A local mom's journey through preeclampsia by Lauren Doud
Preeclampsia. When I first heard that word, I had no idea what it meant, but it would change my life completely. I was in my first pregnancy, 22 weeks along, and I had just been admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital with an excruciating headache, blood pressures in the 180s/100s, severe swelling, and protein in my urine. Leading up to that admission, I had what I had assumed were normal pregnancy symptoms: nausea, mild headaches, swelling in my hand and fatigue. Turns out, I was one of the 1 in 12 pregnancies that develops preeclampsia.
After 10 days in the hospital, my blood pressure was completely out of control; I was seeing spots in my vision and I was developing HELLP Syndrome, the deadlier cousin of preeclampsia. The high risk doctors decided that we couldn’t wait anymore. I had an emergency C-section at 24 weeks, and my son Peter went to the NICU. When I finally got to hold Peter, it was the first and last time. He passed away 2 days after he was born, in his daddy’s arms.
May was Preeclampsia Awareness Month, and we had a proclamation issued by Mayor Cranley. We are working hard so that we do not have to lose any more mothers or babies to this condition. I became involved with the Preeclampsia Foundation, the only national foundation that supports families dealing with preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Through there, I found out about the Promise Walks, their signature fundraiser, and started the Cincinnati Walk in 2017.
This year we are having our 3rd annual walk at Sawyer Point on June 29, 2019, with registration beginning at 9:00 AM. Our mission family, the Bischoff’s, will be sharing their harrowing experience when Rebekah had HELLP syndrome with their second child. We will also be featuring Dr. Danielle Johnson, head of women’s mental health at the Lindner Center, who will be talking about maternal mental health after a traumatic pregnancy. Marty Mercado, national events manager at the Preeclampsia Foundation, will also be attending. We have a memorial to honor those lost, and then we walk about 3 miles. Afterward, there is a silent auction, vendors, and a kid’s area with face painting, crafts and Star Wars characters. We are a family and pet friendly event, and entrance is free, although advance online registration at our website is recommended. I hope to see you there!
Pictured: Lauren and her family