Hear Her: Women's Stories of Pregnancy-Related Complications

About the stories

CDC's Hear Her® campaign shares women's stories of complications during or after pregnancy — how those complications affected them, and how they got help. There are also stories from American Indian women, and videos for health care professionals on how clinicians can improve maternal health and prevent pregnancy-related deaths.

Allyson

Allyson, an elite track and field athlete and Olympian, was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at 32 weeks of pregnancy. Her doctor's fast action may have saved her life. More of Allyson's story.

"I really want women to be aware, to know if they're at risk, to have a plan in place, to not be intimidated in doctor's offices, and to be heard."

Desiree and Kirsten

After her daughter's birth, Desiree had a postpartum hemorrhage — heavy bleeding. Her sister Kirsten urged her to see her doctor, and a quick-acting obstetrician who listened may have saved her life.

"As women, we're smart. We are intelligent. We're powerful. We know when things aren't right."

Joanna

Part 1. After her first pregnancy, Joanna had postpartum preeclampsia. "I thought preeclampsia only happened during pregnancy," she recalls.

"I started getting extremely swollen in my legs and in my hands. That never happened to me throughout my pregnancy."

Part 2. After her second pregnancy, she struggled to be heard by her providers about her blood pressure.

"I felt like I was dismissed. I felt like I wasn't being taken seriously."

In Spanish. Joanna tells her story en español: after her first pregnancy, at the hospital, she felt no one was explaining what was happening — no one was listening — and she was very afraid.

Valencia

Valencia had headaches and dizziness through a difficult first pregnancy. Her primary care provider finally got her the care she needed.

"I was scared because I felt like no one heard me. I knew things weren't normal."

Kylie

Kylie's pregnancy went normally until 38 weeks, when swelling began. Life-threatening complications followed: the ICU, dialysis and, in the end, a kidney transplant. Her husband was her "lifeline," fighting to make sure she got the best care.

Eleorra

Eleorra had severe chest pains in pregnancy and knew "something didn't feel right." She kept looking for answers until a high-risk doctor gave her the care that brought her safely through.

"Continue to speak up and make sure they hear you out."

Lindsay

Lindsay developed preeclampsia in her second pregnancy. She was told her symptoms were typical pregnancy swelling, but when her headache and blurred vision worsened, she checked her blood pressure at a pharmacy and found it dangerously high. She went straight to the hospital — a decision that may have saved her life.

"You know your body better than anyone else in the world."

Sanari

Two days after delivery, Sanari began to feel pain and was told it was gas. As it worsened, she knew something was wrong: an abscess was found on her uterus — one that could have been fatal.

"I'm glad I didn't stop at no. I'm glad someone finally listened to me."

Each film has a transcript and an audio-described version on CDC's page.

Sources

Based on "Hear Personal Stories of Pregnancy-Related Complications," Hear Her, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The films are CDC's own, recovered from the Internet Archive's copies because cdc.gov refuses automated downloads.