My name is Dawn Snell. I am 34 and live in Biggleswade, Beds, UK. My partner is Andy, aged 32 (my toy boy!!), and we have a son, Billy, aged 8 months and weighing 17lb 7oz (gorgeous!!).

High bp was discovered at a routine antenatal appointment at 29 weeks. Hospitalised (off and on) for 3 weeks with high bp but no other symptoms of pre-eclampsia until at 32 weeks found 4+ protein in urine and severe pain in between shoulder blades (liver probs). Bp at highest was 160/120ish. Emergency C-Section at 32+6 - Billy weighed 3lb 2oz. Billy in intensive care (ventilated) for 1 week and then on special care for 3 weeks. I still have raised bp and am on medication - signs are that my bp is settling a bit but have been referred to hospital by my doc to make sure that he has my medication right and to make sure that everything is functioning ok - blood tests so far have shown no abnormalities.

I like American Line-Dancing (don't get much time these days though), badminton, reading classic novels, swimming and spending as much time with Billy as I can.

We are planning to get married next year - we don't envisage having any more children. Partly due to my age but mostly due to fear of it happening again.

Nov. '99