I never imagined pregnancy would become a journey shaped by fear, uncertainty, and resilience. My experience with preeclampsia spans three pregnancies, each leaving a lasting mark on my heart.

In 2012, during my first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with preeclampsia. At 33 weeks, I had a placental abruption at home. Everything happened so fast I was rushed for an emergency Caesarean under general anaesthetic. We were told our baby might not be alive. Those words shattered my world.

When I woke, my baby was in special care. I was in high dependency and missed those first precious moments of skin-to-skin. Instead, my baby needed help breathing. I felt helpless recovering, starting labetalol, and watching my newborn fight to survive.

In 2016, I entered my second pregnancy hopeful but afraid. I was started on aspirin at 16 weeks, but at 29 weeks, preeclampsia returned. I delivered at 31 weeks and 1 day. I will never forget the phone call from my husband telling me our baby boy was struggling to breathe and needed ventilation and intubation. I was terrified. I was even scared to fully bond with him in case I lost him. Seeing him so small and helpless in an incubator is something that has never left me. He spent a long time in special care and came home on oxygen. It was an incredibly traumatic time.

Before my third pregnancy in 2020, we had considered adopting, trying to protect ourselves from going through it all again. Then I found out I was pregnant both a joyful and frightening moment.
This pregnancy was filled with anxiety, but I was closely supported from the start. I began aspirin at six weeks, along with high-dose folic acid and vitamin D, and made major lifestyle changes. Week by week, we held on. I reached 36 weeks and 6 days, delivering just before preeclampsia returned. It felt like a hard-earned victory.

Afterwards, my blood pressure was difficult to control and I required labetalol and nifedipine, which were slowly reduced over time. Today, I am no longer on medication.

Looking back, the emotional and physical toll was immense, but so was the strength I found. Today, my children are 14, 9, and 5 healthy and thriving.

Preeclampsia can happen to anyone. Sharing my story is about raising awareness and reminding others they are not alone.