By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
AS SHE does every year, Jess Yolland last month walked in memory of her stillborn daughter, Hailey.
The Narre Warren mother was one of roughly 50 people to participate in the Australian Action on Pre Eclampsia (AAPEC) Walk around Albert Park on 6 August, along with her partner, Dan, and their two-year-old son, Blake.
Their story began in 2012 when Jess was 23 weeks pregnant and diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.
The disorder claimed the life of her daughter, Hailey, who was stillborn on 12 April that same year.
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy disorder resulting in high blood pressure in the mother, puffiness, and an excessive amount of protein in her urine which can result in impaired liver function and kidney dysfunction.
In order to raise awareness about the condition Jess joined AAPEC and last month again threw her support behind Preeclampsia Awareness Month by participating in the walk.
“I’m very passionate about this walk ever since my experience, I let everyone know on my friends list and whoever wants to help us spread awareness about pre-eclampsia,” Jess said,
“We actually light sparklers for babies who have been stillborn or passed from pre-eclampsia.”
As part of the awareness month, Jess also helped organise for about 80 special hampers to be delivered to the Monash Hospital in Clayton.
Jess said her and her family’s involvement in the walk was due to one thing.
“We all do it for Hailey, we do it for her,” she said.
Pre-eclampsia is not only potentially lethal for babies but also for mothers and Jess said it had threatened her own life as well.
“It affects the organs, it’s a nasty disease. I then had to deliver her at 24 weeks,” she said.
“I was in hospital for another four nights. I still had pre-eclampsia six weeks after I had her and the only cure is to deliver the placenta.
“In my case, I delivered the placenta and the baby but I still had 100 times the normal amount of protein in my urine.”
It wasn’t long after Hailey’s death that Jess fell pregnant a second time and was again afflicted with pre-eclampsia.
At 29 weeks, Jess had an emergency Caesarean and her baby son, Blake, was born in February 2013.
Now mother, father and son are healthy and always have Hailey in their hearts.
For more information, visit AAPEC’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Action-on-Pre-eclampsia-Inc-AAPEC/7027945126.
