I’ll just dive right in, I’m not a very good writer so I’m gonna stick to the facts and get them out there. On 12/26/2023 I went in to my OB office for my 39 week check up. I had some pretty serious Braxton hicks the night before but nothing I wasn’t used to. I had JUST tested negative for Covid the night before. I had Covid for about a week prior to this appointment. It had me down pretty bad. Coughing, fever, really bad headache and all the usual symptoms. My OB and team kept an eye on me through the patient portal communication so I really didn’t think anything of it. So anyways at my appointment they check my BP and it was quite elevated, 140/ 90 (I think) they did a cervical check and I was 3 cm dilated.

Due to the high BP, I was sent straight to labor and delivery to be induced. At this point I’m just excited. I get to meet my baby! We were still aiming for a vaginal delivery. We get it all going and the whole process of “labor” lasted about 28 hours until I was offered a c section due to being stuck at 8 cm dilated and no progression. I enthusiastically agreed and the c section went pretty smoothly. We get back to the room and I pass a HUMONGOUS blood clot, so big I mentioned to my husband they must have forgotten to take the placenta because I think I just birthed it. He took a look under my gown and then ushered the nurse over that was looking over our new baby.

She rushed over and then all of a sudden the room was filled with doctors and nurses and they were all moving frantically and talking seriously. They explained to me I was going back into surgery to stop some bleeding and I was still on morphine so I was just like “Okie dokie!” They inserted some sort of balloon or something to stop the bleeding and then I was back in my room and as far as I knew this was all routine! My nurses and doctors were all angels that treated me like royalty. I had to have a few blood transfusions, and some other magnesium drips but still to me everything seemed fine.

I thought everyone felt like they were dying after a c section so I still didn’t see the severity I suppose. I finally get released and then after being home 3 days my blood pressure REALLY spikes. I call my OB and they said go in immediately. It was this time I was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and was put on more magnesium and was admitted back into labor and delivery. I couldn’t have my baby with me because they were struggling to keep my blood pressure down. I spent a whole 3.5 days away from my newborn in the hospital with just visits from him when my mom could bring him up there. This experience was in all a very traumatic situation, yet thanks to my nurses and doctors.. I didn’t know the severity of my condition until it was all said and done. They prioritized my care and even my mental health while saving my life. I think if I hadn’t had Covid the week before and so late in my pregnancy possibly none of this would have happened. I’m 34 weeks pregnant with my second now and I’m hoping for a completely different experience.