As a former 28-weeker myself born to a mom with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, we knew it was probably likely I too would develop preeclampsia.

With my first pregnancy, I developed gestational hypertension around 28 weeks that led to superimposed preeclampsia. From 25 to 35 weeks, I was in and out of the hospital for stress tests, BPPs and multiple-day admissions. Once I was maxed out on Labetalol and Procardia, they decided it was best to deliver at 35 weeks. My 5 lb 5 oz little guy did great for around 12 hours until he began to have blood sugar and temperature issues, requiring a 10 day NICU stay. Unfortunate for me, I developed severe post-partum preeclampsia 3 days post-partum and ended up in the ICU on a Cardene drip. I received two 24-hour magnesium courses. My liver was having issues and needed time to recover. After weeks of managing my blood pressure, I was finally able to wean off blood pressure medication.

Fast forward 3 months, I was still on a low-dose of Labetalol and found out I was pregnant again. The second time, they monitored me very closely given how severe the preeclampsia was with my first. I tried everything I could to not develop preeclampsia again--staying very active and walking everyday. I ended up with placenta previa/accreta and had to deliver at 26 weeks via emergency c-section. Our little guy was IUGR and born at 1 lb 8 oz, requiring a 100-day NICU stay. Luckily, throughout that pregnancy I had not yet developed preeclampsia, but was on a low-dose of Labetalol as a precaution. Unfortunately, after experiencing a headache that would not go away no matter what I did, I decided to take my blood pressure and learned I again developed post-partum preeclampsia on day 3 post-partum. This time, requiring nearly maxed out medications and a 24-hour magnesium course. It took a week for the doctors to find a blood pressure regimen that worked and I was able to be discharged. After several weeks, my blood pressure finally lowered and I am now on a low dose of Labetalol. We count our blessings everyday for my and our boy's lives.