November 17th my pregnancy took a turn. Extreme exhastion (bed bound), blurry vision, vomiting, uncomfortable to walk/stand. 

November 22nd; ReadyMed to get tested for Covid and the Flu, explaining my symptoms. "Well, you're 37 weeks pregnant, it's normal."

November 24; normal scheduled stress test for baby boy. High BP, but not alarming. Explained symptoms, "it's normal, you're over 37 weeks pregnant. Take the wins where you can get them."

November 26; Left work to go to ER. Was not feeling right, couldn't feel baby boy move. Met my husband at the hospital. Admitted at 11:22am, Jack Thomas born at 1:49pm.

1 minute: "We can't let you leave today, we don't like some of these numbers. We need to monitor you until baby is ready to come" (3cm dilated with contractions)

Next minute: "Labs aren't looking great, we are going to induce you."

Next minute: "We are going to do a C section today." (gives husband nursing gown etc)

Final minute: "We are going to go ahead with the emergency C-section, but we need to put you under general anesthesia and your husband will have to sit in the next room. We need to move quickly and we need to move now."    

This is the reality and onset of HELLP syndrome. 

Emergency C section, under general anesthesia. Protein in my urine, poop in the placenta, heart rate dropping in baby, high blood pressure, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count, hemolytic anemia (blood cells being destroyed).. my liver and kidney were failing. HELLP syndrome. Jack was born, needed to be resuscitated. I needed magnesium drips to prevent seizures, in addition to 9 blood transfusions. 

My pregnancy was beautiful until the end. Out of nowhere...HELLP syndrome. 

Only solution for HELLP is to immediately remove the baby from the mother. And here we are today, happy and healthy! The most important. 

Not all mothers or babies make it through this, Jack and I have guardian angels above. Proud to stand and walk with others who have went through something similar.

All mothers are superheroes !