The birth of my first daughter in 2021 was nothing short of eventful. I was induced at 39 weeks for high blood pressure that immediately went down after birth. It was a scary event that led to an emergency c section but the outcome was healthy mom and healthy baby. My blood pressure was monitored the whole pregnancy and the concern for preeclampsia was toyed around with but never diagnosed. Fast forward 4 years, we found out we're expecting again. I was more nervous than anything because I knew the risks of hypertension in pregnancy. It was on my mind the second i saw the two pink lines. I expressed my concerns to the doctor and they monitored me with routine bloodwork, but never had educated me on what to look out for and what it meant.

At 20 weeks on the dot, my doctor saw an alarming amount of protein in my urine over the 24 hour period. I was diagnosed right there with preeclampsia. My anxiety, which already was a skyrocketing, had peaked. Each week I'd get worse news, the baby's growth percentage would fluctuate based on growth scans and ultimately that practice dropped me and told me to go to a new hospital. In that moment everything was a blur. I was referred to a new MFM at a highly known hospital. It was the best thing that could have happened because they were more educated, and more experienced in what preeclampsia is. The care I received there is something I'll never take for granted. During my routine scans, BPPs, NSTs the doctors found no issues with baby's growth. The issues were within my own blood work. My AST and ALT levels were rising weekly as were my blood pressures. I had headaches that would not go away with Tylenol and spotty vision that came and went. The floaters stayed my whole pregnancy. I felt chained to my blood pressure cuff and honestly still do. I would log the pressures 2,3,4 times a day and message MFM almost daily to have them just confirm I was okay. I had the looming feeling of I was going to die of organ failure or brain swelling. I was lucky enough to express those concerns to my doctor , and they listened. Each week my doctor would say "we made it to week 30" and so on and so forth. I had the confidence that we can make it longer each week. When I had high readings I would be sent to labor and delivery fully prepared to deliver my daughter at 30 weeks and do on and so forth each week. It was traumatizing. I had self diagnosed myself with everything related to preeclampsia, which made the experience worse. I felt like within hours I would decline.

I went in for a routine scan at 36 weeks and 4 days where my blood pressure skyrocketed overnight and my doctor sent me to labor and delivery. Within hours I welcomed my daughter Jordyn. During my C section, I had the Magnesium drip. The drip is routine for anyone with high blood pressure to avoid seizures. People describe it as having the worse flu ever or being run over by a Mac truck. Both proven to be true. I never felt worse in my life. I had unforgettable side effects. After being sent to ICU to be monitored , my blood pressure dropped to 77/35 and I remember nothing from the minutes following that, until they stopped the drip and the magnesium levels in my blood were "critical". My blood work at that moment showed my AST and ALT levels back to normal. My body was fluctuating in ways I never knew were possible. I ended staying in the hospital for 5 days to monitor my pressures. After being sent home with a healthy baby, and "okay" blood pressures, I noticed them rising. My anxiety set it again and were now being monitored for post partum preeclampsia. I share my story because I want to be an advocate for all mothers to be on-top of their health at home. although there is no "cure" we can advocate for ourselves.