Loss

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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We lost a pt last night. She presented to triage for a labor check and was getting up to ambulate when her water broke. So she was admitted. VE was 1/60/-1. Not long after, like an hour, she appeared to have a seizure, FHR was in the 70's, VE was 10/100/0. We managed to get the baby delivered lady partslly with the help of vacuum, and forceps, despite Mom alternating between combative and unresponsive. Baby was resuscitated with CPR, and eventually transferred to a Level III on a vent.

Mom crashed. She was intubated 10 min after delivery, bradied down, ACLS protocol began. She was announced an hour and 15 min after delivery. We think, at this point, she may have had an amniotic fluid embolus, since she did panic before the "seizure." Somehow we managed to hold it all together and do the best we could. But once the code team got there and took over, I think most of us L&D nurses were just so overwhelmed. It's one thing to watch a code on an 85 yr. old, but for a 30 something Mom who just delivered her 3rd baby........... I'm still having a hard time coming to grips with this. People just don't die in childbirth, you know?

The hardest part was listening to the screams of her daughters, both under 13. I just can't imagine what this family went through. Coming to the hosp, expecting to hear about a new baby, and being told that the mother is dead. None of them knew until they got there. And to hear each one of them respond to the news, was heartbreaking. I hope that I never, ever have to deal with this again. :o

Last I heard, baby is still in NICU, having seizures, and is on Phenobarb. :o

I was on call this weekend, and talked with one of our docs who has spoken with the coroner. They said on gross exam it doesn't look like a PE or something similar, but that maybe it was some kind of cardiac event. But he agrees that the symptoms we described, sound like AFE. He also said that he has heard nothing but good things about the way that L&D handled it, and that there was nothing else that we could have done. The outcome would have been the same.

:crying2:

Carla, I am SO sorry. I know from reading many of your other posts that you are a great nurse and I know that you guys did everything you could.

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In a situation like this there are so many whys and few, if any, answers.

My heart and prayers go out to this woman's family and to you and your coworkers.

I am so sorry you had to go through this. I have had a similiar experience. I totally agree with the others, talk with your co-workers, spouse or whoever your close to. It took months for me to finally come to some sort of acceptance regarding my situation.

I prayed a lot every day for my patient's family. I had an especially hard time because management was "indifferent" to the situation. They told me "you need to prepare yourself , because "you will lose patients." Little did she know that I lost every pediatric patient I took care of at M.D. Anderson Cancer Ctr and later many stillborns, and demise's in my L&D career.

Unfortunately, this is the very human side of being a nurse. Sometimes you feel like a Vietnam Vet, with the experiences you go through.

Take Care, and be gentle with yourself.

P.S. Just curious where are you in Ohio? I was at Grant from '98-2000.

P.S. Just curious where are you in Ohio? I was at Grant from '98-2000.

I am in Southwest Ohio

Specializes in OB/GYN.

Oh my goodness........... how sad! I am so sorry.

I am sending you a big hug. :kiss

Specializes in ICU, Tele, and OR.

I am so sorry to hear about your pt. It's hard for me to hear things like that b/c I'm still in Nursing school and it's hard to believe that I may be put in that position. I've had a pt for two weeks that I've bonded with and he died on Tues. and I couldn't believe it. Just remember that God takes his children when it's time and that everything happens for a reason. When you leave this world you're going to a better place. My prayers are with everyone involved in this tragic situation....

Hearing this breaks my heart--it seem en vogue to have your baby delievered either at home or a non-medical facility by midwives. I have never been able to understand why so many people do this when so much can go wrong. It just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.

"So many people do this.." are you referring to having children *period*?

I ask because, this patient was IN the hospital and STILL died..

It would appear to me that, if youre going to go, nothing can hold back the train.

"So many people do this.." are you referring to having children *period*?

I ask because, this patient was IN the hospital and STILL died..

It would appear to me that, if youre going to go, nothing can hold back the train.

I tried to ignore that post earlier. But I'm glad you picked up on that. While I don't want to make this a homebirth/birth center/hospital debate, it is obvious, this mother would have died regardless of where she was.

And there is plenty of data to support the safety of homebirth and midwife attended birth centers. Sometimes, I think the hospital may be the unsafest place for a low risk pt to deliver.

:o

I had a simialar expereince last month. I work in a medical ICU and we take care of postpartum patients on occasion. I had a 28 year old woman who had an emergency c-section at 32 weeks. The next day she started to hemorrhage and had a total hysterctomy. She came to our ICU vented. The pulmonologist determined that she was in ARDS so we had her sedated and on a paralytic. On day 10 postup she started to desat and brady down. She had a tension pneumo and chest tube was inserted during our 55 minute code. In the end we did everything we could but it didn't help when the husband came in and learned that his wife of 12 months had died and he had 12 day old daughter with no mother. We are having a grief session this week with the hospital chaplin. My only saving grace was that the event occured on a week day and I had social workers, case mangers, and clergy readily available. In the end I cried my whole way home and I'm still shaking now as I type this. Thanks for your story which inspired me to tell mine.

As someone who has always wanted to work in the life affirming area of Labor and Delivery, the reality of it is not every event turns out positive. Moms die, we deliver stillbirths, birth defect, etc.

Reading your story about the loss of a mom is a reality check. I'm praying for the family, and I'm praying for your unit.

(((HUGS)))

As someone who has always wanted to work in the life affirming area of Labor and Delivery, the reality of it is not every event turns out positive. Moms die, we deliver stillbirths, birth defect, etc.

Reading your story about the loss of a mom is a reality check. I'm praying for the family, and I'm praying for your unit.

(((HUGS)))

I second this! Any news on the baby?

Specializes in Inpatient Acute Rehab.

Oh My!!! I sat and cried as I was reading your post Carla. All I know is that you are a very special nurse sent from God to be there. Bless you!!!

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