At 31 weeks and 4 days of pregnancy, I went for a routine check-up with my midwife. She confirmed that my baby’s growth was on track and that I could have a normal delivery. My pregnancy had been smooth until that point—I had no symptoms like vomiting, no gestational diabetes, and no complications. Even at my 28-week scan, my blood pressure was normal, with no signs of preeclampsia.

However, on the day of that midwife appointment, everything changed. She measured my blood pressure, and it was alarmingly high—170/120. She was shocked and immediately sent me to the emergency room. I was admitted to the hospital, where they monitored my blood pressure for 18 hours. Despite trying every possible medication, my blood pressure remained high. After 20 hours, it finally lowered to 140/95, but by then, my baby’s heartbeat had started fluctuating.

At that moment, the doctors made the urgent decision to perform an emergency C-section to save both me and my baby. My husband and I were devastated—we weren’t prepared for delivery at just 31 weeks and 4 days. I wanted my baby to stay in the womb until at least 36 weeks, growing healthy and strong. But the doctors warned us that waiting any longer posed a serious risk to both of us. They reassured us that our baby would be fine, even though she was premature. Despite my fears and overwhelming emotions, we agreed to the emergency C-section. Finally, our baby girl was born.
Even after delivery, my struggle wasn’t over. My blood pressure remained high, consistently above 150/95, and I had to stay in the hospital for another 15 days. The prolonged stay, my baby’s condition, and my own health left me feeling depressed and emotionally drained. I wasn’t eating well and was overwhelmed with anxiety. I cried and begged the doctors to discharge me. Eventually, after 15 days, they let me go home with a strict medication plan.
At home, we monitored my blood pressure daily, adjusting medications accordingly. It took a full 10 weeks after delivery for my blood pressure to finally return to normal. This experience was incredibly challenging, but it was also a defining moment in my life.