Author:  Jenny

I was 26 years old when I got pregnant with my first child. I was an average weight and healthy. Everything seemed to be fine with my pregnancy for the first two trimesters. At my 26 week appointment my blood pressure had gone up higher than normal I believe it was about 130/85. Not to high but higher than it had been throughout my pregnancy. I went in for my 28 week appointment and was excited to be in the third trimester. My blood pressure was high this time I believe it was 150/94. The doctor had me do a urine test with a dip stick and I drew a 3+. She sent me over to labor and delievery at the hospital to do some more tests and have an ultrasound. My blood pressure dropped back into the normal range while I was being monitored in the hospital. The ultrasound looked good and the baby was growing right on track. They had me do a 24 hour urine test at home. A few days later I got the test results back and my protien levels were at 680 mg. The doctor told me to lay down on bedrest at home and come back for another appointment the next week. My brother was getting married out of town the next Saturday so I went in to get checked out on Thursday before we left for the wedding. My blood pressure was 170/105. I was wheeled from the clinic over to labor and delivery again for more tests. After hours of tests the doctor came in and gave me the news. I had preeclampsia and I was going to be staying at the hospital for a while. I was upset because I was going to miss my brother's wedding. I felt fine and didn't understand why I had to stay in the hospital. Two days later. The day of my brother's wedding I was still in the hospital and upset about it. I figured I could lay around at home instead. Later that day they got the results back from my latest 24 hour urine test. My protien levels had jumped to 4500mg. The doctors told me that I would have to be transported to another hospital with a NICU because I was only 29 weeks along. They gave me the shots of a steriod to make the baby's lungs mature. They thought that I would be having the baby soon. Now I started to freak out. I had nothing. We hadn't even picked out a name yet. I didn't have a camera or even clothes with me. We hadn't taken a birth class yet. I couldn't have my baby yet! At the next hospital there were perinatalogists on staff. These were doctors that dealt with this stuff all the time. They ordered another ultra sound for Monday and more labs to be done. They were able to get my blood pressure back down into the normal range. I had an ultrasound on Monday and everything was still looking good. My latest 24 hour urine test came back at 1200mg. Less than before. They were able to transfer me into a different wing of the hospital for long term patients. I was able to keep my blood pressure in the normal range on bedrest. My baby was doing fine. I had non stress tests everyday and biophysical ultrasounds everyday to check on baby. I did 24 hour urine tests every few days to monitor my levels and labs done every other day. I wanted to try to have the baby naturally when the time came. It was something that was important to me. The doctors thought that it would be possible as long as I was staying stable. On Monday May 18th my 24 hour urine test results came back at 9500mg. The doctors told me they were going to have to start to induce me. I was 32 weeks and 5 days along. After 22 days in the hospital on bedrest 48 hours of cervical ripening and 12 hours of pitocin on May 21st my baby boy was born. He was in my tummy for 33 weeks and 1 day. His birth weight was 4lbs 11oz and he was 17 3/4" long. He was taken to the NICU and had to be on a ventilator for 2 days. After 4 days he was moved to a level 2 nursery and off of all oxygen. We were able to go home on June 5th. It felt so good to be home. My 27th birthday was June 7th. I got the best birthday present anyone could ask for!