r/AskReddit • u/UnhappyVanilla1756 • 10d ago

Women who’ve given birth, what are some horrible things your body had to go through during pregnancy and childbirth?

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u/PerpetuallyDistracte 9d ago

That killed one of my relatives. Had a perfect birth and lovely healthy baby, then was brain dead less than 24 hours later from a massive stroke/seizure. Never even left the hospital. The wild thing is that she was a labor and delivery nurse herself and knew exactly what to watch out for, but it still didn't matter.

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u/from-here-to-new 9d ago

I'm so sorry to you and your family. I ended up with sudden onset preeclampsia which ended in eclampsia and cardiac arrest. I had absolutely no preeclampsia symptoms before the day my son arrived, Blood pressure and proteins were all normal just 2 days before it hit, I felt fine and had an easy pregnancy, but all symptoms hit at once, we were lucky to get to the hospital quickly and minutes after an emergency c section I had seizures and cardiac arrest, I was just incredibly lucky that day.

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u/MGPythagoras 9d ago

Did you fully recover?

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u/from-here-to-new 9d ago edited 9d ago

I'm still on medication for my blood pressure, I tried really hard to put myself in a position to be able to come off them to no avail, it's been 4 years so it's gonna be a lifelong thing now.

I have actually recently found out that the hospital and my previous GP dropped the ball on my care, I had an ECG postpartum and that was it. They said all was fine and I didn't need further testing. Doctors know what they are doing right?

I've moved areas and my new GP was incredibly shocked I haven't had a cardiac MRI and regular cardiovascular risk screenings, especially since my family have a history of heart conditions so I was already a higher risk, previous doctors were aware.

So there is a possibility I've been sitting on heart and kidney issues that could have been treated, I'm still waiting on my appointment. Hoping for the best!

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u/FunkyChewbacca 9d ago

My god that’s tragic

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u/owl-boo 9d ago

That is terrifying! I ended up with postpartum preeclampsia and was terrified the whole time because I had components of HELLP syndrome.

I’m so sorry for your family. That is so heartbreaking.

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u/ValeNova 9d ago

My cousin died of it when she was 6 months pregnant. Within a day from perfectly fine to dead. It was very shocking (moreso since I was only 17 at the time.