I am sure many of you have heard about the pregnancy condition preeclampsia but did any of you know about postpartum preeclampsia. I never knew about it until it happened to me. When I was pregnant with my first child my Aunt said to me “When a woman is pregnant she has one foot in heaven and one foot on earth.” Postpartum preeclampsia was one of the scariest moments of my life. I developed postpartum preeclampsia two weeks after delivering my daughter via vaginal birth.
For those of you reading this and your not sure what preeclampsia is, allow me to explain. Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and usually the presence of protein in the urine. Postpartum preeclampsia is a serious condition related to high blood pressure. It can happen to any woman who just had a baby. It has most of the same features of preeclampsia or other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, without affecting the baby. It can happen to any woman who has just had a baby up to 6 weeks after the baby is born. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious, fatal complications.
Preeclampsia took me by surprise and this was not my first pregnancy. Prior to giving birth, I experienced no symptoms of preeclampsia whatsoever, nor did I have any issues with high blood pressure, however this pregnancy I was six years older and forty pounds heavier. I did experience swollen feet towards the end of my pregnancy but the urine test always came up negative. Once I delivered my baby I assumed I was in the clear of any hidden pregnancy issues.
On that particular day, I was at home with my newborn baby and only breastfeeding at the time. As I was holding my daughter, suddenly I started to experience an excruciating headache, my head was pounding as if it was beating to a drum and it would not go away. I never experienced a headache this severe in my life. I knew immediately something was wrong just didn't know what. I quickly rested the baby on the sofa and began feeling dizzy. I had to have blacked out because when I woke up there were two EMT workers standing over me along with the building super and building manager. I had no clue what happened. The EMT workers rushed me to the hospital and the doctor explained to me that I had preeclampsia and had experienced a seizure. My tongue was swollen and it was difficult for me to talk. I was dumbfounded because I could not understand how could I have preeclampsia after giving birth two weeks later. The doctor did not have a clear explanation which left me even more confused.
On that day many things happened that were not coincidental. For instance, my front door was unlocked and the building manager and the super were working on the apartment next door. (please note that I am a paranoid girl from Brooklyn, not the new gentrified Brooklyn but the old do or die, Brooklyn. That being said, I always lock my door.) They heard a baby crying uncontrollably and knew instantly it was a cry for help. They knocked on my door and there was no answer, and being that the door was unlocked, they found me unconscious on the floor and called the ambulance. I could have died that day, but I thank God that the events played out the way they did.
The scariest part about this condition is that it can happen suddenly without warning. Just as I was blogging about my own experience, Kenya Moore, from The Real Housewives of Atlanta posted an update on Instagram about her pregnancy status, she wrote: "I made fun of my swollen feet at [Cynthia Bailey's] party. Next day my tests came back for possible preeclampsia ..." "I gained 17 lbs in ONE week due to severe swelling and water retention, high blood pressure, and excess protein in urine. This is NOT normal! I took more tests. Baby is fine but if [tests] come back higher [Baby Daly] will have to come same day," she noted.
Ladies, it is imperative that you pay attention to your bodies during pregnancy and after. Trust what you are feeling and call 911 immediately. This could be a life or death situation. The earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome will be. Here are some warning signs to look out for.
Signs of postpartum preeclampsia may include:
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A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher
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Excess protein in the urine
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Nausea or vomiting
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Severe headache
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Abdominal pain, especially under the ribs on the right side
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Very little urine output
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Sudden weight gain (more than 2 pounds a week)
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Sudden shortness of breath
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, contact your health care provider right away. https://www.preeclampsia.org/stillatrisk
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcZxoMH7m9/?taken-by=thekenyamoore
https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kenya-moore-pregnancy-preeclampsia-may-be-induced-early
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Sources:
https://www.preeclampsia.org/stillatrisk
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcZxoMH7m9/?taken-by=thekenyamoore
https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kenya-moore-pregnancy-preeclampsia-may-be-induced-early
