Pregnancy was such an exciting time for me. I really dove in, educating myself and asking questions. I saw a chiropractor and pelvic floor therapist to help prepare me for the natural birth I knew I was capable of. I transferred my care from a hospital to a birthing center, and knew immediately I was in the right place. By all accounts, things were going beautifully... until my 36 week appointment.

My blood pressure had been continually rising throughout my third trimester, though it would always be lower when I would test at home. On my final appointment at the Birth Center, my midwife took a urine sample because my blood pressure was 146/90, much higher than my normal readings. The results showed protein in my urine, so I had to transfer my care back to a hospital. I was devastated and thought this meant the end of my natural birth dreams. I was admitted in the hospital to be induced, and started on Pitocin. Miraculously after 7 hours in the hospital, they stopped medication because my blood pressure had remained normal, and there was no discernable protein in my new urine lab work. A week later, I had my son medication-free in a beautiful water birth. It was the most incredible experience of my life!