Throughout my entire pregnancy, everything was normal. No issues, concerns, or complications. I was never really sick and I really loved being pregnant. At about 24 weeks things started happening all at once.

July 5: At a routine OB appointment my BP was measuring high. I had also not felt him move as much as usual. They did a non stress test to monitor contractions and fetal heart rate.

July 12: Had my first appointment with a maternal fetal medicine specialist. They performed a full anatomy scan and did blood tests. They found the following: low blood flow and resistance to the placenta as well as sections of the umbilical cord having 0 blood flow. I also had low amniotic fluid, which was causing delayed growth (5th percentile).

July 14: Follow up appointment with MFM at 9:30. They were concerned about the following: hypertension, fetal growth restriction, and abnormal dopplers. I was admitted to the hospital at 11:30 for the afternoon to get steroids, to hopefully help with lung development. By 5pm I was notified of my diagnosis of severe preeclampsia. They initiated magnesium sulfate for seizure prevention. They started administering hydralazine for severe preeclampsia. Throughout the evening I continued to get worse and was experiencing severe range hypertension which is systolic blood pressure of 180 mmHg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 120 mmHg or above. The number one goal was to keep me alive through the night. Shoutout to my favorite Nurse Cassie for saving me.

July 15: We made it through the night and I was told I would not be leaving the hospital until I delivered because I needed to be under constant observation AND constant dopplers to monitor the baby. The plan was to try to keep my blood pressure under control so I would not have to deliver. The only thing that would trigger delivery would be if the baby was in distress OR I was maxed on blood pressure medication.

Throught the next 2 weeks, I was constantly monitored and my blood pressure medication(s) doses were increased as my blood pressure continued to increase over time.

July 24: Hit the max dosing for both medications AND needed to be administered magnesium again. Most people get it once, I was given it three times during my stay.

July 27: Scheduled c-section due to blood pressure still in high ranges while being maxed out on all medications.

Elliott was born at 28 weeks and weighed 1 lb 8 oz. He stayed in the NICU for 2 months. Most of you know that Elliott is thriving and living his best life now, about to be 2 years old.

I share my story for preeclampsia awareness month to start the conversation. There is not a lot known about preeclampsia or its causes and researchers and working to understand so many unanswered questions.