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HELLP Syndrome Disrupted My Birth Plan
Hey there, friends! Buckle up because my birth story isn’t exactly a fairytale. I’m sharing this to shed light on a serious pregnancy complication called HELLP Syndrome and to remind all of us not to take life too seriously. Here’s how it all went down…
Let me start by saying that my pregnancy was pretty much a dream come true. I enjoyed long, lazy Saturdays, a husband who pampered me (though he never did give me that foot rub; I’ll never let him live that down), and indulged in plenty of ice cream. My doctor appointments were routine, and aside from the typical weight gain, everything seemed fine.
But then, around 35 weeks, things took a turn. I started feeling really unwell while my husband, Ben, was away on a work trip. I dramatically pleaded for Ginger Ale and saltines over the phone. I tried to eat a bit, but nothing would stay down. Eventually, I knew I had to call my doctor.
Fast forward a few days… things escalated quickly. My doctor was pacing the hospital room, urgently requesting an operating room while informing me that I had only hours to live if the baby didn’t come out right away. I don’t remember much; I was in and out of consciousness. I had to undergo an emergency C-section under general anesthesia, and Ben wasn’t allowed in the room. Seriously? I couldn’t even be awake for this monumental moment, and he wouldn’t be there for our baby’s first cries? What a rip-off! Can I get a refund on that birthing class I took?
When I woke up in intensive care, it was a scene out of a medical drama—machines beeping and tubes everywhere. I had no idea where my baby was. Ben had been by my side, sleeping in a chair, taking care of our little one, making sure he was fed, and managing a flood of calls and texts from worried family. They had limited visiting hours, so he had to keep them away from my bed to spare them the sight of my condition.
As for the baby, he was doing well considering he was a month early but developed pneumonia and had to spend a week in the NICU. Now, he’s a happy, healthy, and teething five-month-old!
As for me, I’m still recovering. The chaos was caused by HELLP Syndrome, along with some kidney and liver issues (which don’t happen in every case). Most people have never heard of it because it’s tucked away in the back of the pregnancy manual under “serious complications” that no one wants to read about. Why would anyone want to know that both they and their baby could be in danger? It’s a tough topic, but it needs to be discussed.
After surviving the ICU, I spent another eight days in my own room. I was beyond frustrated when a nurse casually mentioned there was a patio outside during my sixth day of hospital confinement. It was summer in Minnesota, and every moment counts!
Sure, my birth experience wasn’t ideal. I don’t remember holding my son for the first time or feeding him. I couldn’t even reach for him at night because of the surgery.
But you know what I do have? A healthy baby, a supportive partner who’s been forgiven for that foot rub, a compassionate doctor who cares for me like family, and a resilient body that’s bouncing back from a tough situation. And that little fighter? He’s got his mommy.
To all the expecting moms out there: Don’t get too attached to that “birth plan.” Be ready to toss it out the window and embrace the wild ride of motherhood. At the end of the day, what really matters is that you become someone’s mama, no matter how your child enters the world.
If you want to read more about this topic, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy. You might also find this post on home insemination interesting, as well as this one from Make A Mom, a trusted authority in the field.
Summary
I experienced HELLP Syndrome, which disrupted my birth plan and led to an unexpected emergency C-section. Despite the challenges, I now have a healthy baby and a supportive partner. This experience taught me that motherhood can be unpredictable, and it’s important for expecting moms to be flexible with their birth plans.