A Miraculous Story of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and affects about 2–6% of healthy first time moms. It is a dangerous disease for both mother and child that may not always shows signs, especially for new mothers who have no idea what to expect or what's normal. Each case can vary widely from developing in mid pregnancy, during labor, and even six weeks after delivery. If undetected or untreated, issues can progress quickly, leading to other issues like HELLP syndrome. Luckily, healthcare providers keep a close look out for this condition which is why at every prenatal visit a mother's blood pressure is taken as well as checking for protein in her urine. Both indicators of preeclampsia.

Below is a story of one woman's journey, who at just 23 weeks pregnant, would be told she must deliver her baby 15 weeks early to ensure the safety of her and her unborn daughter. What she thought were typical complaints like headaches, fatigue, and swelling turned out to be the first signs of this aggressive condition. Her journey brought every emotion one could imagine from shock and fear to sadness and hope. Here is the story of Amy Dimes and Jordan Jane.

Something's Not Right

Amy was a healthy and excited mommy to be, she was in her best shape prior to conceiving, continued to workout throughout her pregnancy, and dedicated to her full-time Catering-Sales Manager position. Halfway through her pregnancy, Amy found herself coming home from work with dull headaches and extremely swollen feet. Every night her husband Moe would rub her aching toes and force her to drink a gallon of water believing the swelling was due to dehydration. An explanation that seemed plausible since her doctor had showed no concern otherwise. However, all that changed with one phone call to her mother. Amy didn’t think twice when she started to complain to her mom that none of her maternity clothes or shoes fit her, with more than 15 weeks to go, she had outgrown everything in a very short period of time. She was often hearing, “You look ready to pop,” which didn’t seem normal at just 5 ½ months pregnant. Since Amy’s mother had suffered from HELLP Syndrome, a life-threatening pregnancy complication connected to preeclampsia, she urged Amy to call her doctor immediately. While it took some convincing since Amy had just seen her doctor and was scheduled to go back the next week, she did as any good daughter does, listened to her mother, and called her OBGYN. Since it was a Saturday, they instructed her to take her weight and blood pressure, which Amy was able to do at her office, and with those results, they urged her to go to the hospital. It seemed Amy had gained over 7 pounds in a week and her blood pressure had sky rocketed into dangerously high territory. Unknowingly, Amy left work and would never return pregnant.

HELLP Syndrome

Once admitted, Amy spent the day giving blood work and urine samples with hopes to be released the next day. Unfortunately, that news never came. The next morning Amy was notified that she could possibly have HELLP Syndrome and there was an ambulance waiting to take to her to another hospital, a hospital capable of delivering a premature baby earlier than 30 weeks. She was immediately given magnesium to slow down the chances of a seizure due to her severely elevated blood pressure and remembers that time as, “feeling like acid was running through her veins.”

Once admitted to Robertwood Johnson Hospital, Amy spent the next few days being monitored very closely. Sonograms, urine, and blood were taken multiple times a day for the next 5 days. Since there is no one definite test to determine preeclampsia and since Amy was experiencing 2 out of the 3 major symptoms (dull headaches and high blood pressure but not liver pain) doctors had hoped an infection was the cause of all the trouble and not preeclampsia. Her levels were staying somewhat consistent and if they could just hold off a few more weeks, baby Jordan would have a much easier road ahead. However as you have probably guessed, they came in the next morning with news no mother wants to hear, her liver was shutting down due to HELLP Syndrome and they had to deliver the baby now.

15 Weeks Early

At 25 weeks pregnant, Amy was quickly prepped for surgery, a classical vertical c-section due to Jordan’s breech position and Amy’s unprepared body. C-sections of this nature take much longer, are riskier, and require more healing time than horizontal incisions. With over 20 people in the delivery room, 14 to tend to Jordan and 7 for Amy, the only thought in Amy’s mind was to stay calm for her baby. I asked her how and she simply stated it was her motherly instinct kicking in and knowing the only thing she could provide baby Jordan at that moment was to keep her mind clear and nerves at bay. She truly believed that Jordan was strong and would be OK, and boy was she right. Despite Amy and Moe being warned that they would not hear Jordan cry due to undeveloped lungs, you can imagine their surprise when they heard her first wails into life, something doctors are still unable to explain. At just 1.5 pounds, Jordan Jane Dimes was introduced to the world.

109 Days of the Unknown

While this story has a lot of unfortunate twists and turns, the one thing that matters is the outcome and this outcome couldn’t be any better. Amy is now the elated mother of a very active and healthy 2-year-old daughter, who although had a rough start into life, shows no sign of any premature setbacks. Jordan was kept at the NICU for 109 days where Amy visited everyday, sometimes twice a day, often practicing skin-to-skin or the kangaroo holding method. Jordan overcame a staff infection that almost took her life, retinal corrective surgery to prevent blindness, and many other life-threatening hiccups. Like any other 2-year-old, she today stands tall, strong, and talkative (trust me, I heard her throughout the interview)!

The Facts

This post is not only to share Amy and Jordan’s story but to also make mamas-to-be aware of preeclampsia symptoms, encourage women to trust their body and instincts, and to follow their gut (and mother’s advice). Here are a few facts every woman should know about preeclampsia:

• Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs only during pregnancy and affects about 2-6% of healthy first time moms.
• Who is at risk? First time moms, women whose sisters and mothers had preeclampsia, women carrying multiple babies, women younger than 20 and older than 40, women who had high blood pressure or kidney disease prior to pregnancy, and obese women.
• What are the major symptoms? High blood pressure, water retention, headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, urinating in small amounts, and pain in upper right abdomen. If you experience any of these symptoms while pregnant, call your doctor immediately.
• How can you prevent preeclampsia? Currently there is no way to prevent preeclampsia but you can control your diet, weight, and blood pressure to a certain degree. Use little to no salt, drink 8 glasses of a water a day, refrain from fried food, exercise regularly, elevate your feet throughout the day, and avoid caffeine.

Our bodies are built to grow, protect, and shelter these tiny beings and for 10 months of life, preeclampsia or not, keeping yourself healthy and informed is the most important job of your life.