Wow Charmaine, you've certainly been through it with your pregnancies!

I was admitted at 28 weeks pregnant, after I just popped in to ante natal clinic to have my bp checked - because my dad was worried it was a bit high.
When I asked them what my bp was, the nurse didn't tell me because she didn't want me to worry! The next thing I knew, I was admitted on to the ward and I was trying so hard to hold back the tears.

About 10 mins later, a consultant took me to labour ward. Suddenly, I was surrounded by anaesthatists, midwives, consultants, with drips being put in, medication flying about, and the trace going like mad. Poor dh looked pale and in shock!

Luckily, they got my bp down to a more manageable level and so I stayed in hospital until 33 weeks, where finally the pre eclampsia got too bad to control anymore. I also had scans, which showed I had a 'mature placenta' - so they had already to deliver early anyway.

Meanwhile, I had a blockage in my windpipe from where i'd been intubated as a child and had incurred damage from that. To cut a long story short, I had an emergency operation on my windpipe at 30 weeks pregnant. No one new if the baby would start early labour, or go into distress because of the strain on my body during the operation.

When I was taken down to theater, I saw the incubator and all the obstaetricians on stand by. I cried so much, I could hardly breathe. The last thing I said as I was being sedated was (grabbing someone's hand)pleading with them to look after my baby. I was pretty certain I was going to die that day.

Waking up in recovery was strange. I woke up with an image of dh, me, and a little girl holding my hand. I am so lucky we all made it through ok.

Delivery was by EMCS at 33 weeks. Seren was taken straight up to NICU, and weighed 3lb6oz.