong. The first night he was gone I had horrible pain in my right side and was unable to lie down. I contacted my doctor and he said it sounded like I was having gall-bladder problems and wanted me to go to the hospital to be checked out. Luckily, my neighbor was home and she drove me to the emergency room. They checked my gall bladder and to them it seemed inflamed. The doctors dec... Read more

On July 21, 1999, I went to a regular doctors appointment, where they discovered the

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Samantha

On July 21, 1999, I went to a regular doctors appointment, where they discovered the protein in my urine was unusually high. The doctor told me at the time that since this was the only unusual symptom of anything (he didn't mention preeclampsia at the time) they would take some tests and get back to me. If they didn't get back to me within one week they wanted me to call them. I was oblivious to any condition it could have been and that I would have virtually every symptom there is for preeclamp... Read more

My name is Jenny Van de Poel. I live in Fairfield, California, roughly halfway between

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Janice

My name is Jenny Van de Poel. I live in Fairfield, California, roughly halfway between Sacramento and the Bay Area. I am 33 years old, married for 4 years. My mother had non-severe preeclampsia when carrying my younger sister. I recently had my first child at 33 weeks due to preeclampsia. This is my story... Now that I look back on my experience with preeclampsia, I realize that significant signs and symptoms were present as early as 16 weeks. I began having headaches bad enough to affec... Read more

My name is Jennifer Sawyers-Gray. I gave birth in my 35th week on December 12,

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

My name is Jennifer Sawyers-Gray. I gave birth in my 35th week on December 12, 2000. The pregnancy had been going very well previous to that day. I had managed to keep my weight at 28lbs. thus far and everything was wonderful. Weeks prior to the birth, the doctors told me via ultra-sound that my baby was around 6.5lbs. and everything was looking great. On December the 11th, I noticed excessive swelling in my face, legs, and feet. I thought that I had just been on my feet too much, I teac... Read more


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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...

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