My Pregnancies: Preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, Prematurity, and More

Many people live an entire lifetime and never witness the miracles that I have seen. I'm not just talking about the Miracle of Life but how it came about for two very special people. My husband and I were very excited when we learned of our first pregnancy not long after we were married. We were expecting a baby boy. Around 30 weeks gestation the doctor told us that I was developing preeclampsia and would probably have to deliver early. The doctor put me on bed rest and told me that I was to come into to office for a non stress test (NST) and biophysical profiles (BPP) three times a week. My doctor went ahead and scheduled me for delivery on April 18, 2000, which was going to be on a Tuesday.

As the day came nearer we were overwhelmed with happiness. We had everything ready for our little boy. We had a chest full of baby clothes, a bag packed for the hospital and his bed prepared to bring our new baby home.

On April 14, 2000, the Friday before my scheduled delivery, I was awoken with excruciating pain in my lower back and stomach. I didn't want to be the wife full of false alarms, so I sent my husband on to work and called my mother to take me to the hospital. By the time she arrived I could barely stand up because I was hurting so bad.

As we got on the elevator at the hospital to go up to the labor hall, I felt a gush of warm liquid go down my legs. "Oh God, I think my water just broke!" I said as tears filled my eyes from the pain. The nurse handed me a gown and told me to change that she would be in to check me in a few minutes. I started to take my clothes off and was shocked when all I seen was blood. "Mommy, get the nurse, I'm bleeding!" My heart was pounding. I feared the inevitable.

The nurse and the doctor came in my room and checked for my baby's heart beat. "I'm getting 120 beats," the nurse told the doctor. "Check her pulse," the doctor said. I could hear it in their voices and see it in their eyes. I knew what was going on. "Her pulse is 120," I heard the nurse say. "Get an ultrasound machine up here now!" the doctor told the nurse.

"Is my baby okay?" I asked the doctor. "We can't find his heartbeat," the doctor said with sympathy.