Originally, they couldn’t find out what was wrong. They did tests and an ultrasound, gave me a shot for pain and told me that they were going to keep me overnight for observation. The doctor came in and said that they were going to continue running tests, but that he had to go home (it was well into the evening by this time and he had already had one delivery that day). I actually told my fiancé to go home and get some rest because he had to work the next day! Luckily, he didn’t listen. The doctor came back roughly an hour later and told us that I had HELLP syndrome and that my daughter had to be delivered as quickly as was possible. When my fiancé asked how long he had before the delivery, they told him that he only had as long as it would take the hospital to get the platelets that I would need to receive during my delivery, so roughly ½ hour. We were also told that I would have to have a cesarean, that I couldn’t stay awake for the delivery because they couldn’t give me an epidural, and that my fiancé would not be allowed into the delivery room at all. I was absolutely terrified…and everything happened so quickly.

My daughter was delivered at 32 weeks and was 3 lbs 2 oz. I didn’t get to see her for 3 days because they took her before I woke up, and I was unable to leave my bed after her birth. She is now almost 3 years old and is still a little tiny thing, but is doing wonderfully. She ended up staying 4 weeks in the NICU before she could come home, had to have an apnea monitor for 6 months after her birth, and had some other issues, but she has outgrown it all, and has done tremendously well.

Once I delivered, the doctor explained to me that they finally were able to diagnose the issue due to my platelet count (25,000) as I had absolutely no symptoms of HELLP or preeclampsia. He told me that the pain that I was feeling was caused by my liver dying. Above all, he told me that I was very lucky that I had come to the hospital when I did. He reminded me that I know my body better than anyone else in this world and that paying attention to it had made a world of difference (this advice led me to an emergency gall bladder surgery last year also, but that’s another story).

Now, I’m pregnant again…26 weeks and so very scared. This time, the doctors are watching me very closely, and at least they know what to watch for this time. I have gestational hypertension and anemia, which makes me incredibly nervous, but we are still hoping that the HELLP syndrome stays away. Hearing that you had no issues with HELLP syndrome during the pregnancy of your son helps me to feel somewhat more hopeful that I will come through this time without the disease coming up. I am also doing my best to quell my anxiety and make sure that I pay attention to my own body so that I notice any symptoms or other issues that might occur.