After a long and treacherous IVF journey, I was finally pregnant. But being 38, first pregnancy (over 5 weeks), having PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), and with it being an IVF pregnancy I was at risk, although at the time I really didn’t know what having preeclampsia entailed. I took baby aspirin daily but still was diagnosed with preeclampsia in the 3rd trimester. I was regularly monitored/admitted and was always borderline severe features preeclampsia. Since I get migraines, it was hard to know if it was a regular migraine or a preeclampsia symptom. Eventually I was induced at 37 weeks, which is standard I believe for having preeclampsia, and given magnesium (among other inducing medication) but became magnesium toxic. I was in labor for 2 days and pushed for 3 hours. My body wasn’t ready I guess because my uterus didn’t contract and placenta didn’t release after delivering my baby. My placenta has to be manually removed. My blood pressure went from the 190/100’s to not readable from all the blood loss, which was almost 3 liters. I was out of it, but could also hear that my baby was having trouble breathing at birth due to my magnesium toxicity which she experienced while still in my womb. I was so scared but was also barely conscious. My baby recovered pretty quickly thankfully but at the time I didn’t know that. I had a period of time during the manual removal of my placenta that random life memories shot through my mind. Nothing meaningful, just random memories. Was I dying? I had that thought but also wasn’t fully conscious to freak out. I also can’t remember what the delivery room looked like even though I spent 2.5 days in there. I thought I had pushed for 10 minutes, later found out it was actually 3 hours. I didn’t understand what was happening. I never considered all of these issues could arise. I was eventually released to go home with my baby 4 days later. Days after that, my blood pressure was 170/112 and was admitted again as well as had a pulmonary edema. As an otherwise healthy person, all of these issues came as a shock. Possibly not having a 2nd baby raced through my mind constantly in the days after delivering. And still does. All of my issues I believe really stem from having to be induced due to preeclampsia. I thought the hard part for me would be getting pregnant, not that I could have died and that my baby would be born having a hard time breathing. This traumatic birth has also profoundly impacted my husband. He had to watch this all unfold and was there alone due to covid protocols. I still ask him questions on what happened but he has a hard time talking about it. I do as well, but I’m on a mission to determine if I should have baby #2 or not. I research often and speak with doctors so I can make an informed decision. I am grateful for companies like yours that pour into research to prevent and treat this dangerous pregnancy condition. Thank you!