Amaka Zeiden’s Birth Story: How ignored complaints nearly cost her her life.

Disclaimer: All names in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), should be inferred

Panic set in as my baby Olympia’s heartbeat dropped, making my heart beat rapidly as the contractions continued. It was a moment of fear, but thanks to the swift actions of the medical team, I underwent an emergency cesarean section (C-section) and safely delivered my precious child. C-sections are not uncommon and overall mine went well. I can vividly recall the incredible moment when my partner cut the umbilical cord, and our daughter was gently placed on my chest. I felt pure joy and relief, knowing that my daughter and I were both safe and healthy.

However, shortly after that blissful moment, everything took a turn for the worse. I have a history of thrombocytosis, or forming excessive blood clots. These clots, which can form in veins or arteries, pose a serious threat to the circulatory system and organs by blocking off blood flow to vital organs or tissue. To prevent clots from forming, I take blood thinners on a daily basis. After my C-section, the doctors advised that I temporarily stop taking them to allow my surgical wound to heal. I trusted their advice because I believed they would keep my medical history in mind; however this was not the case.

The day after stopping the blood thinners, I started experiencing breathing difficulties while recovering in my hospital room. Despite not wanting to worry my visiting mother, I asked my mother to find  a nearby nurse. When the nurse arrived I asked if it was possible that I was forming clots in my lungs; but the nurse did not seem too concerned about the possibility after listening to my breath sounds with her stethoscope. Feeling concerned because of my medical history, I insisted on receiving an IV with heparin, a blood thinner, and a CT scan to check for clots. Unfortunately, the nurse dismissed my health concerns, attributing them to the post-surgical healing process. However, after my continued insistence, a doctor arrived but only performed an ultrasound, not the CT scan I believed was necessary. The ultrasound did not reveal anything concerning, but I remained adamant: repeating that I needed a CT scan and a heparin drip. I remember feeling concerned that the doctors would interpret my firm insistence as aggression and take unilateral action to pacify me, such as sedation. Finally, the doctor granted my request, and the CT scan revealed the truth: several small blood clots in my lungs. The medical team immediately began administering the necessary medication.

My intuition had proved right, but the ordeal was far from over. Over the next six days, I faced a series of medical crises. First, my C-section wound reopened due to a coughing spell triggered by the clots in my lungs. It was a setback, but the medical team swiftly took action to address it. Soon after, I had to undergo another surgery, this time to treat the pulmonary embolism—a blood clot that was blocking a vessel in my right lung. To add to the complications, they discovered a large hematoma, in my abdomen which could present further adverse effects for my healing. It seemed like a never- ending cycle of challenges, but I remained determined to overcome them for my daughter.

In yet another operation, a surgeon inserted a filter into a major vein to prevent further clots from dislodging and traveling to my lungs. Finally, after a week filled with uncertainty and pain, I was able to return home to be with my daughter and family.