I had a healthy pregnancy up until 28 weeks. I was sitting at work one day, and an email pops up. It was from HR. Subject title: "COVID-19 exposure risk". Someone from my floor had confirmed to HR that they had COVID-19, and there was a possibility I was exposed. This was their way of encouraging us to wear a mask just in case. Within 24 hours, I had a fever, and I was shaking. i called my OBGYN, and they said to monitor the kickcount and head to the hospital if anything felt off. I went to the hospital anyway, and they checked on my son. They said he's fine, everything looks normal, and to monitor my symptoms at home. A week later, I started seeing white dots in my peripheral vision, even when I was sitting down doing nothing. 

Then came the headaches, and I went to my OBGYN for a routine appointment at 30.5 weeks, where they found my protein levels in my urine were high. They ordered a 24-hour urine collection sample and found the protein levels were even higher by the day. They noted my fundal height went down. They also ordered an anatomy scan, but the next appointment wasn't for another 3 weeks. They said it was fine. Despite the symptoms I was experiencing, there was no sense of urgency. "Your blood pressure is normal, so let's just monitor at home." 

At 32 weeks, I realize I don't feel normal. The kick counts are inconsistent, and I just felt off. On Saturday, November 18 I felt the worst, and I took my blood pressure. 173/90. We rushed to the hospital, where they officially diagnosed me with preeclampsia. They ordered an anatomy scan with the diagnosis where they found my baby was experiencing intrauterine growth restriction. "Your baby is really small. Even though he is 32 weeks, he's measuring 28. He's only 2.5 pounds." 

My heart sank. It was bad news after bad news. "How could this happen? He was fine a month ago. They said he was okay." The high-risk doctor ordered autoimmune exams, and asked me if my family had a history of lupus. We didn't. I didn't. He said the way my preeclampsia unfolded was scary, and he was really happy I came in when I did. "There's something wrong with the bloodflow. That's why your baby is measuring small." Then came the neonatologist. "Your baby will be in the NICU at a minimum until his original due date. I know this is scary news, but this is what we do. This is what my team does every day. We got this." The magnesium drip and his news all too much.

48 hours after being admitted, my son was born via emergency C-section due to heart decelerations. They immediately took him to [the children's hosptial] where he stayed 56 days. He's 20 months now and healthy. He is within the normal range of milestones, but the trauma of the experience has been consistent.