On Sunday March 16th, 2025 in the afternoon I began to have contractions- 3 days before a scheduled c section. They quickly advanced to every 5 minutes apart, and my OB advised me that it was time to come in to get checked. We arrived in OB triage not knowing what to expect. Through the hustle and bustle of nurses and doctors it was quickly realized that my blood pressure was extremely elevated with new onset headache and our son's heart rate was having notable decelerations. I delivered our second son, Callan via emergency c section due to preeclampsia with superimposed chronic hypertension. Normally, prior to a c section a patient is unable to eat or drink for a certain time period prior to limit the risk of aspiration. My contractions had begun at roughly 4:30pm, and as I sat on the OR table around roughly 8pm anesthesia asked me if I’d like to proceed with a spinal and risk bleeding as my labs had yet to result or be put under general anesthesia without my husband in the room, I would not see my baby initially after delivery and the risk of aspiration was extremely high. A conversation I replay in my head often. By some grace of God the lab called and indicated my platelets resulted and were normal and we proceeded with a spinal.
Our son was born at 8:36pm weighing 4lbs, 2oz and unknowingly to us an IUGR (intrauterine growth restrictive) baby, as my placenta had stopped working sometime during the pregnancy more than likely due to high blood pressure. There was no amniotic fluid, he was covered in meconium and the cord was wrapped once around his neck. I was treated with IV magnesium in efforts to prevent seizures due to extremely elevated blood pressure and was placed on bedrest not being able to see my baby for more than 24 hours after his birth. I’m extremely happy and relieved to say our newest addition is finally home after his 23 day stay in the NICU. He continues to follow up with his NICU team, urology and soon GI as he is tiny (just over 10lbs and 4 months old) but mighty!
6 days after discharge I found myself back in the emergency room being transported via EMS from our first son, Jack's pediatrician appointment for post partum preeclampsia with all the classic signs and symptoms; nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme headache and extremely elevated blood pressure. Again treated with Magnesium for seizure prevention.
I'm hoping to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms to watch for not only during pregnancy but also post partum that can be indications of preeclampsia. I'd love if you can join me on August 23rd and walk (for any distance/in any capacity) with this cause on your mind- thanks for reading!
