As an RN that worked in an OB-GYN clinic, I was well aware of the risks and warning signs of preeclampsia. It was a high-risk pregnancy, since I was consider to be of advanced maternal age (AMA), and had mono/di IVF twins (our single embryo split and surprise! Identical boys!) I am otherwise healthy and it was an uncomplicated pregnancy up until about 34 weeks when I started to notice some headaches. I suffer from migraines and air quality was poor as fire season was in full swing, so I attributed to that.

I checked my BP at work and it was a little elevated, 130s/80s, but work was stressful and my BP was always normal at home and at my OB and MFM appts. I told my OB, and he said to keep an eye on it and call if 140/90+.

A week later I started to have some major edema, not so much in face or hands, but my legs! I had a routine OB appt and my BP was 140/80s, so I was admitted for observation and 24-hr urine collection. My BPs were normal, but my lab work showed my platelets kept dropping, so delivery was recommended at 35w5d. Delivery was fine and the boys went of to the NICU on CPAPs. I was doing ok and was discharged and the twins stayed.

Six days after the delivery, I was in the shower and started seeing spots. I knew what was happening and sure enough, my BP was 170/110. I quickly got dressed and my husband had to drop me off at the ER and go take my five-year-old daughter to my mom’s house. As I suspected, I was readmitted for mag sulfate and labetalol to prevent seizures and stabilize my BP. I had the worst headache of my life and had a CT of the brain to rule out a stroke. The edema I had was out of control and my kidney function was affected, but did return to normal. I was stable enough to return home on labetalol after another 3 days. My boys stayed in the NICU for 2 weeks. It was hard on all of us, especially my 5 yo who didn’t understand, just knew mommy was sick and she couldn’t visit because of Covid.

We are all healthy, but knowing I now have an increased risk of stroke and heart disease scares me.