Post-delivery problems led to terrifying emergency for North Texas mom
Complications in the delivery room can require lifesaving blood transfusions for the mother or her newborn, procedures which occur in one out of every 83 U.S. childbirths.
However, frightening and life-threatening complications also can happen post-delivery.
Following the birth of her daughter via C-section in July 2013, Laura had a medical emergency while visiting her workplace to proudly show everyone her baby.
“Something didn’t feel right,” she said and, on the way to the restroom, “Before I reached the doorway of my office, a waterfall of blood came out of me. I was mortified and terrified.”
She was taken to the hospital, where doctors conducted an ultrasound and discovered a large blood clot in Laura’s uterus.
“They gave me meds to basically put me into labor to expel the clot,” she recalled. “It was extremely painful and agonizing.”
When the clot was safely passed, Laura and her family felt the worst was behind them.
“Unfortunately,” she said, “we were very wrong.”
A few days later, Laura began feeling ill again. Preparing to return to the hospital with her husband, she lost consciousness three times. After a rapid drive to the ER, losing blood along the way, Laura was rushed inside by emergency room personnel.
“They tilted the bed I was on so my head was lower than my body, but it wasn’t keeping the blood from continuing to pour out of me,” Laura said. “As fast as they pumped it in, my uterus was pushing it out.”
Scared and fearing death – “At one point, I looked over to a nurse and asked, ‘Am I going to die?’” – Laura was moved to an operating room for an emergency partial hysterectomy to stop the bleeding.
Doctors diagnosed Laura with a rare, severe condition called placental site subinvolution, which affects the blood vessels under the placenta and can cause prolonged bleeding.
“My OB/GYN had only seen two other patients have this and both died. They attributed my making it to my age, because I was only 25 at the time,” Laura said.
She also was diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), another rare disorder that can cause organ damage and uncontrolled bleeding. It occurs when the proteins that control clotting become overactive, resulting in irregular blood clotting throughout the body’s blood vessels.
Throughout her emergency, Laura required 60 units of blood and plasma.
“I was able to come out of the intensive care unit faster than expected, but I still had to stay eight days in the hospital. I believe I had 12 different doctors checking on me,” she said. “I am blessed to be alive. God was working to save me.”
A few months later, to give back to the community and help other patients, her family hosted a blood drive at her husband’s workplace.
“I will forever be grateful to blood donors,” Laura said. “I would not be here today without them.”
Help local patients by donating this week at your neighborhood Carter BloodCare donor center or mobile blood drive.
If you have ever received blood or platelets, your transfusion patient experience can save lives by motivating others to donate. Please help and Tell Us Your Story.