I gave birth to my son via C-section in April 2021. A few days after delivery, I knew something was wrong.

My hands and feet became extremely swollen. I was exhausted all the time, had chest pain, and breathing became difficult. I could not lie flat to sleep, and whenever I tried to take a deep breath, you could hear a noise when I breathed.

Three days after giving birth, I first went to the emergency room because I felt unwell. I was told everything seemed fine and that the swelling in my hands and feet would go down. I went home, but my condition continued to get worse.

The next day, when I saw my primary care doctor, she immediately knew something was wrong. They found protein in my urine, my blood pressure was dangerously high, and she told me to go straight to the emergency room again. This time, I was admitted.

I was diagnosed with severe postpartum preeclampsia and pulmonary edema. My blood pressure continued to rise, breathing became harder, and I remember one of the doctors telling me that if I had not come in that night, I could have had a stroke.

At that point, my baby was only four days old.

I stayed in the hospital for several days while my husband cared for my newborn son and my daughter. I went home on blood pressure medication and monitored my blood pressure every day for months afterward.

Because I had just had a C-section, many of my symptoms seemed like they could have been part of normal recovery. Looking back, I now understand how easily postpartum preeclampsia can be overlooked. You know your body, and when something feels wrong, it is important to speak up and seek help.

Before this happened to me, I had heard about preeclampsia during pregnancy, but I never knew it could happen after giving birth. I did not know postpartum preeclampsia even existed or that it could be life-threatening.

It is still emotional for me to talk about, even years later.

Today, I am grateful to be alive. I am grateful for the doctor who listened to me, for the care I received, and for the support of my husband and family during one of the hardest moments of my life.

I am sharing my story because I want other mothers to trust themselves when something feels wrong. Swelling, difficulty breathing, extreme exhaustion, and high blood pressure after childbirth should never be ignored.

Awareness can save lives.