My name is Shauna, I’m a mother to 2 beautiful boys and an angel, Corey 9, Cecie would of been 4 next month & Dax 1. I may start with my pregnancy on Corey, i became pregnant at 18 & thought I was having a normal healthy pregnancy until I had hit 35 weeks and wasn’t feeling great. My feet were swelling,my head constantly heavy,and severe dizziness. I went for a routine check up at 35 weeks and was kept in as they found a trace of protein in my urine. They started me on some blood pressure medication which didn’t work so I had to be induced at 36 weeks, I had a normal vaginal birth and gave birth to a perfect little boy 5lb 15oz, a couple of hours passed and my blood pressure was still sky high. I ended up spending 3 days in the labour ward because my blood pressure wouldn’t stay normal. Eventually we got to a ward to enjoy our son. Fast forward 5 years later, we tried for baby number 2. I had fell pregnant but soon miscarried at 7w+6days, I had to have a D&C. 2-3 weeks later I felt so unwell, I took a pregnancy test and it showed right away! Shocking discovery at an early scan, there were 2 sacs. We were delighted but unfortunately one sac didn’t grow as it should have, we were delighted to still have one healthy baby. Our very own little girl. At our gender scan they discovered she wasn’t hitting all the measurements they would of liking but we didn’t think anything of it they just suggested to say it to the hospital at my next appointment. My 20 week scan came around at the hospital & I was so excited to see how baby girl was doing, and as she was scanning me she had asked how I felt and how has my blood pressure been. Funny enough the night before I wasn’t feeling too great, my blood pressure was high & I felt dizzy but I taught it’s way too early to have preeclampsia. I was wrong, I was kept in and told I would have to stay until baby girl was born. I was devestated, Covid had just started & I wouldn’t see Corey. A week passed and the more postive I was the better I felt. I was 22 weeks and 4 days I felt so postive that day, the one day I felt really good too. It took a huge turn that evening, my body started to shut down. They rushed me straight to the delivery room and tried all they could to keep the blood pressure down. I then was handed a form to sign, so confused, dizzy, disoriented, swollen.. I had to sign it or it was life or death for me but unfortunately in Ireland 22 week baby’s cannot be helped. Cecie was born the next day 350grams of perfection, my blood pressure was still really high. I was taken to theatre to help with the placenta as it had broken inside me. I had no energy for anything I was so disoriented. How could preeclampsia happen so early on? I was so angry.
I then was told it was too dangerous for me to be at home I needed to be monitored all I wanted was to be around my family. But eventually my blood pressure got to an ok stage where they were happy ish, to let me home to bury our daughter. Although I should’ve taken it easy at home I didn’t & it got really high again. I was on BP medication for 6 weeks. Our little girl will forever be in our hearts.
4 years on we have the most beautiful little rainbow baby, Dax. He was born at 38 weeks and although I had such an anxious pregnancy on him it was so worth all the anxiety & stress. I had pregnancy diabetes on him and I knew my blood pressure was high near the end I could feel it. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia just after I gave birth to Dax but we were able to keep it at bay this time round thank god , although I knew I had it us women know our own body’s! I hope my story gives some mothers a little bit of Hope & awareness