2019-

It all started in February after a dinner with my parents. My mom mentioned how swollen my hands and feet were which I just assumed was due to being 8 months pregnant.  I messaged my OB the next day and was told to come in for an appointment due to the swelling, recent headaches and vision changes.  During that visit (February 18th) my BP was 130/90. I was informed of all the symptoms to look out for and to monitor my BP at home. I knew nothing about preeclampsia and I didn’t understand the severity of it.  I ended up having high readings at home and was sent to triage on the 19th, 21st, 24th and 26th of February. I can’t even put into words how much stress this put on my husband, our families and myself. I was told I had to stop teaching and I had family staying with me during the day while my husband was at work.  All these trips led to a diagnosis of gestational hypertension.  We were worried and uncertain of what was to come.  I had weekly labs, twice weekly NST and was told I would get induced at 37 weeks unless indicated sooner.  On March 1st, at my 36 week appointment, my BP reached 165/100 and I was instructed by my OB to head to triage… we were having a baby.  I was admitted immediately and put on a magnesium drip while induction started and diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe features.  While on the magnesium drip and 24 hours after, I was unable to eat and was limited to the amount of liquids I could have. My beautiful baby girl was born 4 weeks early.  We were sent home with the Telehealth program to monitor my BP for six weeks.  By the end of the fourth week, I started feeling very dizzy to the point of almost passing out and from that point I was weaned off my meds.

2021-

We were blessed to get pregnant again in 2021 and I was put on baby aspirin starting at 12 weeks to prevent high blood pressure.  The pregnancy went smoothly with no hiccups until the very end when I found myself at the hospital with elevated BP.  A few days later we were ecstatic to welcome a healthy baby boy at 39 weeks.  Feeling confident as a second time mom we couldn’t wait to get home and start living as a family of four.  Five days after coming home I started getting an extremely bad headache, but I kept writing it off as exhaustion.  My husband had me take my BP which to my surprise was extremely high.  When we got to the hospital my BP read 183/112. They admitted me, started an IV and monitored me.  At 11:30PM, 5 days after delivering my second child, I was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia with severe features and immediately started on magnesium.  Tears instantly fell… I knew the feeling of magnesium, the lack of liquids and food and again the worry.  I spent the next two nights at the hospital with my husband and newborn. I remember having the worst headache I have ever had during my stay. Once my blood pressure was under control and my headaches were gone, I was sent home on the Telehealth program and on Labetalol.  Two weeks later I was able to stop taking the meds, but continued to monitor and finish the six week program.  

2024-

June 2024- I woke up one evening feeling extremely off.  After calling the after hours nurse, my husband took me to the hospital to get checked out and my BP read 176/108.  After many tests, I was diagnosed with chronic hypertension.  Due to that hospital stay, my husband and I hesitated if we were going to expand our family. 

Much to our pleasant surprise we found out we were pregnant with baby #3 in July 2024.  The excitement of welcoming another child into our family was now accompanied with the fear of preeclampsia.  Again, I was put on baby aspirin starting at 12 weeks. At 33 weeks, I started having elevated BP readings and I was put on Labetalol.  I was scheduled for an ultrasound and NST every week until I delivered on top of the normal OB appointments. Two weeks later I was in the hospital for elevated BP so they increased my meds.  All appointments moving forward went great.  I delivered another healthy baby boy at 38 weeks! Our family was complete!! I went home with the Telehealth program, a diagnosis of chronic hypertension and on Labetalol. Five days later my BP started to rise with a reading at home of 197/106 so we immediately went to the ER.  While there they administered Labetalol through my IV, but my BP didn’t go down.  They then started me on another BP med called Nifedipine. My blood pressure stayed elevated, my ankles started to pit and my headaches did not subside. I was admitted for close monitoring and concerns for development of pre-eclampsia.  After speaking with an OB, I was advised to go on magnesium.  It was a decision we didn’t take lightly, but studies had changed and I was able to eat and drink on it this time.  After 24 hours, things were looking up and we were getting discharged.  After using the restroom, I felt like I was going to pass out and immediately had to lay down.  My eyes were lagging and my headache returned.  They ordered an MRI which thankfully came back normal.  We were discharged with a list of medications, continued Telehealth monitoring and a diagnosis of postpartum preeclampsia with severe features.  Throughout the next six weeks I was able to get off most of the meds, but currently still on one.  

I now live in the constant fear of what my BP will do.  Lots of monitoring, worrying, and stress about what my future holds.  Let’s continue to spread awareness of the symptoms and severity of preeclampsia and hope that someday soon there is a cure! 

I want to thank all the wonderful nurses and doctors and most importantly my provider for helping us through this tumultuous time. I also want to thank my husband who was my rock through this all.  He kept our families updated, bought and learned to take my blood pressure using a stethoscope and cuff for accurate readings and advocated for my health.  He kept me calm, knew when things were urgent and made sure our kids were taken care of.  Also, thank you to our families. They were all there for me/us at every hour of every day if and when we needed them.  This diagnosis didn’t just affect me and I thank you all for everything you did and continue to do for me to keep me healthy.