Kristen’s story

I’ve decided to share my birth story, to shed light on a condition that so desperately needs more research, funding & support.

I felt like I was the only person this had happened to, I felt ashamed & I grieved for the birth we had dreamt of. I felt like I was to blame.

There is little to no support in the UK, particularly Northern Ireland, for pre-eclampsia survivors or those currently facing it. This has to change. More research into the cause & prevention of pre-eclampsia & eclampsia is so desperately needed. Women should not have to suffer like this.

We attended the Ulster Hospital on November 28th for a routine appointment. I had no idea there was anything wrong with me at all. At around 1530 we met with the consultant who informed us of her concerns about my blood pressure & urine sample results, then sent me straight to the Emergency Obstetrics Unit.

In EOU, the highest blood pressure reading Ryan remembers seeing was 210/120. It reduced ever so slightly after a lot of medication & I was told to prepare myself for the baby to be delivered. This was to happen as soon as they could get my BP to an operable level.

I was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia, which occurs in 1-2% of pregnancies & is life threatening for both mother & baby. I vividly remember telling my husband to choose the baby over me if it came down to it.

I did not have any of the risk factors for pre-eclampsia.

The only symptoms I had were swelling & nausea; things I thought were totally normal at 36 weeks.

Jack was born via emergency C section at 2236 that same night, a month early. He weighed 7lb 15oz and thank God, was perfectly well. I however, was extremely unwell. I wasn’t able to leave the recovery unit for 2 days. Most people leave within a matter of hours.

Following the operation, I suffered 2 serious hemorrhages. I was put on a magnesium sulfate drip which makes your entire body feel like it’s on fire but is essential to help prevent seizures. I was hooked up to so many machines, whilst trying to breastfeed & bond with my new baby & recover from major surgery.

I needed an iron transfusion due to losing so much blood. I was extremely lucky not to need a blood transfusion too. I suffered trapped air in my shoulder as a result of the surgery. This is one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. A suspected clot in my lung meant an MRI scan. My soaring heart rate meant several ECGs & an overnight heart monitor a few months later. I had blood taken every day that we were in hospital & at one point was on 8 different medications. Ryan had to give me an injection in my leg every morning for 6 weeks.

We spent 8 days in hospital, and I spent a further 16 weeks on 3 different types of BP medication. Thankfully I have now been weaned off them & my blood pressure is normal again, however I am still recovering both mentally & physically. I would do it all again in a heartbeat if it got me Jack, but mothers should not have to suffer this.

If you are expecting, please make yourself aware of the symptoms & do not be afraid to speak to your doctor or midwife if you are concerned. Early intervention is key. Pre-eclampsia is one of the biggest causes of maternal mortality.