My HELLP Syndrome Story – Part I: My Son’s Birth
Writing this brings up a flood of emotions—some painful, others enlightening. But I know how important it is to share because maybe, just maybe, another mom will read this and recognize the signs before it’s too late. HELLP syndrome nearly took my life, and I had no idea what it even was before it happened.
The Unexpected Journey Begins
In 2017, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Excited, scared, over-the-moon, nauseous AF (thanks morning sickness), and so, so ready. I couldn’t wait to meet my little guy, to hold him, to bring him home. My son was due on November 30, 2017, and I remember telling my husband, "I really don’t want him to come early and be a Thanksgiving baby." (Oh, the irony.)
As we got closer to my due date, sleep became impossible—not just because I was huge and uncomfortable but because my mind wouldn’t shut off. Would we be good parents? Would he be healthy? Would I even know what the hell I was doing? The normal worries every first-time mom has.
Then in early October, my husband planned to go to a week-long mountain biking expo. And for some reason, I freaked out about it. Crying, begging him not to go, feeling like something was wrong—but I couldn’t explain why. We chalked it up to hormones (because, you know, pregnancy emotions are a rollercoaster). He went, and I went on growing a human.
I scheduled maternity pictures and a 3D ultrasound while he was gone. We got the ultrasound. But the maternity photos? Yeah, that never happened, because instead of standing in a field looking ethereal, I was in a hospital bed hooked up to monitors.
The Symptoms I Brushed Off
It all started with pain in my upper right abdomen. At first, I thought it was just bad heartburn because I had eaten spicy Asian food the night before (spoiler alert: it wasn’t the food). The pain lasted for a week. Then one night, it got unbearable.
I finally told my husband, "Something is wrong."
We headed to the hospital at 10 AM on October 16, 2017. My blood pressure, normally 100/70, had shot up to 140/120—insanely high for me. But the doctors? They weren’t that concerned yet. My labs looked “normal.”
My OB came in and mentioned two possibilities:
A gallbladder attack
HELLP syndrome (Umm… excuse me, what? Never heard of it.)
HELLP stands for:
Hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells)
Elevated Liver Enzymes (signs of liver distress)
Low Platelet Count (blood clotting issues)
Basically, it’s a severe and life-threatening form of preeclampsia that can happen during or after pregnancy. And it’s rare—affecting only 0.1% to 0.6% of all pregnancies.
My OB ran more tests, checked my liver, and… yep, HELLP. Not the outcome we were hoping for.
Things Went Downhill Fast
Since my son was only about 34-35 weeks at this point, the doctors wanted to keep him in as long as possible. They gave me steroid shots to help his lungs develop, which in hindsight, I wish we had just gotten him out sooner—because the only way to stop HELLP is to deliver the baby.
By late afternoon, the pain skyrocketed. I started vomiting out of nowhere (a major HELLP symptom). The pain was so bad I blacked out. They tried to do an ultrasound, but as soon as they put even the tiniest pressure on my abdomen, I threw up again.
Then my husband—who had been watching me deteriorate right in front of him—lost it on the nurse. I woke up to him yelling on the phone with my OB, demanding that they get our son out NOW.
Side note? The whole time, my son was happy as a clam. His heart rate was perfect, no distress at all. Little guy was just chilling while my body was literally shutting down.
Emergency C-Section & NICU Stay
On October 17, 2017, at 5:22 AM, my son was born via emergency C-section. He was 4 pounds, 3 ounces, and 16¾ inches long—about the size of a pineapple 🍍.
I barely remember the delivery. I do remember waking up and hearing the nurses counting tools. (A moment of pure horror I wish I could erase.)
And then—I saw my son for a brief second before they rushed him to the NICU. I didn’t get to hold him. I didn’t even get to touch him. That was the hardest part.
Postpartum Hell (aka Magnesium & Recovery)
I woke up in a recovery room, alone—still throwing up, still in pain. The doctors immediately started me on magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures, because even after delivery, HELLP can still cause seizures and organ failure.
I wouldn’t wish magnesium sulfate on my worst enemy. The side effects? Pure hell.
Dizziness
Muscle weakness
Nausea
Flushing (like my skin was burning from the inside out)
Feeling completely out of it
Oh, and my husband? He got sick and had to go home. So it was just me, drugged up and alone, while my baby was in the NICU.
Breastfeeding didn’t go as planned either. My body was so wrecked that my milk took forever to come in. I had to rely on donor milk and formula, and my son never took to nursing since he was used to bottles. That crushed me at the time. But you know what? He got fed, he got what he needed, and today, he’s healthy and strong. THAT is what matters.
Looking Back: What I Wish I Knew
HELLP syndrome is rare but deadly. It’s not always easy to diagnose. And the only cure is getting the baby out ASAP. If I could go back, I would have pushed harder to deliver sooner.
If you're pregnant and experiencing:
Severe right upper abdominal pain
Nausea, vomiting (especially suddenly)
High blood pressure
Swelling
Blurred vision or headaches
Feeling “off” and don’t know why
Please, don’t ignore it. Listen to your body. Speak up. Fight for yourself.
I share this not to scare you, but because no one talks about HELLP. And maybe if they did, I wouldn’t have gone through it the way I did.
You are not alone. You are strong. And if you ever need someone who gets it, I’m here.