PREECLAMPSIA AND MASTITIS MONSTERS - Preggo Jitters 2

We discovered that we were pregnant 2 monthss after my dowry ceremony. Excitement was an understatement for me and my now Husband, we had to move in together as he wanted to “Watch us grow” (can I get an Aaww...)

During my pregnancy journey I had so much to deal with, from loss of appetite, drastic weight loss, dark tainted skin for real, swollen feet, feeble feet and a number of other stuff like I hated perfumes, tooth paste (I was brushing though) etc.. I struggled and cried most of the times (pregnancies and heightened emotions)

I literally did not eat anything for the first 7.5 months but when we went for our routine clinics, the baby in a way had added weight and was very healthy.

Fast forward, at exactly 41 weeks I was still pregnant and I was worn out.

On the Friday 26^th June 2016, I had an appointment at the hospital I was opting to deliver from for a routine check. I had packed my hospital bag thanks to the 36DOJ (My Power Team of Super Mamas). I was ready, ready to bring forth the little Nadiva as my friends had named her. At the hospital I met with a nurse (Prolly trainee) I told her that I had been having pains during the night but they disappeared during the day and that I had an appointment on that day. That nurse blatantly told me that the doc I was to see was very busy I the theater and that I go back the following day. Mark you I had no private doc or any thing. They did not bother to check for the dilation and the likes. I Walked away, a disappointed 75.6kg pregnant woman - felt more like an oversized elephant. I had no strength to argue. We went back home with my husband and sister in law and my unborn baby still intact and I swore never to go to that hospital again. That night I could not sleep the pains were so bad had to walk on my knees, took cold showers to sooth the pains.

41 weeks and 2 days of pregnancy that is how old we were to make matters worse we had no hospital to go to. On the morning of 26^th Saturday we decided to go look for a hospital , we did not carry our hospital bag, I was not in pain anymore but Nad was still kicking. Our blind search led us to Family Health Hospital next to T-Mall, I did not care anymore.

We paid and waited for our turn to be seen by the doc..We did the normal check at the triage.

The shock on the nurse’s face was so pronounced. I could see her sweat drops forming as she told me to relax which I did, she took my pressure readings again then in a scared tone called another nurse to come with another Bp check kit, the readings were the same. She told me that there was no way I could be walking with that kind of pressure. They checked the baby, she was OK. I had dilated to 4 cm something which the latter hospital did not bother to check. At that moment i felt like a time bomb.

I had Severe Preeclampsia with a reading of 180/110 (still do not get it though). I was put on meds almost immediately and induced 3 times and 1 time undiluted Oxycontin *SP (I think) was injected straight in my veins. I cant remember the pain all I know is that I was tired I blacked out. After hours of medication my dilation was 5 cm ONLY!!!! I was rushed to theater and had a CS full body anesthesia.

My baby was born on 28^th Sunday at 6.00am. We named her Lailani Heavens Awinja Muka.

That is when my other troubles begun. I had no milk at first, too weak to even carry my little girl and breast feed. The nurses were patient enough with me as they helped me out.

After 3 days milk came out like a fountain I was happy and felt much better. The problem was that I had too much milk I tried to express but every time I did it was super painful but I did anyway. 3 weeks later my breasts became engorged and very painful.

They were Hot, swollen and turned red it felt like my breasts had turned into big gigantic boils I even had wounds on the nipples. I could not even walk. I went to the hospital and I was admitted though for a few hours and put on pain killer drip. It really helped with the pain. The nurses told me to press so that I could release excess milk which I did and what came out was pus like liquid.. yes pus.. A case of MASTITIS.This thing was a demon sent to put me down i tell you. the thought of pain when breastfeeding was devastating. Her cries could Pierce the soul. Had to ignore the pain and breast feed...

What did I Not try??, hot water towel, Vaseline on Nips.. it was really disgusting trust me.

A few days later I was breast feeding painlessly again. The mastitis kept on recurring that I was permanently put on meds. I had to survive you know.

Thanks To Mr.Google, I discovered how to unblock the duct, though painful... a little.

So now we are 15 Months and Nyonyo is less of our worries....

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