I walk because every birthing parent should be aware and have access to the knowledge and care that is available to save their life and their child's life. There is so little known about this medical condition and so much work needs to be done, especially as it seems to be on the rise. Awareness of symptoms and early detection are our best bet right now and I believe every pregnant person should be given a bp machine free through insurance. Awareness is not only important for pregnant people but also providers as many people’s concerns are dismissed, overlooked and ignored. 

Our Story: (TW)

Thank god for tiktok and living near an incredible hospital. In December I had stumbled upon some tiktoks about preeclampsia, I didn't know much about it other than being prescribed baby aspirin (anyone with a BMI above average is prescribed this). I had no idea the symptoms and found that headaches were one of them. As someone who suffers from migraines this information was always in the back of my mind and a fear I would just assume it was a migraine and not preeclampsia. Flash forward to 30 weeks pregnant and I was feeling exhausted, it was a challenge just getting to work. I assumed I was just struggling in the 3rd trimester but I seemed to be having  more difficulty than most. Around 31 weeks on February 6th I woke up with a cold and felt exhausted but went to work, my first lesson of the day  was observed and by lunch time my face was so swollen my iphone didn't recognize me. I was just going to leave and my vice principal said that of course I could leave but have the nurses check me out first. My school nurse took my BP and looked very seriously at me and said "you don't need an ambulance but you need to go to the hospital now."  Thus began the long journey from getting diagnosed with mild pre e and a week later back in the hospital with 190/110 bp in the emergency room and put on magnesium and maximum meds. We lived in antepartum for a week and two days. I was heavily medicated and observed. My blood was drawn so often they began drawing from my hands. My body was fighting hard but every day I was getting sicker and weaker. On February 19th I was told if my blood platelets were under 100 we would be delivering Tiernan today. They went from 100 to 80 and I was told we would be next when the OR was available. The c-section was its own story but around 8:45 pm our incredible little Tiernan was born weighing 4 pounds 9 ounces. He and Nate were rushed out of the room and my surgery went on for another hour and a half. I finally was brought out to the NICU around midnight and saw my baby for 10 minutes before being put in a smaller room on the opposite side of the NICU. Nate slept in the NICU with Tiernan and my mom stayed with me. I was finally able to hold my baby around 11 am on February 20th, still on magnesium and still not able to shower. I was not able to hold him for long periods of time as the magnesium makes you feel flu like and dizzy. It was one of the most emotional reunions to be with my baby and husband finally. 

I was taken off all meds and then my BP started rising again and had to be put back on all of them ( which means going through all the initial side effects again) and continue to be heavily monitored. Being in the regular part of the hospital, not the maternity ward, the nurses were kind but not all understood the need for me to see my baby. I was assessed and kept in my room to wait and could only get to the Nicu with help. It was extremely difficult to be a patient and not have the freedom to see Tiernan when I wanted. Nate advocated for me to be brought back to the antenatal ward as it was right above the NICU and my mental health was declining. Finally I was moved on Friday night to the antenatal ward and cried with joy at being one elevator floor and a few feet from my son. They discharged me the next day. I continued on labetalol 3x a day and nifedipine 2x a day and monitoring my BP. Tiernan remained in the NICU until March 11, exactly 3 weeks. It was the longest 3 weeks of our lives, we were so grateful he was so healthy and only needed support eating but every time he would improve or hit a goal there would be a set back or a harder goal in place. Not knowing when your baby will be home and being stuck in a white box with your son on a lead is extremely difficult to handle mentally.  On March 11 Nate tested positive for COVID so we called the NICU and they told us that “this never happens but he actually just got cleared to go home” with almost no warning. I went with my mother to pick up Tiernan and was overjoyed to bring him home but grieved that my husband could not share in this moment. We then heavily depended on our mothers as I became positive a few days later and we took turns solo parenting as did our moms. It was another week or so before we could actually co-parent and be a family. 

I continued on BP meds 5x a day, taking bp 1-2x  a day while also exclusively pumping (something that often happens with NICU parents) on top of caring for a newborn. I found out at 6 weeks I had retained product ( back to the hospital) . After hours waiting we found out I could take medication at home to pass the product. Once the product (placenta) was out of my system my bp finally went down to a lower dose of nifedipine 2x a day. I would finally be back to normal BP around his 4 month birthday. 

FInal Thoughts:

I can’t imagine going through this process without my incredible husband who took care of me and then solely took care of Tiernan while I was too sick to be with him. We are both so incredibly grateful to our families and support system who we leaned so heavily on during our entire ordeal. I am grateful for the care I received in the hospital and the care my son received in the NICU. The hypertension outpatient program I was a part of was a godsend for getting me out of the hospital. I hope that everyone suffering from hypertension/pree etc disorders has access to a comparable program. 

I am grateful my son is alive, thriving and well, I am grateful I am alive and healing with almost no leftover medical issues. I am grateful for the amazing husband and father that Nate is.  

We are also deeply traumatized and grieve much of our experience. My mother watched as I grew sicker and sicker unsure if I would be okay. Our families met our baby in an isolette  hooked up to monitors. They watched us leave our baby night after night completely wrecked. What we experienced was difficult and painful and people go through much worse and have worse outcomes.

I don’t want to leave this story on a low note, there is still so much hope! We are so over the moon with our son Tiernan and we are all feeling happy and healthy. But this story  is the reality of this condition and your donation will go to helping others with research, awareness and better care! Thank you for reading through. I appreciate your support and if able your contribution!