What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is such a scary word! No one ever tells you exactly what it is, only what to look for.
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preeclampsia), preeclampsia is “a serious condition developing in late pregnancy that is characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure, excessive weight gain, generalized edema, proteinuria, severe headache, and visual disturbances and that may result in eclampsia if untreated”. Keep that in mind as you continue to read.
First Symptom
At 8 weeks pregnant, my first OB appointment deemed me ‘at risk’ for preeclampsia. My risk factors were super generalized – I’m a black woman and it was my first pregnancy. I took baby aspirin every day due to these risk factors. I assumed that doing this would make the risk go away altogether, but I was wrong.
In the later weeks of my pregnancy, starting from week 20, my ankles and feet swelled, and at a certain point, they just remained swollen. Shoes became my worst enemy. Nothing I had fit or were comfortable enough to be in all day. Luckily, we were heading towards the Spring and Summer months so I could wear sandals. My husband and I went shopping for more crocs and a pair of Birkenstocks, all of which quickly became my go to shoes for the duration of pregnancy.
The Beginning of the End
Other than the feet swelling, I wasn’t experiencing any other symptoms. My blood pressure was still low, I wasn’t getting any headaches and I didn’t have any visual disturbances. My doctor noticed the edema and always told me to keep an eye on it, but it presented as normal pregnancy swelling.
In my 8th month of pregnancy, my mom’s teacher friends threw me a baby shower at the school site I used to work at. They allowed parents and students to attend as well. One of my mom’s student’s parents is a NICU nurse and noticed the swelling on my ankles and feet. She pulled my mom aside and told her to get a blood pressure cuff as a precaution.
I began checking my blood pressure regularly, especially after high stress working days. The readings started to get high, but nothing over 140/60. Mind you, my blood pressures have always stayed in the range of 110/ 65. I was getting more and more worried about the possibility of preeclampsia but I always kept my doctor in the loop.
Second Symptom
If you haven’t read my post about Eden’s birth, you can read it here (https://momwinsandshenanigans.com/double-blessing-edens-birth-story-on-moms-special-day/). I encourage you to go back and read that blog as it will give more insight to the second symptom, proteinuria. Proteinuria is basically elevated protein in the urine. I had to test for this twice, each time being high. Due to these first two symptoms, my doctors induced me early to avoid preeclampsia altogether.
Third Symptom
On Saturday, July 15th, we were finally able to go home. We had been at the hospital since Tuesday and we were over it! We could enjoy our own food, own bed, and get the much needed rest that wasn’t allotted us in the hospital.
Monday, July 17th, we went in for Eden’s appointment with the Lactation nurse. They checked my blood pressure while there and everything still looked pretty good. That night I was holding the baby while sleeping and I immediately jumped up in pain. The worst headache I have ever experienced randomly came on. I asked Marc to take her as I tried to calm myself down from panicking. Then I called my mom.
While on the phone with her, I took my blood pressure. It was 180/108. I didn’t think that could be right, so I waited 15 minutes and continued to calm myself down while my mom prayed. When I took it again, it was just as high.
I called the advice nurse, and after speaking with them, I thought it best to go to the emergency room.. I woke up my husband, we packed up our daughter, and my mom met us at our house to head to the emergency room
Back to the Hospital
An emergency they ran multiple tests, including a CT test to make sure that nothing was wrong with my head. After all the results came back negative, the ER doctor spoke to Labor & Delivery. They both agreed that the preeclampsia I was trying to avoid had hit me four days postpartum. They immediately started me on a magnesium, drip and readmitted me to the postpartum floor for monitoring. Since my daughter was only four days old, they allowed her to come back with me as long as another adult was in the room at all times.
They gave me black coffee along with Tylenol and other meds to help the headache go away. I was finally able to go to sleep and get some rest. By Wednesday I was feeling much better and by Thursday I was going home.
Wrap It Up, Tati!
Although my experience with preeclampsia wasn’t as extensive as some, it was still pretty scary to me. I am extremely grateful to God for waking me up out of my sleep. I had been having the headache, but couldn’t fully wake myself up and if it hadn’t been for him who knows what could’ve happened. My blood pressure was extremely high, and I could’ve had a stroke, but God protected me and ensured that I was still here for my baby.
I’m telling my story because I want women like me who are having a baby or planning to have a baby to take every precaution that you can but also realize that sometimes it’s unavoidable. If you have access to and can get a blood pressure cuff, I highly recommend it. Take it with you to your next appointment and have them calibrate it to make sure that it reads the same as the one in the hospital. If you feel like you are experiencing some of the symptoms, I’ve listed above, contact your doctor immediately. Most of all, continually pray through your pregnancy.
