Like Meghan Markle, I suffered from ‘scary’ postpartum preeclampsia after giving birth – this is how I finally got some closure with it after months of suffering

Cradling my newborn daughter Lily, I gingerly approached a midwife on the hospital’s busy maternity ward and pointed at the fluid pooling in my feet.

I felt vulnerable and exhausted. I was also convinced that something was not right. Lily was my second child and I had not experienced this symptom before.

The midwife reassured me: ‘Go home. I’m sure you’ll feel better soon.’ 

She was wrong. I had postpartum preeclampsia. I grabbed no more than an hour of sleep during those first few days at home.

I had a crushing headache that painkillers couldn’t touch, along with nausea and constant anxiety. My feet continued to swell. It became uncomfortable to walk. 

I was shocked to see a home blood pressure monitor reading was sky high – around 180/95. The following morning, my blood pressure was hovering around 190/105.

I gingerly approached a midwife on the hospital’s busy maternity ward and pointed at the fluid pooling in my feet (Stock photo) 

I had postpartum preeclampsia. I grabbed no more than an hour of sleep during those first few days at home (Stock photo) 

Initial blood tests at A&E found I had elevated liver enzymes and there was some protein in my urine. To lower my blood pressure, I was put on a drip with a drug called nifedipine. 

After two days, my blood pressure was slightly lower but my headache and insomnia had not improved. 

Doctors began a high dose of beta blocker labetalol and after five days my blood pressure had come down enough for me to be discharged.

I began to wean myself off the beta blocker but suffered awful palpitations and tachycardia, a raised heart rate. I ended up in A&E on two more occasions.

Six months later, I developed terrible anxiety and began counselling. 

Taking part in a hospital trust study to help others with preeclampsia certainly helped towards giving me closure.