The Untold Story of Preeclampsia - Celes Reflection

Welcome to Seller's Reflection, guys May 1st Happy Labor Day I heard about the holiday today. I'm at home, I'm relaxed I really missed you so much during this holiday, it ended on Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays But still, Haka is my midweek reliever Which is still nice So, welcome to Seller's Reflection And today being the month of May I don't know if you're aware, but uh, this month of May, the entire month. I don't know which specific date, but the entire month we celebrate it, we create more awareness on we create more awareness on preeclampsia preeclampsia So this is a common issue especially for expectant women, it's something that happens to most pregnant women Before we begin, I have a guest who is going to share her journey on how she, yeah, how her journey was during expectancy how she conquered it, how it was, so maybe, uki watch tu My breakfast is cold, and it's chilly outside, please. Listen in and hear Ashley. Ashley, you've met her before, right? Yes, yes, we've definitely met before. You looked familiar. I don't know where or when I remember. Yeah. It wasn't a bad place though. No. Karibu sana. Thank you so much. Feel free to introduce yourself. My name is Ashley. I am a mother of three. I am a marketing and communications consultant. and I also run the Zuri Nzilani Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that deals with maternal and newborn health with a keen interest in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, premature birth, and infant loss Aaaa So all of this comes from your experience, am I right... it's something you are, yes, so um From my own experience From my own personal experience So I got pregnant. 2017, my first baby and the pregnancy was just okay until the sixth month, seventh when I started, now feeling a bit funny On Bally, do you have any? so for the user from the beginning for the user for the user for the user on the furanga a and everything but You take it as a normal sign. because I mean You on a ball It's normal. Yeah. But The swelling was a bit um Not nice Yeah, so I started feeling weird, like nausea, really bad. and I remember there's a birthday event for my friend who is a gynecologist And I can say, hey, actually, I think you should get checked. if your blood pressure is high When I was going to the clinics, it was a clinic near where I live. And there wasn't really much going on. So they didn't take your blood pressure at every clinic? No, not every clinic. I didn't have my blood pressure checked. So I left, and I saw only the doctor, I'm sorry. And then you know, we are cultured in a way that You don't question the doctor, you don't ask. The Kenyan doctor told me, "You follow to the T." If you know, go back to your place. So I didn't really, because I think pregnancy is such A blissful moment, you don't think about it much, you just go. get pregnant, deliver blissfully, but that was not the case for me. So, I felt bad, I went to this hospital, and then they told me, We have to deliver the baby at 26 weeks. Eh, I was like, wait, you guys aren't serious. So, I went to the hospital where I was supposed to give birth. So, question, you're at 6, 7, 6, 7, 24 weeks, yes. That's when you started swelling? Yeah, that's when I started swelling up and getting headaches, you know. And you're still going to that Karibu Hospital At the pressure of the home unarudi. Yeah. Juku fura, I mean, women, fura. No Even in my own experience or among people around me, He is a man of great difficulty, a man of hardship. So, just take it easy, you know. So when I got to that second hospital, they told me. Hey, your pressure is very high, and it's not something That in Yakujux we have to admit you and monitor. So they admitted me and kept me under observation. That is why we are searching. Did you see that flash? Phi. That's possible by adapting. Therefore, we urge you to seek but do not despair. Therefore, we must strive to find. Therefore, we say let's hurry up. I was surprised there, dmimi. I was pregnant. I was like, you people, let me go. You know, I took the medicine when I was at home. I don't know your pressure, was it high or low or high? That's when I learned about preeclampsia. because now the doctors were talking about, oh, preeclampsia, She has preeclampsia, her urine and everything else was just bad, yeah. So my blood pressure was very high. And they were trying to manage the pressure. so that I can have a healthy baby and deliver the baby safely. But the longer the baby stays inside, the worse things are getting. So my entire experience in the hospital was quite traumatic. Because I was getting an injection. It was slowly, slowly realized and then your entire body It really burns and it helps prevent you from having seizures because once you develop hypertension now You're prone to getting seizures like that even brain damage and things like that so just to protect me so it was Such a difficult one the journey that whole month Month 7, Yote Yote from 24 weeks to I was in the hospital at 30 weeks. So they tried to handle the situation. but it was not getting any better. So they had to deliver. At 30 weeks they had to