Mary's story

At the age of 17 and in love I found out I was pregnant. It was hard being so young to tell everyone that I was pregnant. I was so frightened and to top it all off, once I told the father he never spoke to me again.

I had a great pregnancy. At 20 weeks I found out I was having a wonderful little girl who at the time weighed 15 oz. She was an active baby, most of the time at night. I went to the doc once a month and everything was fine.

At my 34 week check up my blood pressure was elevated to 145/85. I did not know what that meant but the doctor was very concerned. She told me that I had signs of preeclampsia. I had no idea what that was and I thought something was wrong with my baby. The doctor told me I would have to go the hospital to get some tests done. I was so scared and alone and I started to cry. I told my mother who had been waiting out in the waiting room at the time what was wrong barely to speak through the sobs and she also thought something was wrong. WE went straight to the hospital where I was monitored for about 3 hours with no change in blood pressure and then I was released on complete bedrest.

My aunt, which is also a nurse took my blood pressure the next morning for me and it was 165/100, the highest that it had been. I called the doctor and she told me to get to the hospital. Once again I was there for about 3 hours and released with no significant change at all. I went home with my mother and stayed with me. I was laying on the couch and my Mom had her foot on my leg and when she moved her foot, the footprint stayed! I was like look your footprint is in my leg, we both laughed thinking nothing of it. I went back to the doc the next day for my 36 week appt and they did several more test on me and concluded that I had pitting edema, protein in the urine, severe headaches, a weight gain of 8 lbs in a week and elevated blood pressure. The doctor told me the only way to get rid of this problem was to deliver. I was told to go straight to the hospital where a midwife would be waiting to induce me.

I was at the hospital in less than 10 minutes. I went up to the L&D floor and was hooked up to a iv with potison and a fetal monitor. A nurse came in and checked my blood pressure and it was 165/90. The nurse was very concerned and told everyone in the room that they would have to leave or be quiet. She dimmed the lights and left. I had contractions and asked for an epidural. I was dilated at 7 and received the epidural. After that I did not feel any pain whatsoever until about 1130 p.m. The doctor came and checked me and told me I was completely dilated and it was time to push. I pushed for approximately 1 1/2 hours and at 1250 a.m. a beautiful baby girl, named Sydney Claire, was born weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz and 19 inches long. She was given a clean bill of health and stayed with me the whole time.

About 12 hours after the delivery my blood pressure was still very elevated. The nurse was going to give me magnesium sulfate and while she was gone a I had violent seizure. Luckily, my mother was in there with me at the time and called for help. I was given the magnesium sulfate immediately and the seizures subsided. I was released a week later with my baby.

Today, Sydney is a very active 22 month old weighing 24 lbs. Sydney keeps me going constantly and she never gives up. Right now I am trying to potty train and boy has it been a tough job. She is finally getting the hang of it after 2 months. I am so glad everything turned out just right. I am trying to prepare her for her new baby brother which is due on Feb 17. Luckily this pregnancy has had no complications and I am 33 weeks. My blood pressure is in average range and has been great.

Mary