Hello my dear friends!
TL;DR: I'm asking for donations for Pre-eclampsia research and a walk I will be participating in on May 20th.
I haven't really spoken about my birthing experience with Elowyn. The day before Elowyn was born (and approximately the week leading up to it), my blood pressure was elevated, significantly higher than it had been throughout my pregnancy. I was hooked up to a bunch of wires and monitored for a few hours before my midwife told me that we needed to go straight to the hospital, no stopping. Joe and I were not prepared. I was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia is a rare pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, protein in urine, and swelling in hands and feet. I had all three. It's thought to be caused by the placenta, so the best cure is delivery. Elowyn and I were extremely fortunate that she was developed enough to be delivered. I was placed on pitocin to induce labor and magnesium sulfate to control my blood pressure. I had an amazing medical team and support through labor by my wonder husband, my parents, and MIL. My sisters were able to visit immediately. 5 days later, the country when on lockdown due to Covid. I was on blood pressure meds for almost 2 months afterwards to control.
More research is needed for pre-eclampsia. Many women don't know what to look for. It can cause severe complications and even death of mother and baby. The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™ supports the mission of the Preeclampsia Foundation as we improve the outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by educating, supporting and engaging the community, improving healthcare practices, and finding a cure.
The Preeclampsia Foundation is a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax ID# 91-2073087. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent as permitted by law.