deliver me. Because by that point my organs had already begun to fail. My kidneys, my liver—they were now seriously affected. So they had to remove the baby. So they delivered the baby at 30 weeks, on March 8th, weighing 1.2 kilograms. Aki was little. Therefore, therefore, to whatever, like that was the only option they had for a safe mom and a safe baby to save my life therefore, Yeah, and the life of the baby, yeah so getting the baby prematurely, well, I've always therefore, I know I'm a premature baby, like I am, I am Therefore. I was born, yeah, I was born to KGS at eight months. Um, but I didn't understand how that was, you know, until I oh, I Year from the hand. Therefore, it is the time of the year. Because of doing it there by hand. Therefore, they travel back and forth as years go by. Therefore, therefore, the year. Therefore, the year. 7 on 6 7. 6. Due to 2018. Therefore. So, from this year onward. Why However, However, Indeed, Indeed, Yes. Oh, no. And I remember going to the hospital that day. That is, the previous day, she had an episode. And her oxygen levels dropped all the way to zero. Like, I saw my baby flatline live. And the nurses rushed, the nurses tried to resuscitate, to bring her back and everything, and I was just there staring and seeing what they're doing to my baby, I just thought, God, I mean, the uneza nyacha is an experience, something like me watching all These things are happening. So they had to intubate her and everything. And that night when I went home, I told my husband. Since my husband wasn't around, he arrived later. I told my husband, we need to go to church. I think the Tulienda Church is around 11. Midnight, and I told the guard you have to open this church for me. I want to enter. And I truly begged God for my child. not to die because I was like, eh, I've just seen my baby flatline. You know, like, people. A lot of them keep telling me this guy. Like all the support you've received during this time when you were in the hospital. And I've survived. Why would you let my baby die? You know. Hey, Tulio mba but the morning now I went to the hospital. Mapema asked the doctor. because I met her and I asked her How is my child, and she was like I'm coming back, give me one minute. Things are not good. and then I went to the room and I checked And then she did it again. She flatlined again. So they told me to get out of the room. I went to the next room. and I could hear all that commotion in the room and at 11 You see that beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, just went beep, And then one nurse screamed, and I just knew she had passed on. So they called me, I went to the room, I checked on her, and opened it. because Walikwa, that is, I found her wrapped in sheets, so I took them off, And I was like, Kai, I was just here five minutes ago, and now. So I held my baby for a long time, For about five hours until I started turning a bit purple. Then they told me they had to take her. They took her in something like a cool box. And that's where they put my baby and took her to the morgue. And it was such a painful, painful, Painful experience and very expensive. To However, Indeed, However, Yes. Therefore. 49 days 6.9 The incubator alone I remember looking at that. Whatever The invoice And just the incubator alone was 40k per day. No medication No doctor's fee No, nothing Just that incubator It was 40K. Per day So it was extremely expensive. You've lost your child You have to raise funds. Like you You're still not even healing, you know. and you have a scar, you don't have a baby, you have all these The expenses were quite high, yes. And that was your first baby, and that's my first baby. And and I looked at the women Who was with me in the NICU seven out of ten? were there due to hypertension and gave birth prematurely, and all None of them knew about this condition. Then it's a problem The majority of women who can be admitted to the NICU are admitted because they were born prematurely due to preeclampsia or hypertension during pregnancy. It's a problem And so my journey now began with such great interest child I saw a gisa tapa bowl, I'm not getting pregnant, I went I went with the copper coil because e You have to heal for three years before you can try again. You know But I got pregnant again on a certain Ashley, so after the after the period they give the scar, the CS women like three years ago, before the three years, like When did you get pregnant? Sorry. So IASSES For five months post-delivery, wow, yes Wow. Even the scar hadn't healed completely. The scar had not healed. Like internally. Yeah, I was still on medication for high blood pressure. You're still afraid. I'm scared. I've been through that trauma too. I haven't healed from my baby's death. You know, there were so many things. And when I found out I was pregnant, I cried in the bathroom because I couldn't believe it. And the first thing was that I needed to see a doctor. At the edge of the cliff, the river was flowing into the ravine. Yes, young people, it's true that work is work, no matter how many there are. So many times I felt as if I had come from the womb. A few days ago, a few days ago. Therefore, for many tasks, one by one. For