Heloisa’s birth story

*** This is a really long post and it is for me to preserve my memories. ***

As I reached the 35 weeks mark, I diagnosed with preeclampsia.

But what is Pre-eclampsia?

Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension) in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine.

Pre-eclampsia refers to a set of symptoms rather than any causative factor, and there are many different causes for the condition. It appears likely that there are substances from the placenta that can cause endothelial dysfunction in the maternal blood vessels of susceptible women.^] While blood pressure elevation is the most visible sign of the disease, it involves generalized damage to the maternal endothelium, kidneys, and liver, with the release of vasoconstrictive factors being secondary to the original damage.

Pre-eclampsia may develop from 20 weeks gestation (it is considered early onset before 32 weeks, which is associated with increased morbidity). Its progress differs among patients; most cases are diagnosed pre-term. Pre-eclampsia may also occur up to six weeks post-partum. Apart from Caesarean section or induction of labor (and therefore delivery of the placenta), there is no known cure. It is the most common of the dangerous pregnancy complications; it may affect both the mother and the unborn child.

Since my blood pressure was under control, my doctor decided to wait until I reached 38 weeks to deliver Heloisa. But when I reached 36 weeks, my protein levels were extremely HIGH, so my doctor changes his approach and changed our target to 37 weeks.

I completed 37 weeks on February 9^th and he scheduled my C-Section for Feb 11^th at 10am.

To say we were excited, scary and over the moon is an understatement.

By 9:30 am, on Feb 11^th, the nurses came to take me to the OR and to take Paulo to the changing room. Since, they had 18 scheduled births for that day, they were running late. (Great!)

So, as I sat on my wheel chair on the Recovery room, for those moms who just had their babies, I could not believe that in less than two hours my baby would be with in my arms. And our family of two would become a family of three.

As I waited, I had so many thoughts racing through my mind. Most of them where not joyful thoughts, they were “What if” thoughts, What if she doesn’t breath?, what if she doesn’t cry when she is born, what if, what if…..

After 20 minutes, which it looked like much more, a sweet nurse came to take me to the OR. While they prepared me for the C-Section, I was so nervous, that I can’t remember anything that we talked while we were there. I remember my doctor and the anesthesiologist talked with me nonstop, but for me it is all a blur.

When they were ready, a nurse went out to pick up Paulo and then the show began.

At 11:20 am, our sweet Heloisa came into this world. She cried right away, they showed her to me. Paulo went with the doctors to see all the tests on her. Since she cried right away, they put her on a sling and gave her to Paulo. She stayed with us until the surgery finished.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any picture of Paulo and her with the sling. But it is a true memory for us to share.

Truth to be told, the rest of the day is a blur and I can only say, it was the most tense and yet the best moment of my life.