Labor and Childbirth with Preeclampsia

by Theresa
(Hobrook, NJ)

Labor and childbirth was an exciting, but painful experience for me. I had complications and my physician ended up inducing labor. I had preeclampsia that required them to try to have me deliver as quickly as possible. My blood pressure had been a problem since the 7th month of my pregnancy.

After a point, I was put on bed rest in the hopes that it would control some of my symptoms. However, 2 days after my due date I was not any better. While my husband was gone to work, my physician phoned me with the results of my last urine test. It showed that I was throwing off massive amounts of protein in my urine. They feared for the safety of me and my child if they waited any longer.

My husband rushed home to pick me up and we met my physician at the hospital. Once I was settled in my room, I was given an IV drip of pitocin and pitocin directly on my cervix. I had heard that labor would be more intense with induced labor. I did not realize how much more intense until they started. Due to the medication I was given, my labor pains were extremely painful and intense.

Initially I did not receive anything for the pain I experienced during labor. My physician gave me medication that made it possible for me to rest in between contractions. I was eventually given an epidural, but they turned it off because my contractions stopped. Therefore, I delivered my son naturally.

I remember the labor pain dragging me out of my sleep while I rested between contractions. The nurses told me not to push, but the desire to push was so overwhelming. I remember counting the ceiling tiles in my room trying to keep from pushing when the contractions hit. It did not help that I was having most of my labor pains in my back. Additionally, because I had preeclampsia, they were afraid to let me sit up completely to push. I was pushing on my side.

Eventually, a midwife in the hospital came in and helped me up. She said that they were crazy if they thought I was going to be able to deliver like that. We took a risk, but I started making progress after that point. Thankfully, my son was delivered after 12 hours of labor. He was healthy, and I after a couple of weeks my blood pressure had returned to its original levels.