During my first pregnancy, I had no clue that I was walking around with 160/100 BP at 36+1. I had none of the symptoms and no prior risk factors at that time, but I was a ticking time bomb. At my 36 week appointment that day, I was sent to the hospital after encounters with a very pale faced and highly concerned nurse and a stoic and strong, but caring and kind doctor. I had developed sudden onset preeclampsia with severe features. I was put on the mag sulfate drip for a day and a half to try pitocin, a Foley balloon, and two rounds of steroid shots. I delivered at 36+2 on 11/4/2020 via emergency C-section. He was perfectly healthy, but a teeny tiny 5 lbs. 10.5 oz.

My doctor saved my life and got my son here safely and I'll never be able to thank him enough. My BP was back to normal without meds within a week of delivery. My Henry Patrick is my hero because he came into this world 4 weeks early to save my life 💙

In my second pregnancy, I developed gestational hypertension from the very beginning. I took baby aspirin, checked my BP 2-3 times a day, took Labetalol for the entire pregnancy. At 35 weeks, it turned into mild preeclampsia and my scheduled C-section for 39+0 was moved to 37+0 and my second son was born on 4/7/2023, weighing in at 6 lbs. 10.9 oz. Thank you to my high risk care for stepping in to deliver suddenly due to scheduling issues. My scheduled C-section was seamless and as routine as a high risk delivery could possibly be. My Alexander Caleb is an amazing boy who made our family complete 💙

My BP never returned to normal without medication and I am now on two BP meds: Amlodepine Besylate and Losartan, as well as a thyroid replacement hormone for hypothyroidism that also developed as a result of the toll this pregnancy took on my body.

Preeclampsia is a monster, but I am proud to say that I am a two-time survivor and that I am grateful every day to have delivered two healthy boys who are both incredible 💙