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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 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

I have never been so scared in my entire life. It was March 1999 and

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I have never been so scared in my entire life. It was March 1999 and I went in for my normal weekly ob appointment. These were weekly because after two late miscarriages due to PROM, it was finally determined that I have incompetent cervix and had a cerclage put in at 15 weeks. I was not scheduled for an ultrasound on this particular day, so the doctor spent a little more time with me. I complained of some swelling and minor headaches, but nothing else. The doctor, being a little concern... Read more

I woke up on Tuesday morning, May 23 around 6 am with cramps. I was

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I woke up on Tuesday morning, May 23 around 6 am with cramps. I was 36 weeks. I thought maybe this was braxton hicks? (This was our first baby so I was unsure.) I called my ob-gyn who was on call and she told me if the cramps continued and/or got stronger to call and come in when they opened. Since I did not have any leaking of fluid or blood she thought it was possibly braxton hicks as well. At 10:30am we went to the doctor's office. My blood pressure and the baby's heartbeat were fine. I was ... Read more

In 1997, while pregnant with my second child, I experienced heavy bleeding when I was

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

In 1997, while pregnant with my second child, I experienced heavy bleeding when I was about 32 weeks pregnant. When I went to the hospital, I was told that I had high blood pressure and was kept overnight for observation. However, I was released the next morning because my blood pressure had returned to normal and the bleeding had ceased. Several weeks later, I began experiencing abdominal pain and headaches. At first, I thought that these were normal symptoms of pregnancy and that there was no ... Read more

I had preeclampsia in one form or another three times. The first time, I was

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I had preeclampsia in one form or another three times. The first time, I was 23, single and broke. I didn't know what was wrong, just that I needed to stay in bed, on my left side, for six weeks. When the baby was born, I was all too happy to be on my feet and rid of preeclampsia. Six years later, married and working, I had a healthy, normal second pregnancy. All the books on pregnancy said preeclampsia mostly occurs in first pregnancies, and since I didn't have it in the second, I knew ... Read more

Hi. My name is Mrs. Jennifer Neal and I live in southeastern North Carolina. I

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

Hi. My name is Mrs. Jennifer Neal and I live in southeastern North Carolina. I have had not one, but three toxemic pregnancies. My first pregnancy, I went from 89 lbs. to 172 lbs. I am 5' 3" tall. I was 23 when she was born. The toxemia showed up two weeks before my daughter, Britny, was born. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 1/2 oz. I lost her fraternal twin early in the pregnancy. She didn't breathe for around 3 1/2 minutes after her birth due to the position she descended in the birth canal. Luckily, sh... Read more

I was a 30 year old, average size woman pregnant with my first child, and

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I was a 30 year old, average size woman pregnant with my first child, and I was having a perfectly normal pregnancy or so I thought. At my seventh month visit, my doctor was a little concerned with my blood pressure. It seemed to be a little elevated for me. My doctor told me he was concerned about preeclampsia. He asked me to get bed rest several times a day and be followed up weekly. The next week my blood pressure was back to normal and I didn't have any protein in my urine. M... Read more

I knew of the major signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia before becoming pregnant. I had

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

I knew of the major signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia before becoming pregnant. I had told my OB about my grandmother having severe pre-eclampsia with her third pregnancy. I did not know until after experiencing pre-eclampsia myself that several women on my husband's side of the family had the condition during their pregnancies (aunt, sister and grandmother). The first trimester i had the usual nausea and vomiting , which subsided. I had been gaining weight fast right from the beginnin... Read more

My daughter, Emily Kathryn, was stillborn at 31 weeks because my liver ruptured. We now

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

My daughter, Emily Kathryn, was stillborn at 31 weeks because my liver ruptured. We now believe the cause of the rupture to be HELLP Syndrome, a severe form of pre-eclampsia. My story began August 21st, 2000. I was having severe pain in my upper back, straight through to the front of my chest. I was about 30 weeks along. I also had nausea and other flu-like symptoms. Everything got progressively worse as the week went on. I went to the doctor's office on the 23rd and gave a urine sample,... Read more

Hello I thought I'd share my story with you. I developed preeclampsia during my second

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Neysa

Hello! I thought I'd share my story with you. I developed preeclampsia during my second pregnancy. The first resulted in a miscarriage around week 7, although as the foetus died in the womb, I didn't realise I had miscarried until after two more weeks. This was autumn 1998. Afterwards, we decided to wait before trying again. The first pregnancy hadn't been planned and it was not a very suitable time. January 200o we decided to have another go, and after a month or two, I got pregnant. ... Read more

My doctor noticed my blood pressure was rising. Up to 128/76 from 110/65 and asked

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

My doctor noticed my blood pressure was rising. Up to 128/76 from 110/65 and asked me about bedrest at 32 weeks. I pleaded with her to let me start my new substituting job, I was about to graduate and needed the money and the job contacts. She said o.k. to level 3 bedrest as long as I just sat there and came back the next week with a list of blood pressures taken daily. When I came in the next week it was up to 136/86. I had one time where my feet swelled, but it went away when I took off the si... Read more

I come from a long line of child-bearing mothers, large families and healthy babies. Never

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Jasoda

I come from a long line of child-bearing mothers, large families and healthy babies. Never for a minute did I think that anything would be wrong with being pregnant and having my own... Beginning in July of 1999, here's my story. My husband and I had been married for 5 years and ready to start our family. It took us only 6 months to be pregnant - I remember keeping close track of cycles and dates - I went to my OB already knowing conception and delivery dates - I was due March 20. I was ... Read more

My name is Heather, I am 24 years old. My, husband and I have been

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

My name is Heather, I am 24 years old. My, husband and I have been married now for almost 2 years. We have actually been a couple for 9 years. We met in highschool and have been inseperable ever since. During those years we had our share of ups and downs but nothing could have prepared us for what we went through this past year. We were married on May 15, 1999. By October we were pregnant. We were so happy! My husband wanted to be involved in the whole process so we went together to ever... Read more

May 27th 2001 my doctor gave me the option to come in on a Sunday

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Gina

May 27th 2001 my doctor gave me the option to come in on a Sunday morning and be induced because I had gone past my due date (My first child at 28 years old). I joked with my husband on the way to the doctor that we should just turn around and go eat breakfast instead of having the baby that day. For about 10 days before, I had experiences violent stomach pain. I called the doctors office every day. The nurses would tell me to take Tylenol, that I was just "real" pregnant, and being a pe... Read more

Mi nombre es Eva M

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Susana

Mi nombre es Eva M... Read more

My husband and I went in for my 37th week checkup when I was told

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by Erica

My husband and I went in for my 37th week checkup when I was told that I had preeclampsia and that I would be delivering some time within the next day. My blood pressure which had been 110/70 for my whole pregnancy had skyrocketed, there was suddenly protein in my urine, and the swelling in my feet and hands had also taken over my face (I gained six pounds my last week of pregnancy- mostly water). Terrified, I went to my hospital's birthing center to be induced. I was given pitocin to st... Read more

Hi Everyone, I am looking for a place to share my story and maybe get

Posted On Thursday, June 20, 2002  by

Hi Everyone, I am looking for a place to share my story and maybe get some feedback and some advice. I had a baby girl 4 years ago and she is healthy and happy today. But my road to get there was not an easy one. I found out I was pregnant on Super Bowl Sunday in 1997. It was the happiest time and then it went down hill. During my third month being pregnant I got a call from my doctor and was told that I should think about abortion cause my baby tested very high for spina bifida.... Read more


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