Hi, I am 25 years old and I am living proof that child birth can be death. At the age of 21, I had given birth to my beautiful daughter, who so happened to be my 2nd child. Everything was going along like it should, as far as the feedings, diapers, etc. It was a very exciting time for me, or at least I thought. I had no idea that my life was about to change forever.
It was on a friday night, early in December, 2004. My mom was at home with me, helping me out with the baby while I studied for my finals. About an hour into her visit, I went to the bathroom (and I am not trying to sound gross) to change those wonderful "diapers" you wear after giving birth and to my surprise, it was more saturated than I was normally used to. I called my mom to the bathroom since she is a nurse and asked her opinion. She said it could be normal but just to make sure, go ahead and change it and keep an eye on it. 15 minutes or so later, I once again needed to urinate, so I go to the bathroom, and figured since I was in there, I would check on the bleeding situation. When i looked down, the pad was completely filled with blood from front to back, and I know this is NOT normal.
Again, i ask my mom into the bathroom to show her and she said we needed to call the OB/GYN for assistance. I called and was told that I was more than likely overdoing myself and that i should just lay down and relax. Around this time, my mom decided to head home and that if I needed her, to call. Since it was getting late, I thought i would probably go ahead and shower and go to bed. I stand up to walk to the bathroom, and I feel something trickling down my leg. I go to the master bathroom and my bottom had barely touched the toilet, when all of a sudden, I feel a "gush" of fluid expell from my body so bad and with so much force that blood actually got onto the walls, the shower, and floor. Seeing this, I decided that I would clean myself up and call my mom. 5 minutes later, I notice that the blood is actually pouring out of me like water and it was at this time that I realized that something was really wrong.
I knew that I would have to get to the front door so I could take off the chain locks, but I wasnt sure how I was going to do this while blood is pouring out my body. I finally decided to take 5 or 6 of those body length towels, fold them up, and place them between my legs. I run to the door, take off the locks, grab my phone and head to the kitchen since the floor was linoleum. I try calling my mom several times, leaving messages, but to no avail. I then decide to call my boyfriend who was at work and told him he needed to come get my and take me to the hospital. Without question, he is out the door and on his way. During the drive home, he had managed to get ahold of my mom, and she was also on her way.
He and my mom both arrive around the same time and when they come into the kitchen where I am waiting, all they see is me lying in an enormous pool of blood. I am still coherent, so they try helping me up to get me to the car but once I stood up, I fell back down and my body started going into shock. Immediately, they call 911, and I remember my mom on her knees, beside me, praying.
Next thing I remember, i am waking up in a hospital room, with my mom beside me. I told her to help me up so I could go pee, but she had this really confused look on her face. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that I had a catheter in. I replied that there was urine leaking down my leg, so she looked under the sheet and immediately called for help. It was actually blood.
I was rushed into the O.R. for my 2nd surgery. I was told the first surgery was a DNC, and the second one was some type of procedure where they try to suture the uterus to stop the bleeding. When I come to, I look up and I am surrounded by family and friends praying.
I am confused so i asked what was going on. I am informed that I am in the ICU. I had not only had the 2 surgeries previously mentioned, but I also had a 3rd; a hysterectomy. Apparently, there was no alternative. I had 15 blood transfusions, was on a ventilator, NG tube, IV's everywhere. I was still curious as to why all these people were worried about me. Later, I found my answer.
I was told that i had died in surgery, not once, but twice. There was the possibility of me not being the same again, having a long recovery, etc.
You may wonder what all this has to do with child birth. Let me explain. After delivery, my body was having a hard time with slowing down the amount of blood coming out. The dr. tried using pitocin, hoping it would help my uterus contract back down. This did not work. Eventually they had to give me some shots which i was told "worked". I brushed all this off, thinking that things like happen all the time, no big deal. Well, apparently, it was a big deal, and if monitored more closely, I might have been able to prevent everything else.
Over the years, i have had to come to terms with myself, especially with the fact that I am unable to have children. I have had many ups and downs, but I know that everything happens for a reason. I am hoping that this might help someone going thru similar issues.