A mum has shared the emotional moment she met her week-old baby for the first time after her amniotic fluid leaked into her bloodstream and caused an "explosion in her chest".
Jamie Miller from Illinois suffered an amniotic fluid embolism, which is a very rare birth complication that can be fatal for both mum and baby.
Miraculously both Jamie and little Michael survived. His survival means a lot for Jamie and her husband Tim, 38, as it comes three-and-a-half years after they lost their six-year-old daughter.
The 39-year-old said: "I know it is pretty much a miracle that both of us survived with likely no physical effects."
Jamie added: “Our family has been through a lot. My daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma at the age of six. She died 11 months later from complications related to her treatment.
“We are still healing and think about her constantly. We were prepared for an emotional pregnancy and birth knowing that this brother will never get to meet his amazing sister.
“We thought that was going to be the hardest part. We were not prepared for what happened. Anyone who has a child after losing one knows that the emotions are very complicated. You miss them in ways you didn't know existed.”
In September, Jamie went into to hospital and everything seemed fine at first, but the situation soon took a turn.
She said: “I asked the nurse to assist me with repositioning and upon turning on my left side, I felt an explosion in my chest.
“Sort of like every cell in my body went to one place in the middle of my chest. It was a pain I had never experienced before.
“My nurse was still in the room and I yelled as I grasped my chest. I then immediately started vomiting blood.
“She pulled the emergency light and I closed my eyes and drifted in and out of consciousness. I remember knowing something was very wrong, I also felt I couldn't do anything.”
Medics realised it was amniotic fluid embolism as Jamie continued to vomit.
She said: “I could tell they were trying to decide if they should use my epidural as the anaesthesia for the c-section.
“I knew I didn't want to be awake anymore and I said ‘just put me to sleep’ and the nurse heard me and told the doctor.
“That's the last thing I said and the last thing I remember. I woke up a few hours later with a tube in my throat in the ICU. I was intubated, uncomfortable and very confused.”
Michael was born via emergency cesarean section weighing seven pounds and 15 ounces. He was not breathing, but medics managed to stabilise him and transfer him to a nearby children’s hospital.
At the same time, Jamie went into disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) where blood clots form throughout the body, blocking small blood vessels.
Jamie said: “They closed my incision while my abdomen was still bleeding. I had lost the ability to clot so they needed to get me closed up and apply pressure to the wound with sandbags and a pressure dressing.
She continued: "I was transferred to the ICU where I continued to bleed and they continued to give me blood and clotting factors.
“I was told I had emptied out the hospital's supplies of blood products and the doctors worked to have others sent from nearby hospitals.”
Jamie managed to wake up later that night.
She said: “Then one by one, my husband and family were allowed to see me in the ICU.
“I couldn't speak (I was still intubated) but I was able to squeeze hands to let them know I was ok.
“Everyone was crying when they saw me, so even though I felt that I was alright, I could tell I had given them all a scare."
It was seven days before Jamie got to meet little Michael. He was discharged three days after Jamie got to leave.
She said: “That same day, I was transferred from a step-down unit back to the OB floor. This was so my son could visit.
“I felt very overwhelmed when I saw him. I was anxious leading up to the time I met him. I worried he wouldn't know who I was. I didn't feel healthy enough to take care of him.
“I worried I had caused him harm but as soon as I saw him and he was placed in my arms, it was like nothing had happened to either of us.
“I was so in love and he was just as cute and sweet as could be. I was surprised with how in love I was with him.”
Now, Jamie is at home with Tim, healthy three-month-old Michael and their 14-year-old son.
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