SO this is going to be pretty lengthy, but I’d like to share my experience with HELLP syndrome because until the doctor came in and told me I needed an emergency c-section, I had never heard of it. I had slightly elevated BP readings throughout my pregnancy, but it NEVER seemed like a concern to my doctors. I am one of those anxiety ridden women that researched and studied EVERYTHING I could to be as prepared as possible for what I thought would be an unmediated, natural birth. The women in my family have a history of very fast labors with all of their babies and I had such an easy pregnancy, I thought I would be no different. However when I checked into the hospital after I began having contractions ever 6-8 minutes at 37.5 weeks, they QUICKLY began coming every minute and lasting a minute long but I was only dilated to 3cm after 3 hrs of constant contractions. My blood pressure was in the 150-160’s/100’s and only getting higher. The nurses were asking all sorts of questions about symptoms and I had NONE. No swelling, headaches, etc.. They ordered for me to have an ultrasound to make sure my son was head down and that the placenta hadn’t detached and had plenty of fluid... both were fine. Finally, I had decided to get an epidural. The pain was too much and I thought it would help with my bp. I was bent over about to get the epidural when my doctor came in and blatantly announced I was exhibiting early signs of HELLP. With my BP readings, and elevated liver enzymes, he wanted to deliver Cam NOW via C-section before my platelet count got too low for me to have surgery. I have had NO prior health problems, and the most extensive procedure I’ve ever had was wisdom teeth extraction. I went into full panic mode and my BP shot up to 200/115. My body was “allergic” to the placenta. So 30 minutes later, I met the love of my life. Weighing in at 7 lbs 11 oz and 19.5 inches long, my son was perfect. However, I was the one that was sick. 20 hrs went by before I was able to touch or hold my son due to the magnesium drip I was on to keep me from having a seizure. It made me feel like HELL and not seeing my son didn’t really help my blood pressure drop any quicker. Fast forward to a few days later, we are both fine. It was the scariest experience of my life but I would go through it 20 times over for my precious son. No, it was not how I had planned my delivery to go, but Camden seems to be like his mama in terms of next sticking to the script