Lillian’s Story Highlights Urgency of Recognising Postpartum Preeclampsia – Preeclampsia Foundation
Preeclampsia Foundation shared a post on LinkedIn:
“In 2024, Lillian and her husband were expecting their daughter, Shira. Lillian experienced hyperemsis gravidrum, a hematoma, and bedrest during her pregnancy. While she was pregnant, Lillian also experienced spotted vision and rapid weight gain. Her concerns were brushed off as general pregnancy symptoms. On New Year’s Eve, Lillian gave birth to Shira.
Lillian believed that once she delivered, she would no longer be at risk for preeclampsia. After being discharged from labor and delivery, she was extremely swollen. She shares, ‘I left the hospital wearing socks because my shoes would not fit, and I could barely fit into my maternity clothes.’ As each day passed, her swelling increased. On postpartum day 6, Lillian experienced a debilitating headache that she first dismissed as sleep deprivation. Once her mom placed a pulse oximeter on her finger and she checked her blood pressure, Lillian knew something was wrong. She and her rushed to the emergency room.
Lillian shares, ‘Once there, my blood pressure continued to climb to dangerous levels. My RN mode kicked in and I told the ER doctor, ‘I think this is preeclampsia, and I need to be placed on a magnesium drip ASAP.’
Due to the quick action of Lillian knowing and recognizing the symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia and taking action to get help, she was treated with magnesium sulfate and blood pressure medication.
Lillian reflects, ‘Experiencing preeclampsia was the scariest experience of my life. As a registered nurse and maternal health advocate, I was well aware that Black women are at a significantly higher risk of developing preeclampsia. It is one thing to know the statistics surrounding maternal morbidity and mortality; it is another to live it personally.’
Read more of Lillian’s story here.”
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