Carianne Marino

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My name is Carianne, I am 31 years old and I have two beautiful children Isabella and Michael. My PPCM story is as follows..

With my first pregnancy I was 26 years old, I was healthy and I had NO problems prior to 34 weeks.. At 34 weeks I started swelling beyond belief, I was gaining weight steadily at least about 5lbs a week! I was living alone as a single parent and started getting SO sick I had to move back in with my Mom and Dad. My swelling was so bad my Mom took me to the doctor, they told her I was fine, around 34 weeks. 36 weeks I start not being able to breath, again my mom takes me to the doctor, they tell her she is being silly, I am being silly, ALL pregnant woman this far along can't breath. He says we will see her again in a few days to check her, I go back, gain about 3 more lbs and now I am in a wheel chair because I can't walk from the car to the doc office, again they tell me I am fine, I am just little and having a BIG baby. SO now I go home I am sleeping sitting up and I start coughing, I can't walk to the bathroom with out totally losing my breath, I can't talk to anyone because it takes to much breath and I can't even shower or lift my arms up! My Mom starts flipping and takes me to the Maternity triage, where MY BP is taken, I am told it is all in my head and just because I don't want to be pregnant anymore they won't take my baby..

I am now 38 weeks, I get admitted into the hospital for protein and an induction, they DON"T check me, they see I can't breath or walk, I am gaining weight so rapidly and NOT eating at all. They find out the protein was from a UTI AND THEY SEND ME HOME!!!!!!!!

I am home now until 39 weeks, I go to the doc and the nurse stares at me, stares at the doc and says you have to do something, she is NOT right.. at this point I am in wheel chair I can't breath AT ALL, I can't talk, I am sweating and coughing. The doc agrees and schedules an induction for the following day, STILL not wondering WHY I am so sick.. I went through 16 hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing and then finally a c section.

The next morning I stopped breathing.. I woke up gasping for air, I don't remember much after that, accept for a cardiologist looking at me and checking my legs and then my heart saying you are really sick sweetie we are taking you to CCU. I then woke up to my parents and friends standing over me crying.. My parents even called a priest.. I lost about 50lbs in the hospital of water, I went home on the typical cocktail and within 3 months I recovered to 55%. I was so lucky, I actually delivered Belle with an ef of 18%.

Well fast forward 2 ½ years, I get pregnancy with number 2, how I still don't know, well I know how but precautions where taken LOL! Anyway against the advise of my current cardio I say NO way to termination and decide to go ahead continue with the pregnancy OF course at a different hospital, LOL. I went to Temple University Hospital in PHIla PA to a high risk OB group and my cardio of course, I was watched very very closely and at 36 weeks my ef went down to 45%, Mikey was taken via c section and my EF is currently back up to 60%.. My second pregnancy was actually MUCH easier than my first.. Mikey was early and needed a little help with his lungs at birth but now he is an amazing 28lbs at almost 1.

I am so happy I had both of my children and I would never change a thing.. I get weepy sometimes and upset because I do want another baby, but I know I am lucky to have my two!

I totally believe that word has to GET OUT to more OB's as NO WOMAN deserves to go through with what ME and many others out there have gone through.. If PPCM was diagnosed early, and docs where aware, LIVES would be saved and woman would not feel like idiots when they are REALLY sick and NOT "over reacting" .. or hormonal pregnant women

Please e mail me anytime Cmarino@centercapitalcorp.com