As a first-time mother in mid twenties, I was over the moon when I knew I was pregnant with my daughter. But with chronic hypertension, I was closely monitored. My pregnancy was mostly uneventful until 36 weeks, when I started getting swollen feet and leaking protein in urine, though my blood pressure was well controlled. I gained weight and there was swelling in my face, hands, and feet. I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and asked to continue bed rest and wait till it’s the best to induce delivery.

I was induced at 40 weeks and my labor and delivery was quick. As far as my knowledge then, the cure for pre-eclampsia is delivery. I was wrong and the pre-eclampsia worsened, and I developed HELLP Syndrome post-partum. My blood pressure started to creep up. The last blood pressure taken before discharge was over 140/90 still the Nurse permitted me to be discharged claiming it’s just first time mom anxiety.

The first day home I was not feeling well. I couldn’t explain that feeling of being sick; my family dismissed the claims as being just tired after labor and delivery. They said it's lack of sleep and I needed to eat well. No one had the slightest idea anything serious could occur after delivery. I was so disoriented. I began to see flashing lights. The second day home things got worse. I was having a very bad headache. I was exhausted. It was a Sunday, my mother started getting worried and she wanted me to go to the emergency room. That one decision probably saved my life.

My blood pressure reading was dangerously high for someone who had just given birth 4 days ago. I was ordered blood work. My platelet count was low. I was having HELLP Syndrome and continuing preeclampsia. I was immediately admitted and started on Magnesium Sulphate IV. I didn’t want to stay in hospital, I wanted to be with my baby and I told my doctor I wanted to go home. The words that the doctor said are still fresh in my mind till today. She said she will not recommend me to go home without completing the course of treatment as my condition is life threatening and that I could get seizures and stroke at any moment. She asked me "Don’t you want to live for that child you just gave birth to? If so then you should stay in hospital."

After 3 days of difficult Mag sulphate infusions. I was finally allowed to go home. My blood pressure was still in the high ranges and there was still swelling but recovery had begun. The traumatic experience post birth and being separated from my baby lingered a long time and I experienced bad baby blues. I didn’t feel much love for my new baby and even wondered if she will go away. It took another two months before I would begin to feel like myself.

My daughter is my everything. I never wanted another child after this traumatic experience; I feared I would die in another pregnancy. In spite of my doctor suggesting otherwise, I never could get over the fear. I waited for 11 years before I could put my fear aside and at 37 years of age, still a chronic hypertension patient, I decided to have one more child. I was closely monitored by maternal fetal specialists. I was taking low dose aspirin since the 8th week of pregnancy. Everything seemed going well till 24 weeks, when I was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction. Baby had low birth weight. I continued with close monitoring till 37 weeks and was induced early. I didn’t develop pre-eclampsia the second time around. Baby was healthy and normal though on the lower birth weight side. Mothers who suffered from pre-eclampsia should know they can consider having a subsequent pregnancy. Though the possibility of developing pre-eclampsia again is high, with proper care and good knowledge about the warning signs and symptoms to look for, a successful pregnancy outcome is possible. Awareness is the key; all mothers should be educated on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. And that delivery is not always the cure for pre-eclampsia- a woman is still at risk 6 weeks postpartum.