FAB Mamas Collective

Volume 2: “I Thought it Was Just Normal Pregnancy Symptoms” — One Mother’s Brave Story of Severe Preeclampsia
Submitted by Nicole, mom of 1 – Florida

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness around one of the most serious pregnancy complications affecting mothers and babies.

For many women, preeclampsia symptoms can look and feel like “normal” pregnancy discomforts, which is part of what makes the condition so dangerous. Sharing real stories helps other mothers recognize warning signs sooner, trust their instincts, and know they are not alone.

This story is shared by one incredibly brave mama who chose to revisit some of the most traumatic moments of her life for one reason: to help another family feel informed, prepared, and less alone.

She hopes that by sharing her experience, even if it helps just one mother or one family recognize the warning signs sooner, it will be worth it.

And after recently meeting her beautiful daughter myself, this story feels even more powerful. Their journey is also a testament to resilience, love, and the strength of an entire family, including a husband and father who stood beside them through unimaginable fear and uncertainty.

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“I had no idea. That’s the scary part.”

“I felt a little off, but I figured everything I was feeling was normal because everything I was feeling was considered ‘normal’ for being pregnant.”

At 31 weeks pregnant, she went in for what she believed would be a routine ultrasound appointment.

Instead, her blood pressure measured 167/100.

“The OB immediately sent me to the ER/triage where I was later admitted.”

At the time, she still did not fully understand the severity of what was happening.

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Symptoms That Felt “Normal”

Before her diagnosis, she experienced:

• dizziness
• mild swelling in her hands, feet, and face
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• white spots in her vision

But none of it felt alarming.

“I didn’t go in because of my symptoms or because something was wrong. It was just a routine scan.”

Like many mothers, she assumed these discomforts were simply part of pregnancy.

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“I Did Everything Right”

One of the hardest parts of her experience was the confusion and guilt that followed her diagnosis.

“The fact that I did everything right. Ate healthy, kept active, monitored my blood pressure, took baby aspirin, went to all my doctors appointments, followed ALLLL the rules and it still did not matter.”

“When I was diagnosed at 31 weeks, I was so confused and felt like I did something wrong. I felt like a failure, but this condition doesn’t work that way.”

“It’s sneaky, fast, and absolutely terrifying.”

Preeclampsia can happen to anyone.

It does not discriminate based on age, lifestyle, or how “healthy” a pregnancy appears to be.

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When Everything Changed

Her condition escalated rapidly.

“Preeclampsia changed my life in a matter of moments.”

At 31 weeks pregnant, severe preeclampsia led to a placental abruption and an emergency C-section under general anesthesia.

“One minute I was pregnant, and the next I woke up alone, terrified, in excruciating pain, and no longer pregnant without ever meeting my daughter.”

“I will never forget the fear of thinking I was going to die.”

While her newborn daughter fought for her life in the NICU, she was also fighting for her own recovery after emergency surgery.

“Instead of holding my newborn in my hospital room, I watched other families leave with their babies while I painfully walked to the NICU recovering from a C-section just to see mine through wires and machines.”

She hopes more people understand that preeclampsia is far more than “high blood pressure in pregnancy.”

“It can become life-threatening incredibly fast for both mother and baby. It steals the pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum experience you imagined and replaces it with fear, survival, and trauma.”

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The Importance of Listening to Women

Despite the trauma of her experience, she says her medical team acted quickly and compassionately.

“As soon as they saw how high my blood pressure was, they admitted me.”

“I was begging them to let me go home because I had my baby shower planned that weekend.”

Even without severe symptoms, her providers recognized the urgency of the situation.

“I was treated with so much love and compassion from every nurse, doctor, and really all of the staff.”

Her story is a reminder that listening to women and taking concerns seriously can save lives.

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What She Wishes More Mothers Knew

“I wish I had known how quickly preeclampsia can escalate and how important it is to trust your instincts when something feels wrong.”

She also wishes more mothers knew that recovery after pregnancy complications is not only physical.

“The emotional trauma can last long after the hospital stay ends.”

Many symptoms associated with preeclampsia can appear deceptively common during pregnancy:

• headaches
• swelling
• exhaustion
• nausea
• vision changes
• shortness of breath

“That’s why awareness is so important.”

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Her Message to Other Moms

“If something feels wrong, speak up.”

“I would tell another mom to trust herself and speak up, even if she’s worried about sounding dramatic or overreacting.”

“Mothers know their bodies, and when something feels ‘off,’ it deserves to be taken seriously.”

“You are not weak for asking questions. You are protecting yourself and your child.”

She also hopes mothers who have experienced traumatic births, NICU stays, or pregnancy complications know they are not alone.

“What happened to you was real, and it is okay to grieve the pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum experience you thought you would have.”

“Awareness, education, and listening to women can change outcomes and save families from heartbreak.”

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A Beautiful Ending

Today, she is grateful to say her story has a beautiful ending.

Her daughter is thriving, growing, and doing amazing, something their family never takes for granted after everything they endured together.

“After everything we endured, I am so grateful that we are both okay.”

Her story is one of fear and trauma, but also resilience, courage, love, and survival.

And while sharing something this personal is not easy, she chose to do so in hopes that another mother might recognize the signs sooner, feel empowered to advocate for herself, or simply feel less alone in her own journey.

“Behind every preeclampsia story is a mother who deserves to be heard, supported, and cared for.”

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If you have experienced preeclampsia, birth trauma, a NICU stay, postpartum complications, or another maternal health journey you would like to share, FAB Mamas would love to hear your story.

By sharing our experiences, we help other mothers feel less alone and spread awareness that can truly save lives.

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Got a story or message to share? Submit it here, I’d love to share it: SUBMIT YOUR STORY.