At 34 weeks I went for a routine obstetrician appointment.

My ob is a fairly calm person. Throughout my difficult pregnancy (baby's growth issues, problems with the heart, hypospadias) she has managed everything with aplomb.

Now, she took my blood pressure, which throughout my pregnancy had been consistently low, and reacted with mild shock. "What the..."

We took a break and went to look at the baby on the ultrasound machine. She checked my fluid levels and blood cord flow. I rested in the waiting room and had some water. Then we went back to check my blood pressure again.

Still extremely high.

My obstetrician thought for a bit. She then explained that I should go over the road to the hospital to have things checked further, and for monitoring.

I went as requested, phoning partner and mother to explain where I was and stopping to grab a magazine from the local newsagency. I was shown into a room. I didn't get changed and get into bed, as I figured I'd probably be there for an hour or two, maximum.

I didn't go home for two weeks.

Urine tests and blood pressure monitoring over the next week proved I was very ill with pre-eclampsia. My face and legs became swollen. My blood pressure shot up dangerously high, and drugs continually failed to keep it down adequately.

The only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivery of baby.

I know pregnancy is a joy and all. And at my age, I'm extremely lucky. But when I hear mothers saying how wonderful they felt when pregnant and so on, I can't help thinking that only half the story is being told.

I DO think of pregnancy as a miracle, and feel thankful every day.

But I have also found it somewhat uncomfortable and burdensome - and extremely stressful.

Here's what happened during my pregnancy:

• At six weeks I had an ultasound by a junior radiologist, who told me he thought the foetus was positioned incorrectly, too close to my fallopian tubes, and that it may be ectopic. I had to wait five agonising days before we found out this wasn't the case.
• I was sick - horrible, retching, incapacitating sick - for more than 4 months.
• I struggled and struggled with work. I was on a consulting job I was contracted through my company to deliver, and there was no escape.
• I experienced spotting and bleeding during the first three months. One large bleed had me racing to the obstetrician, convinced I was miscarrying.
• I opted to have a CVS at 12 weeks, due to my age. This turned out to be somewhat lengthy and traumatic, as my doctor had difficulty getting a sample from my placenta. I discovered I was having a boy and that his chromosomes were all in the right place.
• At 18 weeks I was still occasionally throwing up, and struggling with work.
• At 20 weeks we discovered baby was not growing as he should be - see this earlier post.
• At 24 weeks we discovered baby had a hole in his heart - see this earlier post.
• My nose is constantly blocked and I get HEAPS of nosebleeds. It's incredibly debilitating.
• And now, at 31 weeks? I'm enduring the usual uncomfortable nights, gastric reflux, tiredness and backaches. Not to mention being scanned weekly, having to be assessed by a cardiologist and being constantly warned that baby may have to be delivered earlier than planned. And I'm fearful about the surgery and stress that awaits my little boy once he is born.