Kirsten Radford, from Australia, lost her first baby Alexander after developing preeclampsia when he was just five days old, and now her second child Harrison is also in hospital
A mum claims she lost a baby after a serious health condition was missed, and now her second child is in hospital.
Kirsten Radford, from Victoria, in Australia, has told how her first baby Alexander died five days after birth due to severe preeclampsia, which is a condition that affects some pregnant women.
While it can be extremely serious, it is relatively common with early signs including high blood pressure and protein in urine. “It’s unlikely that you’ll notice these signs, but they should be picked up during your routine antenatal appointments,” states the NHS.
Kirsten and her husband Daniel were extremely careful during her second pregnancy and the condition was found this time while she was expecting Harrison. She wrote on a GoFundMe page: “Starting with our first pregnancy in 2023, and our son, Alexander. I had undiagnosed severe preeclampsia, which led to an emergency c section at 28 weeks.
“Unfortunately, Alexander passed away 5 days post his birth. We were told if we had a pregnancy again, there would be close monitoring and potential early delivery of our second child with a Nicu stay.”
And she told the Mail: “Last time it wasn’t monitored at all and we had a lot of issues and it was missed completely. That’s why my first son died. [With this pregnancy], from 12 weeks, I was on blood pressure medication and was heavily monitored. It’s definitely the reason he’s (got through to this point).”
Kirsten said that she was hospitalised with Harrison after 24 weeks for monitoring due to placenta abnormalities and severe preeclampsia. A month later he had to be delivered via an emergency C-section at a Melbourne neonatal unit where he has been since December 30.
“During Harrison’s stay, he has developed a chronic lung condition, that means we have had to make some structural costly changes at home, and will continue to visit specialists for the first two years of his life, to ensure his lungs are developing and growing as they should,” Kirsten said on her fundraiser page. “Then also specialists to monitor his neurological development due to being born 12 weeks early. Now, due to having a surgery in 6 weeks time at the children’s for a hernia.”
What causes pre-eclampsia?
Although the exact cause of pre-eclampsia is not known, it’s thought to occur when there’s a problem with the placenta, the organ that links the baby’s blood supply to the mother’s, states the NHS.
It continues: “If you’re diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, you should be referred for an assessment by a specialist, usually in hospital. While in hospital, you’ll be monitored closely to determine how severe the condition is and whether a hospital stay is needed. The only way to cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby, so you’ll usually be monitored regularly until it’s possible for your baby to be delivered.
“This will normally be at around 37 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, but it may be earlier in more severe cases. At this point, labour may be started artificially (induced) or you may have a caesarean section. You’ll be offered medicine to lower your blood pressure while you wait for your baby to be delivered.”