Giving birth is painful. However, being a second time mom comes with a plus that you are prepared for what is coming. I too was prepared. It’s going to be yucky and I knew it. My stitches were going to strain. My back was going to hurt. My nights were going be sleepless. I had known it all. And I was so very up for everything.

However, this much of preparation wasn’t enough it seemed. It was the fifth day of my delivery and all of this happened. But it was a li’l uncanny this time. The swelling in my feet was not going by any means, the back pain had moved all over my back. The same night, I realized that my heart would choke the moment I lied down. I had sensed something different this time. My deteriorating health, a demanding newborn and the emotional and physical distancing from my first born— the transition was difficult, the turmoil was hard. My raging hormones and the pressure to keep the newborn safe (during the times of pandemic) was making it all the more harder. With so much confusion around, I decided to see the doctor in emergency. Dropping the older one to a friend’s home and carrying the younger one with us, I with my husband headed for the check-up.

All the vitals were examined and from the broader details what I could understand was that my blood pressure was quite high—something around 180/120. After around 3 hrs of check-up and wait, I was told that they suspect postpartum preeclampsia and I was told to be admitted at the very moment.

Now what was that?!!! It sounded scary to me. And a gazillion questions hovered my brain. I wanted to know all about it—how serious was that? Is it a temporary condition or something persisting? How long would I be able to recover from it? What about my newborn and his pediatric appointment that was due the next day? How long would I have to stay in the hospital? What about my kids if this is something serious? My whole world came tumbling down in moments and everything seemed so blurry.

We quickly did our research. Postpartum preeclampsia is a condition that can occur in women few days after the birth. It generally occurs during the pregnancy however, some women develop post their delivery even though they didn’t have any symptom during pregnancy. The signs include:

• High blood pressure, usually over 140/90

• High levels of protein in an individual’s urine, called proteinuria

• Headache, often severe

• Changes in vision

• Swelling of the face, hands, feet or limbs

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain, usually on the upper right side of the abdomen

• Decreased urination

• Blurred vision

• Rapid weight gain

This is a serious condition that can lead to brain damage, stroke, HELLP syndrome and death if not treated. However, once diagnosed, the prognosis for full recovery is good.

They prepared me to move to the postpartum unit and my husband with my six day old rushed home to make arrangements— to settle the older kid and to get the stuff from home. While I was preparing for the treatment, the staff told me that in these times of pandemic they are not allowing newborns once they get discharged. I was baffled, horrified and disgusted.There was none from the family and who else other than parents can take care of a six day old baby. After much negotiations, they allowed the baby to let stay which was one relief.

Immediately on admission to the unit, I was dosed with Magnesium Sulphate for 24 hours to prevent seizures. I was also given medication for BP and diuretics to get rid of the excess fluid were also given. The doctors closely monitored vitals. Urineanalysis to check the functioning of the kidney and the liver were done. To ensure that the condition didn’t give rise to any further complications to brain and heart a CT scan and eco test was also done.

Those two days were probably the hardest days of my life. I had faced those scary machines for the first time in my life. My trips to the labs were all alone and a thousand ominous thoughts crossed my mind. My incapability to hold the baby (since I was almost drowsy and felt really week due to the effect of Magnesium Sulphate) was almost killing me. I just wanted some trusted people by my side. I wanted somebody to tell me that this all is going to be okay. If it were not my husband with me who hardly shows worries through his expressions, I wouldn’t have been able to handle that overwhelming situation.

I was lucky enough that the reports were showing fine and rest of the functioning also was improving. Since my BP was stable, I was off the magnesium sulphate the next day. And I slowly started gaining some consciousness in the rest of my body. And the third day, the discharge was given and it was such a relief.

Giving birth makes a woman strong, but one with unforeseen and unprepared situation like this makes her way more stronger. This one came as an experience of a lifetime—although back then it looked as the end of the world. It’s been since then till today, everyday when I wake up and see my kids by my side, I can’t be thankful enough to the Almighty to be well and alive to appreciate the biggest blessings of the world I have.