I didn't find out I was pregnant with twins till half way through my pregnancy. At 12 weeks my family doctor advised me to start taking baby aspirin as I hit 2 risk factors for preeclampsia. At 20 weeks after finding out I'm having modi twins my OB had me starting 2 baby aspirin a day. I was transferred all prenatal care to an mfm clinic due to my high risk pregnancy. I knew preeclampsia was a risk I could face but every appointment my blood pressure was always perfect. Around 32 weeks I started to notice I was really starting to swell. I was gaining over 5 lbs a week but I figured it was due to twin pregnancy. My mfm doctor didn't seem concerned and my blood pressure remained good as well as all blood work. My husband suggested around that time that we just monitor my blood pressure at home just to be safe. At 33 weeks I woke up and was itchy head to toe and it wouldn't go away. I went to a local urgent care where they checked me for cholotasis. I thankfully did not have it but when they checked my vitals I noticed my blood pressure was 140/89 which was not normal for me. At my following mfm appointment my blood pressure remained high and I was put on blood pressure medication. 3 days after starting the medication my blood pressure began to rise again and at 10pm at night I went to our closest children's hospital where my care team was.

They kept me for monitoring for a few hours and sent me home with a heavier dose of medication. The next day my husband took my blood pressure at 4pm before he left for work and it was within a normal range. I had a hard time with our blood pressure machine so I wasn't going to take it again till he got home the following morning. Around 9:30 something in me kept saying to check it, which I did and it had gone up to 153/96. I immediately went back to the hospital where they had decided to admit me since i couldn't keep it under control with medication. I was 34 weeks and was scheduled to deliver at 36 weeks so the goal was to make it to my scheduled induction. The day I got admitted my blood pressure rose up to 164/98 after taking my medication and the doctors advised I stop all foods and liquids and go directly to labour and delivery for monitoring. Thankfully with additional medication they got my blood pressure down again. With close monitoring, early detection of my blood pressure rising and a very heavy dose of blood pressure medication I was able to keep my twins in till their scheduled due date. I was transferred to our local hospital the day I delivered with both my twins, one being sent to their Nicu due to low birth weight. I was expecting to go home the next day but I was kept for 6 days. I didn't know why they kept me I figured they were still monitoring my blood pressure which I knew I could do from home.

After insisting a doctor come speak to me and being spoken down to by that doctor and being told "you aren't the first woman to have preeclampsia" I learned that my liver enzymes were spiking and I was being monitored to make sure they didn't rise to high or I have a seizure. I never knew how serious preeclampsia could be and because mine was so well managed I just assumed it was high blood pressure. Thankfully my enzymes started to go down and after 6 days I was able to go home. I had stayed on blood pressure medication for almost 3 months postpartum and was finally able to be weaned off. I am so thankful that my situation didn't get as bad as most do, I am thankful that I had an amazing care team making sure me and my babies were okay. I wish I knew how serious preeclampsia really was and knew all the signs and symptoms before I even became pregnant. Now that I know I want to spread awareness a common thing when I share info on preeclampsia is a lack of knowledge amongst those who've never experienced preeclampsia. Knowing the early signs can save you and your baby, like it did mine.