Maternal loss due to DIC

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I read on the forum from time to time, but have rarely posted. However, I had to write today just to talk about a situation that happened recently. For the first time in nearly 30 years at our facility, we had a maternal death. I was one of the nurses caring for this mother as she came in by ambulance and we had to do a Class I section to save the baby and attempt to save the mother. The end result was that the mother had placenta accreta into her previous c-section scar and most likely an abruption. She came in bleeding profusely and I was fearful for the baby. I held this mothers hand as I searched for fetal heart tones and saw the relief on her face as they come loud and clear on the monitor. The baby was healthy and thriving but the mother went into DIC and was transferred to ICU after 4 units of blood in the OR...14+ units of blood, 4 units of plasma, hemabate, methergine and pit could not stop the course of the DIC and we lost her. It has been one of the most heartwrenching events in my time as a nurse. How do you get over such a tragic circumstance...my heart aches for this family and this child, as well as all her other siblings.:crying2:

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

That is very sad. At least the mother had the comfort of knowing that the baby survived. How many other children are there?

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

This family now has a total of 7 children...very nice family...all daughters...so sad.

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Maternal death has become so rare that we are all overwhelmed when it happens.

If this is your first in 30 years, it will probably be your only one ever. Someone in your facility should hold a debriefing, and offer support services if needed.

My heart goes out to all of you, all the providers, and all of the family.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Our facility has been absolutely wonderful to the staff involved and the family. We had a debriefing and the hospital staff and physicians have donated money for her funeral, supplies for the baby and children in the family as well as providing Christmas for the family. Although the situation has been mind boggling, it has also made me very proud to work for the organization that I work for and with the people I work with.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

It is so hard. We lost a mom to DIC under slightly different circumstances a couple years ago and you are right - heartwrenching.

Maternal loss is so rare these days that when it does happen, even if there was nothing anyone could have done differently, it pulls the proverbial rug from under your feet. I am sorry for this loss, for your sake and for the family's. Hugs.

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I feel so sad for the entire family (if only they had stopped at six).

Hugs to you.

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Hello,

I am so sorry to hear of this mother's tragic loss. I myself had the same issues during my delivery (plus toxemia). I delivered a healthy baby girl and four hours later ended up in DIC due to placenta accreta. I had an emergency Hyst, was intubated in ICU and received 11 units PRBC's and 6 of Platelets. It was a very close call. I am so grateful for the amazing team of nurses, MD's, and other key players who got me through it all. I'm sure it must have been a nightmare to care for me with so much going on. In closing, I'm sure everything possible was done to save this mother's life. I would sacrifice my life for my child and if things had tuned out differently for me, I can honestly say that I wouldn't change the experience at all.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

We had a close call with a mom a few weeks ago at my PD job. Called RRT for bleeding, not DIC, but still a mess. I about fell on the floor when i heard the RRT in Maternity. I am sorry to hear about the death of the mother; it reminds me how lucky the woman was a few week ago in my circumstance.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Surgical ICU.

Hugs to you and I will say a prayer for that family. I've wanted to venture out to L&D later in my career and this is one of things I've been afraid of seeing. Very sad, please take some time do something for yourself. We nurses forget to take care of ourselves.

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...and we had to do a Class I section to save the baby and attempt to save the mother.

I may be misunderstanding what you're saying, but I always thought the priority was mother first, baby second. She didn't develop DIC until after the section, so the procedure was done for suspected abruption. That is to save the mother, and saving the baby's life is a perk.

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It's a horribly sad situation indeed. I'm sorry to hear of the loss, for the staff and especially the family. Please make sure you take care of yourself. As nurses it's imperative that we take good care of ourselves first - like on an aircraft when they tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. Sending hugs your way...

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