Nicola and Luca’s Story

Eleven years on and it still hurts. Looking back, I suppose I took pregnancy for granted believing that I wouldn’t have any issues. Unfortunately, I was wrong. It was August 2012, and we were having a spell of hot weather in Wales, which doesn’t usually happen as it’s normally raining! I attended a Christening one weekend in August and had trouble walking back to the car, my legs and ankles were swollen but I put this down to the warm weather.

I had a follow-up appointment with my midwife planned the next day and it was discovered that I had high blood pressure but no protein in my urine. I was sent to the hospital as a precaution for monitoring but was discharged the same day as my blood pressure gradually reduced. The hospital had arranged a follow-up appointment with my midwife the following week on the August Bank Holiday.

I was at work for the rest of the week and on Friday I began to see black dots and feel tired. I put these symptoms down to rushing around as I had a busy job as a nurse. I spent the weekend resting and waited for my midwife appointment on the August Bank Holiday Monday. During my appointment, my blood pressure had increased again, and I now had protein in my urine. So again, it was another trip to the hospital. I was monitored, and as my blood pressure was very high, I was admitted. I was commenced on blood pressure medication and monitored continuously. At this point, I thought I’d be in hospital for a few days and then discharged. And the rumours are true – nurses make the worst patients! I was fed up, missing my bed and the little luxuries in life we all take for granted.

Days passed and my medication was increased. Unfortunately, whilst in hospital I became more unwell. I was feeling increasingly tired, continued to see black spots, had upper right side quadrant pain, and started to develop a headache. I woke up on Saturday having already been in hospital for 6 days. I was unable to stand and was having nose bleeds. I was seen by my consultant, and I told her I was done and I couldn’t do anymore. I had kept the baby in for as long as possible, but I had to admit defeat, pre-eclampsia had won! I felt like a failure, my body wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do.

Behind the scenes, plans were being put in place. At the time, there were no SCBU beds available in Wales and a helicopter was on standby to fly me to Edinburgh. I continued to be closely monitored. It was an anxious wait but on Sunday a bed became available in the SCBU unit in the hospital. It still hadn’t really occurred to me that the baby would be delivered – it all felt very surreal!

On September 2nd 2012, I was not responding to any intravenous medication to control my blood pressure. The medical team saw a window of opportunity where my blood pressure was stable, so an emergency caesarean was performed.

To begin with, the theatre was jovial but then it changed. The registrar was having difficulty getting the baby out and instructed the team to page the Consultant. At this point, I asked what was going on, my instincts and gut feeling as a nurse kicked in. I was told the surgeon was having difficulty getting the baby out. The mood in the room was quiet and serious. I felt surprisingly calm, I trusted the people taking care of me. They do extraordinary things every day and I’m proud to work for such a special organization, that is the NHS!

By the time the consultant entered the theatre, the baby had been delivered but I wasn’t aware of this. He was born in poor condition and required intensive interventions in the SCBU unit. The placenta was delivered, and I instantly felt well to the point where my blood pressure crashed the other way and they had to stop the medication.

Luca was born at 10:52 pm on September 2nd 2012, weighing 2lb 6 oz at 28 weeks’ gestation. I didn’t meet him for 24 hours after delivery and was finally able to hold him 48 hours later. Some things still hurt to this day due to having pre-eclampsia. I feel robbed of an experience that I never got to fully enjoy.

I was discharged two weeks after delivery and went home to an empty nursery with no furniture and without a baby. He remained in SCBU for seven weeks but did extremely well, so I feel blessed. I was still unwell weeks after delivery. I remained on the medication for my blood pressure which I slowly had to wean off. I had lost a lot of blood in theatre so was also anaemic. I developed a chest infection and mastitis so couldn’t see Luca for a week due to him being so vulnerable.

Initially, I felt guilt as I didn’t recognise the signs of pre-eclampsia especially as I’m a nurse. Sometimes I feel like I could have done more but now I accept that things were out of my control. Despite my experience, I have a healthy and happy 11-year-old son. He is brave and strong, more than he will ever know.

The work that POPPY study does is vital! So little is known about pre-eclampsia and why it occurs. I had no family history of pre-eclampsia, was fit and healthy, with no underlying medical conditions. Pre-eclampsia may not be a condition that pregnant women will instantly think about based on their symptoms. Early recognition and treatment are vital, therefore, raising awareness of the condition is so important! I hope that by sharing my story it will spark a thought, conversation, and awareness for those planning to become pregnant or who are currently on a wonderful journey into parenthood- it’s the best rollercoaster you’ll ever be on!