I have never had a day of high blood pressure in my life. It was normal (if not low) during pregnancy, normal during labor, and normal during my 2 day stay in the hospital after the delivery of my fourth baby. Six days after my daughter was born I developed a bad headache. I chalked it up to lack of sleep and caring for four children.

Throughout the afternoon and evening the headache did not go away despite taking Tylenol and Motrin. Finally in the middle of the night my newborn was sleeping and I felt like my head was going to explode. Since I am a nurse and childbirth educator I grabbed my blood pressure cuff because I knew there was something wrong. My blood pressure was 198/102.

I quickly woke up my husband to take his blood pressure and make sure the cuff wasn't broken. His was normal. I called my midwife and headed off to the hospital with my husband and newborn baby girl.

I was on magnesium over 24 hours and could barely move. My husband had to help latch the baby on for feedings because I had a blood pressure cuff on one arm and IV in the other, plus the Foley catheter and compression boots. I was in the hospital for almost 5 days trying to get my blood pressures under control.

It was a very difficult experience, but I am so thankful that I was aware of the signs and symptoms and sought out care immediately.