thus, from generation to generation. At that time, the children. And then you just gave birth recently, So maybe the periods haven't returned yet. Yeah, so I didn't think much of it. And I was actually seriously thinking about terminating. But I have just buried a child, and now I lose another. So I was like, okay, let's work with the doctors. And one thing I tell ladies, It is very important to have a gynecologist. Especially if you know you are a high-risk patient And the moment you find out you're pregnant You have to start your clinics. And if you're planning to become pregnant You have to see a doctor. Please, Ebu, just look at that camera Reiterate those three points again Ladies, it's so important. And let me tell you, I'm the biggest advocate for preconception care. Because prenatal care will enable the doctors to see if there is any condition that could hinder a successful pregnancy. Before you even think about it, if you want to get pregnant, go see a doctor. When using a moving object, use life. Who is God? Hi there! Right now, I'm trying to use my mind. That's why I ended up using it. Nowadays. preeclampsia is very dangerous so at the same time it began the previous pregnancy It started again but now I was closely watched I was aware of the symptoms I'm supposed to watch out for. And Niki swell, Niki mwana kichwa, Niki fanya anything I know this is not right This headache is not a normal headache. I need to go to the hospital. So, at seven months. Nikeendelea tu, at exactly 30 weeks, I went for a scan and the doctors saw that my baby had stopped growing. I'm 30 weeks pregnant, but my baby is like a 26-week pregnancy. yeah So they said we have to perform an emergency C-section. That was on a Tuesday. On a Sunday, we're just sitting together with my husband. Let's go straight to the super. But before that, I was feeling really bad. My blood pressure was so high when I checked it. It was 170 over 100 and something. Who is the 119th person you're referring to? 120 128 cavalrymen. So, when I saw this, I couldn't help but tell you, Let's go to that hospital. Because they have the... You know, I was using the new machine, but they have the manual one. which can be somewhat accurate in my thinking. So we went to that hospital, But when we were in the car, I felt as if I was peeing. So I told her, okay, I think maybe the water pipe is broken or something. And he goes, ah, it can't happen. When we arrived at the hospital, I got out of the car. And I looked down, I was bleeding. Seriously bleeding. I went to the hospital, and they raised the alarm. They took me to where the theater was. Uzuri, I have a doctor. So we called the doctor. The doctor wasn't even around. He was in Mombasa. But at least I had two doctors on call. So, he called; my husband called the doctor and told him what's happening. Now my doctor is talking to the resident doctor in this hospital. giving instructions on what to do. Give me first aid, put me on an ambulance, Take me to where I'm supposed to deliver. And I think that also saved my life Because a delay would mean I would die. My baby died, you know. So he was like 15 minutes—you have to get to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital by ambulance, they were so quick. I was being waited for by the nurses; they took me in. They took me to the theater, and everything was already prepared, all done. I was so rushed that I even passed out at one point during the entire surgery. And when I woke up, I told the doctor, "Misi jaskia mtoto wakilia," So if my child has died, you just tell me the baby has died. You can be as someone can be as If one person can, then another person can too. Why However, Indeed, Indeed, However, Indeed, 975 grams Yes. She wasn't even a kilo. And at 7 months Pregnant And she's my rainbow baby. She survived. She is 5. She turned 5 in January. And from there I just felt There are things that happen in your life That you feel This is like Perhaps a passion or a purpose To From your representative, they need to install this system into the system. However, In the meantime. follows. Truly, It happened in 1975. I am tired from working. with I have been waiting for you for three hours. Many for many. Indeed. Remember, A mailiku ya mingi, 6.9 Why However, with Yes, with However, with She was so small, my heart ached to hold her. Yes. because I felt I could do something, you know, and even when we were going through that journey with my husband. We didn't want to spend our time on something that didn't make money. because we felt this baby was so tiny it wouldn't survive You know, like smaller than the other one, well The other one was 1.2 kg but but we could have seen it Turtle's name, kinda like you could See, but she was so tiny—her diaper was half the size of me. обязательное требование you know, like I should have carried for you, it's like half the size of my phone, so We really didn't want to attach until like Our pediatrician had just told us the baby was a child. Kangaroo, it's okay, this baby is going to survive. She wasn't even on oxygen, imagine at 975 grams. Anabreath, lansi zilikuwa sawa. Anabreath, but they were equal. Because I also got the job to mature the baby's lungs before