Amniotic Fluid Embolism

[3daughters]

I know that the risk of an AFE is tiny. We have a friend that died in childbirth this week. They are assuming it was an AFE (no autopsy). It sounds to me like her birth was so intervention happy that maybe that caused the AFE. This is the article that I read about her death:

A woman died of a rare post-childbirth complication yesterday, three days after giving birth to a healthy daughter. Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva said the cause of death was apparently an embolism in her amniotic fluid. The woman, 33, entered the hospital in labor last Thursday, and when the birth failed to progress, doctors decided to perform a cesarean operation. Soon afterward, the woman's situation began deteriorating: Various bodily systems collapsed and she started hemorrhaging. Three further operations failed to stabilize her condition. (Yuval Azoulay)

From: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/951129.html

I know that none of us were there so there is no way for us to know without all the details. But I can't help but be suspicious that this tragedy could have been avoided.

FYI: Medical care in Israel is very advanced.

[turtlewomyn]

I have seen one study that showed inducing with cytotec increased your chances of having an AFE.
C-section could also increase the risk:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/546393

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.

[chandasz]

I am SO sorry for your loss. AFE is catastrophic and VERY rare. The risk of AFE is hugely increased with augmentation of labor-- sounds like pitocin was probably administered and turned up and up.

It can also just happen for no obvious reason.

Neither answer will bring any more comfort.

Please make sure to send her information to Ina may Gaskin to be included on the mothers quilt project-- project to commemorate moms who die in childbirth.

Ha-Makom y'nachem et'chem b'toch sha'ar aveilei Tzion v'Yerushalayim

[MidwifeErika]

I am so sorry about the loss of your friend.

[merpk]

BDE, 3d.

[3daughters]

And now to derail my own thread...

Amy, dh and I have noticed 3 (yes, 3) reports of deaths from AFE in Israeli newspapers in the last month (another one today, thats 2 in 1 week). AFE is e, like 1 in 8,000 to much according to the research I did. Ya think they are using this as a blanket diagnosis for all the women who die in childbirth without another obvious cause????

[Lousli]

I'm sorry for your loss. I opened this thread because my mother is a CNM. I will never forget when one of her patients died from an AFE. My mom felt horrible about it, even though apparently it was one of those cases when nothing was done that might have made it happen. It was difficult for her to come to terms with, and I'm so sorry that you are also experiencing this tragedy.