During the early weeks of pregnancy, nausea is fairly common. For Rachelle, who had her first baby at age 35, the queasiness started right away and never seemed to subside. As she entered her second trimester, not only did her nausea worsen, but other health issues began to arise.
A normal pregnancy turns high risk
Long before she became pregnant, Rachelle was seeing Fatima Naqvi, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Atlantic Health. From the onset, Dr. Naqvi had partnered with maternal-fetal medicine physicians at Overlook Medical Center, to help manage any health risks that might arise.
Initially, mother and baby were fine. The baby was growing and her heartbeat was strong. Likewise, Rachelle’s markers were all normal. But as Rachelle headed into her second trimester, something was noticeably wrong on her ultrasound.
Paying attention to red flags
During a routine maternal-fetal medicine sonogram, complications began to present. The most concerning were blood flow to the baby and increasing in blood pressure readings for mom. This alerted Edwin Guzman, MD, an Atlantic Health maternal-fetal medicine physician, to update Rachelle’s care plan so her doctors could closely monitor the growth of her baby and mom’s likelihood of developing preeclampsia.
“At 24 weeks, Rachelle showed up at the hospital with dangerously high blood pressure,” says Dr. Guzman. “Although her baby’s heartbeat was strong, her own health was failing. Rachelle’s condition had progressed from gestational high blood pressure to preeclampsia which had a likelihood of becoming severe.”
Complications continue to mount
Three weeks later at her 27-week maternal-fetal medicine visit, Rachelle’s worries were heightened. Doctors noticed that the baby’s heartbeat was decelerating—temporarily dropping and then slowly returning to normal. It was a sign that the baby’s life was in danger.
“My doctor, Kaylah Rondon, MD, grabbed my hand and rushed me next door, straight into Overlook’s maternity unit,” says Rachelle. “That’s when I realized how serious things had become.”
A baby in distress
Rachelle’s care team made the decision to transfer her to Morristown Medical Center. There, they closely monitored the baby’s health. They treated Rachelle’s progression into preeclampsia, a serious high blood pressure complication of pregnancy. They also managed a dangerous liver disorder she was developing, known as HELLP syndrome.
Her maternal-fetal medicine physician at Morristown, Dyese Taylor, MD, performed a sonogram, which showed that delivery could wait. So the team stabilized Rachelle and baby, keeping a close watch to buy some time.
Delivering baby at 27 weeks
After a week of staving off delivery, the maternity team could wait no longer. Rachelle began to experience a persistent headache, which indicated her condition had worsened. It was time for Rachelle to meet her baby girl.
Adelaide was born prematurely at 1 pound 12 ounces. She was whisked off to the NICU where she lived her first 83 days of life.
“The NICU team was wonderful,” says Rachelle. Not only did they take care of my baby, but they took care of me during a really difficult time.”
Creating a family
Now at two years old, Adelaide is a thriving bundle of energy.
Rachelle credits her sisters and mother for getting her through this experience. She also gushes over her caregivers at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers.
“Everyone took such great care of us,” says Rachelle. “Preeclampsia is more than a high-risk pregnancy. And because my doctors and nurses were so hyper-focused on my health, Adelaide and I are alive today.”
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