I gave birth So she was doing just fine, you know, and at one week, akadischajiwa, we went down And we began our three-month journey at that hospital. For three gods. For three gods. In and out, you've done your CS You have to go wake up. Go breastfeed, go do all those he expressed She wouldn't breastfeed. She had an NG tube, like. to feed the baby How is she doing now, weight? She's lightweight; she's small. She's not that size. of a 5-year-old Yeah, but she's reached all her milestones, yeah, That's what the doctor says now, okay, has she achieved this? Has she done this, she's doing well in school, she's articulate, She's doing everything a five-year-old would do, but she's small. She looks like a maybe four- or three-year-old, but she's five, yeah. So after going through all this, the two experiences, now... It happened with the first baby, it happened with the second one, What about the third one? Was it the same? The third one was actually the best experience. Because the third one, I even had a baby shower. Wow, you had time for a baby shower. I never even had a baby shower for all of that and just celebrated. my pregnancy, but I started developing hypertension around 32 weeks. But it was managed, and I gave birth at 35 weeks. Even her, I really, like I bled a lot. But at least it was the best, since I gave birth at 2.3 kg. which was wonderful, and she was At full term, she was 30 years old, eight months. Eight months, yeah, wow. Hey, Ashley, let me just say You're a very strong woman, Umenipigyo story And look like oh no, I did not expect this, I did not expect it. that uh, it's a twist, but now here, now that you've uh You are an advocate for high blood pressure and preeclampsia. Some of the symptoms, as you said, are already affecting the head right now. You're like, please, hi si kichwa ya kawaida. So perhaps just to share some of the symptoms. It's a pity. I love that you said the moment you realize You're pregnant, please go see a gynecologist. Because most of us ladies, you know, ah, It is said that the dog is about to give birth. And it's bad. It's bad. It's bad. Because let me tell you, there are so many things, like we say, preventable deaths, preventable issues even with your child. You know, Wanika Ska Ni ishu ya kuenda kusi, kuanda kuangaliwa. Me, I know people who go. Seven months is when the clinic started. I also have a friend, but in the fifth month, the shtukiya was already there I'm pregnant, and I'm scared. Haka suman tingia 7 months. Like, you can be lucky, but Pia Tusika was out of ignorance. Oh, I lost my baby The baby who was born premature is now 7 months old. Kuzi, me I think I'm a kaoga. I'm very tired. So mimi the moment, at 2 weeks, gyna And that's the best thing, imagine. That's the best thing, and a lot of people don't know that. That's the right way to go. As for the symptoms, as you asked, there's a headache. You know, if you have a headache, you should rest; otherwise, it won't get better. But a headache that doesn't even respond to medication is serious. There's also the swelling in your hands, your feet, and your face. Abnormal swelling, you know, and you'll tell like Umeanza Tuku Fura all All of a sudden it's happening—you're feeling nauseous, like you want To vomit at times, you feel pain over here on your right side Sometimes it can feel like acidity, but really. Um, it's not, it's not acidity, yeah. and there are some risk factors, such as being a first-time Mom, so for first-time moms, it's good to always check your pressure, you know, um, because first-time moms can be able to get twin pregnancies if you have issues such as diabetes or genetic issues, even such as History of hypertension. That's why it's good to visit Ukienda the first clinic, if possible. on the back However, You're pregnant ncy with Yes. That's why they say using clinic questions, But your question is very important, sir. Yes, it's extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely important. Yeah, so at times, even if you have a huge gap of 10 years, like from your first baby, the next one 10 years later, so many Years apart, you're also at risk of developing hypertension. So, could it be, yeah, there's that genetics. In which month is it most likely to happen? For the same period, around six months. Yeah. Is it something that Mseya siseme, achani ngoje six months? Can it happen earlier? So, it usually happens from the 20th week onwards. From the 20th week, yes, during pregnancy. There are women who develop chronic hypertension during pregnancy, You know, like uu, umekuwa ngatu. Ukona issues on pressure. I have nothing at all. Like me, I had no issues at all with pressure. Like hata siji kunyua dawa ya pressure. Like I've never had a problem with high blood pressure. But with all your pregnancies. I've had it throughout my entire pregnancy. After getting the babies, after now getting the babies. I'm completely overwhelmed by pressure. So inapotea. No. Therefore from from from from from from from there She had preeclampsia and was told not to take the medication. So at times peer, healthcare provider, She told him to stop communicating. And she's actually currently undergoing dialysis, kidney dialysis. Oh no. Yeah, her