Kaitlin: From Textbook to the ICU. Preeclampsia, HELLP, and Finding Your Footing Postpartum
Her pregnancy is “textbook” until a routine late-pregnancy check reveals high blood pressure and protein in urine, and suddenly every day feels like a decision point. We’re joined by Kaitlin, an American-Swiss mother living in Zurich, who walks us through severe preeclampsia monitoring, a surprise ICP diagnosis after relentless itching, and how quickly things can escalate when your body starts sending warning signs at 35 to 36 weeks.
Kaitlin shares what labour looked like for her: blood draws, spontaneous preterm labour, low-dose misoprostol when it stalled, and an epidural experience that doesn’t go the way anyone hopes. When her lab values shift into HELLP syndrome territory and her baby shows signs of distress, the team recommends a time-sensitive C-section. Kaitlin describes the fear, the relief, and the small, grounding moments that still break through, including meeting her baby and finding calm together even in the operating room.
The story keeps going after birth, because her hardest stretch is postpartum: the intensive care unit (ICU). In this part of the story, we hear about magnesium drip side effects, swelling and slowed recovery, and then the whiplash of going home to the newborn feeding cycle. We also get practical and honest about breastfeeding challenges, including thrush versus vasospasm pain, and what helped her keep going. Kaitlin closes with the long view: follow-up care after preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, future pregnancy risk, and why self-advocacy matters long after discharge.
Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories, Write a review, and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show.
Kaitlin's Resources
Books:
- For early pregnancy: Expecting Better by Emily Oster
- For birth preparation (highly recommend!): Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood - and Trusting Yourself and Your Body by Erica Chidi Cohen
English-speaking resources in Zurich that Katlin recommends:
- Barbara Ghisla Schibli, Katlin's amazing postpartum midwife - https://hebamme.ghisla.ch/en
- Dr. med. Theodosia Charpidou, gynecologist (FMH) at SihlGynPraxis - https://www.gynaekologie-zuerich.ch/en
- Dr. phil. Olivia Bolt, psychologist with specialisation in birth trauma - https://www.oliviabolt.ch
- Birthlight, pre and post-natal yoga & rückbildung - https://www.birthlight.ch/en/Home.htm
Support the podcast with a small donation or tip
Please connect with us!
Click here to share your story and be our next guest!
All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes
Our Websites:
Instagram:
Mentioned in this episode:
Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.Network
The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.
00:00 - Welcome And Content Note
01:27 - Caitlin’s Background And Family
05:10 - Textbook Pregnancy And Birth Prep
06:32 - Week 35 Red Flags And Monitoring
11:14 - ICP Itch Google And Testing
13:14 - Labour Starts Amid Preeclampsia
17:45 - Augmentation And Pain Relief Choices
20:25 - Epidural Delays Then One Sided Relief
24:18 - HELLP Syndrome And C Section Call
29:35 - Birth Moment And First Calm Song
31:51 - ICU Monitoring And Survival Mode
37:16 - Ward Recovery And Going Home
45:02 - Postpartum Overwhelm And Feeding Grind
55:44 - Thrush Versus Vasospasm Breast Pain
01:01:51 - Long Term Risks And Self Advocacy
01:08:27 - Brilliant Moment And Closing Thanks
01:11:35 - How To Support And Connect
