Chantal's story

I am a Canadian mom to 3 girls, Kristyn born in December 1996, Erin in April 1998 and Meghan is my Pre-Eclampsia Baby born May 25, 2001.

My first 2 pregnancies, had their problems, none of which were hypertension. It was after Erin in April 1998, that things started to get weird with my body. I have had three miscarriages since then. One in July 1998, one in October 1999 and one in March of 2000 at 13 weeks. I needed an emergency D&C with the last one.

After that miscarriage, I didn't ovulate. I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, so that was not a surprise. I was diagnosed with it at age 15 and put on the pill to regulate my periods and keep the PCOS at bay.

I was schedulled to see an OB/GYN who has experience in infertility in Oct 2000, but low and behold, ovulated all on my own in Sept!! I was pg and due June 5th, 01.

Things went pretty smoothly. I began to see a Midwife at 14 weeks and planned to have a natural birth in hospital. Since my first two births were full of intervention, I wanted to have as natural a go with #3 as possible. I had a wonderful burst of energy in the second trimester. It was great!

At 22 weeks, I had some bleeding and contractions. My primary midwife was in Africa, so I called the covering midwife. She told me to stay at home, but I didn't (couldn't?) listen. I went to L&D. Had an u/s
and discovered I had polyhydramnios. Not a big surprise since I had been measuring 4-5 weeks ahead. The midwife seemed a bit peeved that I had gone "above her head", so she transferred me out of their care
and I was now a patient of the High Risk Unit. My Amniotic Fluid Index was quite high, but gradually decreased to a "high normal". I followed my Doctors orders to get some rest and tried some natural methods, such as total body immersion in water 3 times a day.

Things seemed to level off by 32 weeks, I felt good and my water decreasing nicely. The day of my 33 week appt, I had a terrible headache. I didn't think much of it. I am not normally a headache person, but I had had quite a few doozies with this pregnancy. I went in and my BP was "borderline" high... around 145/90. Trace protein in my urine. Sent home on bedrest.

I was to go in every week after that. Each time, my BP would creep a little higher... a little more protein and a little more swelling. BioPhysical Profiles and Non Stress Tests always showed a healthy baby. My OB was puzzled. He must have asked me 5 times if this baby was my husband's baby!! (All three of them are). Since I had no history, he did not want to classify me as PIH or do anything about it, except be "cautious".

At my 37 week appt, my BP had gone up to about 200/110. I had gained 7 lbs in a week and had a massive headache for what seemed like weeks. The two OBs argued about what to do with me. One wanted to keep me in for observation and a 24 hour urine collection, another just wanted to send me home on bedrest and Aldomet, a popular medication for hypertension. They went for the Aldomet and bedrest.

At this point, I was worried. I was having constant headaches, blurred vision, swelling. At my next appt, I got up all my nerve and confronted the OB who was in the High Risk Unit that day. I told him I was very worried and not an advocate of routine induction, but felt I really had a medical reason for doing so. He agreed and wondered why I was not induced when my BP had reached 100. They put me on the induction list and told me I would get a call in a day or two when there was room. This was on Tuesday the 22nd. He also sent me for blood work that day and the next. On Wednesday the 23rd, I went to my own GP for a check and blood draw. I still hadn't been called for induction. BP still over 100.

Thursday the 24th, I called the Caseroom. Told no room... stay on meds and bedrest and that they would take a look at my lab results. I was on the phone with my best friend around 11am. I was complaining that the hospital was being really unhelpful when my call waiting went off... It was time to have that baby... labs were not as good as the day before. Still okay... but not great. So, my friend drove me to the hospital. John met me there later after he finished work.

I won't get into a long birth story. It was a VERY LONG induction. 30 hours. 2 doses of gel, artificial rupture of membranes, pitocin and an epidural. Meghan was 8 lb 4 oz at just under 39 weeks. My BP
remained stable throughout, with the exception of when they gave me pit. At that point, I had been in labour 24 hours and not only wanted pain relief but knew the epidural would lower my BP. It took a few days for my blood pressure to recover and I was more tired after that birth than any of my other two. I felt like I had run a marathon with an extra 70lbs of water on me!

For me, it was a good outcome and I know there are those who have not been so lucky. However, I feel that many things were either overlooked or ignored in my care. Looking back to that first appt when my BP was borderline high, I now know that I had a 30 point jump in my systolic pressure! That is alot and usually a cause for real concern in a pregnant woman.

With the help of Helen's mailing list and her wonderful site, I am learning things I can do to not only treat Pre Eclampsia should it happen to me again, but to prevent it from happening in the first place!

Stay strong... Be an advocate in your care... Stand up for you and your baby!

Chantal