pressures, it was bad, everything. At the pharmacy stop, are you going to dispense the medicine? Aliamuwa, stop taking medicine, you know, and you're not getting better. Let me tell you about high blood pressure during pregnancy. is the second leading cause of maternal deaths. We have buried women. I have attended the burials of women who have died. due to hypertension in pregnancy You know, it's sad that people don't realize you can actually die. You know, the women—I know of a girl who suffered brain damage. Due to being pregnant and going through this to the hospital late, you know, and sometimes women go to hospitals that do not have 24-hour obstetric care, meaning treat you at the hospital, I will but in the event of an emergency, something might occur during itemi, transferred from this hospital to, like what happened to me, You know, I had to be transferred to a major hospital. You know, if I had delayed. Even the doctors would have lost you if you had delayed. The baby had already flatlined. By the time Tumifika Hospital, in surgery. You know, it would have been really bad, you know. So it's good, once you identify your hospital, That's what I've been waiting for, to finally begin. If there's any emergency, go to that hospital. Or go to a hospital you know, Kuna Theater. If anything happens, Kuna Theater, Kuna Niku. The child is crying in the neonatal intensive care unit. or something like that, and you will be safe. I love that you're talking to the ladies because God makes the human being a servant. When the path is difficult, you, too, will be overwhelmed by it. I went to call the child, and there he was. You said it was years ago. Iko wotewe... Go to the nearest hospital, USAIDike, The word is the same as the thing. but now you're blaming yourself for something That was very, out of ignorance. Yeah, so, Ashley, I think your story is something that most of the ladies, most of the women, That cabin where the man told me, oh, there's a young woman there, in this room, as if it's very common, If you're looking for something we might think of. It's affecting so many women, so many ladies. It's very good to raise awareness and to talk about it. Everyone has their own story, just like you; they share it. Just for someone out there, it's said, that person, you're the one, I'll never forget, The result is zero, nothing. Yeah. I am certain some matters are obligatory. Yeah, it's just one symptom, that's one symptom which is one of the common symptoms, much like the widely recognized ones, But there are other issues that can arise, you know. Is there a way it affects the baby after the baby is born? So it affects the baby in the womb. Once the baby is out Yeah, and you know, there are other issues now. if you deliver prematurely Maybe the baby hasn't developed Vizuri and things like that either. But thank you so much, Ashley. Sijui kama uneza takatuku ambia the lady who is Going through it right now, The labda has brought you a lot of pain and suffering. Like, even if you have to get a second opinion, like go around, make rounds. It's important. Yeah, don't, niliambuwa ni achane na ya and you're not okay, why? Yeah, maybe just a parting shot. A parting shot would be, if you feel you're not okay, It's good to question and ask questions of your doctor. And tell the doctor, I'm not okay, you know. on the head of the believers. When the heart is eager to seek, it finds what it desires. False, also here. Yes, seeking to reach and attain the divine. What are you looking for, We must strive to find what we cannot see, for we are not yet there. Drip on the sink. For what reason, They had to search out of desire. For the sake of representation, to seek Wowo, you're searching, searching out of desire. And for support, that's what we do at the Zuri Nzilani Foundation. training and social support And we really see, at times, you know, when I was going through this, I didn't have anyone else to sit down and say, hey, kunendangaji, and stuff like that. But we offer that community for women. those struggling with hypertension during pregnancy. And you've experienced a loss or you have a baby in the NICU or a premature baby. You can contact us at Zuri Nzilani Foundation But thank you so much, Ashley. Thank you too for having me. and thank you for insisting that it is Important to attend for those antenatal, I think that was Ayo's idea hello two, hello three That's my saving grace, my diaper It can be a lifesaver. And make sure Every visit Pressure is applied By the way, I noticed How much is the monthly payment? How much pressure is there? Your pressure has been with me all along So at the end, we realize Your pressure will start to show There is someone who feels pressure. Thank you so much, Ashley. Thanks for coming, everyone. In case you want to get in touch with Ashley For any assistance for any More information. The details are Here. Ata helped me. And maybe At least you're not suffering. She's here. So don't feel alone. And thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. At least seven months have passed. We are raising more awareness. We are following the theme of the month. Bye guys. Until next time. Next week. It was nice. Having you here. Bye. Goodbye.