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Pre-eclampsia

I experienced preeclampsia with my first and probably only pregnancy. It was such a horrible experience. I developed hypertension first and then the protein in my urine increased tremendously, doctors even said my levels were off the chart. I guess you could say I was retaining fluid...I didn't realize how swollen I was until after delivery. I was told I needed to deliver due to increase in urine protein levels. I was wheeled into delivery where I was given a pill to make me go into labor. I started having contractions and that made the baby's heart rate drop. They decided it was time to do an emergency c-section. On the way to the O.R., I was having a contraction. And once I entered the O.R., which was when I delivered vaginally. There wasn't even enough time to give me my epidural. I pretty much shocked all nurses and doctors. The doctor was not even in the room when I delivered. The nurse practically caught my baby. I then developed pulmonary edema due to the fluid from the pre-eclampsia. I have to say, I'm not sure if I can take the chance of having to experience such a traumatic event again.

Kristi

My Experiences

My first birth with my daughter was very painful. At 8 months pregnant I was dilated to 3 and put on bed rest. I couldn’t get comfortable and I was so tired all the time from not being able to move around. Two weeks later I went in for my doctor’s appointment and I was dilated to 5 and dilating fast. I remember the nurse telling me to tell her when I felt the urge to push. But honestly I felt nothing. It was as if all of a sudden I wasn’t in pain anymore and more than anything I was scared. But I pushed out of pure fear. Three hard pushes were all it took to bring my baby girl into the world. She is now 4.

My son on the other hand was my second birth and very sudden. It was Valentine’s Day and my husband and I went for a walk. And within minutes I started to go into labor. I timed the contractions and the faster the came I called the doctor. We were all scared. I was barely six months pregnant. By the time I got to the hospital I was dilated to 7 and bleeding heavily. It only took me 10 mins to push him out. But the second he was born they flew him to NICU in Iowa City. Where he spent three months in the hospital weighing less than a pound. I, on the other hand, left the hospital the day after giving birth to rush up to see him. Now he is almost two and very healthy. You wouldn’t be able to tell he was premature by looking at him. I am now 6 months pregnant with my third child. Be very careful if you’re at high risk. Take good care of your body and stay away from stress as much as possible. Good luck to all those giving birth.


melissa

Scared & Worried

I had taken the AFP test to determine any birth defects. My husband & I were ecstatic because this is our first baby. I took the test when I was about 16 weeks. I was scared to find out the results so kept myself busy. To my surprise, I get a phone call at work a week later from my doctor's office telling me to call back. I called back immediately and waited to be connected to my doctor's office. The nurse had told me I had tested positive for the possibility of Down syndrome, 1/95 chance. I was so sad when I hung up the phone.

The nurse gave me a phone # to see a periontologist for further testing. I scheduled my appt to be seen immediately. When I got to the office, I had a counselor talk to me first, went over some family history and what I could expect. When I saw the doctor, he did an ultrasound & I lay there as they took all the pictures of my baby's organs & limbs. I was so happy, I even found out the sex of my baby that day. The baby looked fine.

I decided to have the amnio done the same day I wanted to make sure. I'm lucky because I hardly experienced the cramping they say I would have after the amnio. Right now I'm waiting for my results & am very anxious to know. I am keeping my faith & staying positive. Please pray for me.



CD

Pregnant Again

I have had 3 healthy pregnancies, which resulted in 3 beautiful boys 9,7 and 5. Last November 2006 I found out I was pregnant again but a week later I started bleeding, I was sent for a scan to be told that I had had a missed miscarriage at 8 weeks. I was booked in to have a d & c; I ended up with an infection and was very ill.

I have just found out that I am 5 weeks pregnant again. And even though I have had 3 perfect pregnancies before my miscarriage I am really worried that it’s going to happen again, paranoid every time I go to the toilet.


lyndsey

Having Faith

In March of 2006 I had a miscarriage at 18 weeks of pregnancy. Well, what actually happened I went in for an ultrasound and my baby had no heartbeat the doctors induced labor later that same day. Two weeks prior I had received a phone call from my doctor saying my blood work (ATP) shows that there was a high risk for Downs Syndrome in the baby. But before any further testing was done I lost the baby. Then in December of that same year I had another miscarriage this time at 8 weeks, my doctor just gave me statistics and that was the end of that (and me seeing that doctor).

Currently, I am 15 weeks pregnant and again I am faced with another blood test results showing high risk for Downs Syndrome but this time other screening has been done a NT screening which shows no sign of Downs Syndrome and in about 3 weeks I will have another level 2 ultrasound to check the baby's limb measurements and for any other defect. Has anyone gone through all this and had a healthy baby? I am holding on to my faith that everything will turn out fine.


Annie