Sam Harman's Story

Understanding pre-eclampsia: Natasha's story

Natasha Bath was 21 years old when she became a mum for the first time. Yet her experience of pregnancy was anything but normal as she suffered from pre-eclampsia. Fortunately for her, Natasha had been aware what pre-eclampsia was and could associate the symptoms she was experiencing with the condition.  

"I became pregnant in September 2003. Six weeks into my pregnancy, I started to bleed.

When I went back to the hospital after two weeks, the doctors confirmed that I was still pregnant, and both scans at 12 and 20 weeks showed that there were no problems with the pregnancy."

"But 24 weeks into my pregnancy, I felt very uneasy again. My eyesight was constantly blurred, and I also kept seeing flashing lights in front of my eyes. I had constant headaches and my whole body felt swollen. Because I had heard about pre-eclampsia before, I told my midwife at my next ante-natal appointment about the symptoms I was experiencing. I really was very concerned. My midwife listened to the baby's heartbeat, checked my urine and blood pressure only to reassure me that everything was fine."

"But still, it didn't explain the symptoms I was experiencing. So I asked my doctor for a blood test, which was normal. I also went for an eye test. My ophthalmologist did detect pressure behind the optical nerves behind both my eyes and actually told me to see a consultant. I informed my midwife but as far as she could tell there was nothing for me to worry about.  

"Five weeks later, I had another ante-natal appointment. It was then that the midwife detected a massive rise in my blood pressure and my urine protein levels were at 3+, which is the highest that can show up in this simple test. So I was admitted to the ante-natal ward at my local hospital for further tests and observation. The doctors confirmed that I was in fact suffering from pre-eclampsia."

"At the hospital, my obstetrician explained that scans showed my placenta was failing and that my baby therefore was not getting enough nutrients and oxygen. He said that my ante-natal check-up notes had shown a steady rise in my blood pressure from about six months into my pregnancy, and that he couldn't understand why I had not been referred to him earlier. He explained that my baby had stopped growing after the first six months and that it was time for me to have the baby now, but that the baby would only weigh up to three pounds at birth, so I would have to have a caesarean."

"On 6^th April, 2004, at 9.58 am, my son, Callum Lewis Bath, was born, weighing just 2lbs 9ozs. He was immediately taken to the Special Care Baby Unit. Callum's condition was stable. But when I was taken to the Unit, I had to face a reality which, to be honest, I hadn't really prepared myself for. Our son looked so small and alone in the massive incubator that was keeping him alive. And it got worse."

"The next morning, a paediatrician came to see us and told us that Callum's condition had deteriorated during the course of the night. The diagnosis was pneumothorax. This meant air was surrounding one of Callum's lungs, and he was whisked off to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. As we watched the ambulance take him away, our world was falling apart. We were powerless to help him and prayed to God that he would pull through".

"After just twenty-four hours in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Callum turned a corner and a week later he returned to the nursery ward in the Special Care Baby Unit to complete his recovery and put on weight. Two days before his due date, which had been the 1^st June 2004, we were able to take him home. He weighed a tiny 5lbs 5oz."

"Today, Callum is ... a healthy [boy] and only suffers from iron deficiency and mild asthma. He crawls, walks and talks and we thank God every day for the little miracle who brings so much joy to our lives."

Your pregnancy story

If you have been touched by Natasha's story, and would like to share your pregnancy story with others, please let us know.

You can call Kristy on 0207 398 3440 to find out more, or you could email her at kmacleod@tommys.org.