My Insanely Emotional Journey - Part One

Bonjour! I find it incredible to have a blog called "From High Heels to High Chairs" and for me not to have told you my pregnancy story (especially considering how intense and crazy it really is!) So here it is : my insane, emotional journey called pregnancy!

I fell pregnant on the 14 December 2014 (according to my scans - I'm not some crazy person that had sex then said "Yup, i'm so pregnant" ...) I suffered with intense morning sickness but was too scared to take a test, I was 20 years old (nearly 21) and a student. Plus I hadn't been with my boyfriend that long. However I missed a big test and needed a doctor note to be excused. I asked my mum to book me an appointment but she told me to take a pregnancy test before going to see the doctor. On the 27 January 2016, my dad bought me a home pregnancy test and as a family (crazy huh?!) we gathered around the little white stick, I had just peed on - and to no one surprise it turned positive within seconds ... I was pregnant!

The first couple of months of my pregnancy were uneventful, except morning sickness nothing really happened, until my five month scan. Boy or girl?! We were finally going to find out. They slapped some whale snot on my bump, we held our breath as the ultrasound technician Benjamin clicked away, IT WAS A GIRL! Yes a little girl, our little Sophia. The technician continued his check up and thought Sophia looked a little small. I was supposed to have 3 scans during the pregnancy (at 3 months, 5 months and 8 months) but he decided to be on the safe side I should return in a month to have a check up.

By this time we were in June and I had to return for a check up. Apparently Sophia was growing but not enough because the blood wasn't getting through properly on the right side of the placenta. I got given another scan appointment 15 days later. Only it wasn't with Benjamin like usual but an older doctor, she gave it a through look at and decided Sophia was on the small side but nothing to worry about (considering i'm only 5ft3 or 1m60). My anxiety was over and I could finally relax and enjoy the rest of my pregnancy and summer. Or so I thought!

I had a monthly check up with a midwife to make sure the pregnancy was running smoothly. My appointment was on the 2 July 2015 and it changed everything. The midwife thought my blood pressure was slightly high, and she decided to keep me on a machine for an hour to check the results (was it just a coincidence because of the heat or something more...?) After an hour of pumping my arm, I had the pleasure of peeing into a little plastic cup. They found protein in my urine and my blood pressure was too high, so I had to stay in hospital for 24h observation. The 24h observation turned into 48h observation. 

On 4 July 2015, I was diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia. I was in hospital at Beziers but because I was only 30 weeks pregnant I wasn't allowed to stay as they weren't specialized in babies that premature (they took babies from 34 weeks). I had to go an hour away to Montpellier. Upon my arrival I was told that my illness was under control but could get worse within a blink of an eye - so basically I could give birth any day. They were betting I would give birth by the end of the week. 

A little about Pre-eclampsia : it is a complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys. Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious (even fatal) complications for both the mum and the baby. The only cure is to deliver the baby. The exact cause of the illness is unknown.  Experts believe it begins in the placenta. Early in pregnancy, new blood vessels develop and evolve to efficiently send blood to the placenta. In women with preeclampsia, these blood vessels don't seem to develop properly (which could explain Sophia's small size and why I had the extra scans. Although there was no way of knowing it was preeclampsia). 

I spent 4 long weeks in Montpellier hospital. I had to pee in a pot for them to check my protein level. I had to have my blood pressure took twice a day. I got blood tests (around 7 tubes) everyday. Once a day I had to monitor Sophia's heartbeat and every other day I had to have a scan to check Sophia was growing and the liquid in the placenta. Needless to say being hospitalized during four weeks, far from home was terrifying and long. The only thing that got me through was knowing that with each day passing Sophia got bigger and I got closer to returning to Beziers hospital. The magic day arrived. On 4 August - exactly one month after arriving - I left that hospital and returned to Beziers. I was so happy! My family were only 15 minutes away which meant the world to me. 

It would be beautiful if everything just stopped there and was perfect, but as you can guess that's not what happened but the wonderful experience called child birth is for another time. I hope you guys enjoyed learning a little more about Sophia and I. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions or even share your pregnancy story and I will of course be back with My Insanely Emotional Journey - Part Two (child birth) very soon! 

Until then bisous!