One More, by Laura Miller (Indiana Department of Health) скачать в хорошем качестве

One More, by Laura Miller (Indiana Department of Health)

Laura Miller created her story in the Progressing Postpartum Digital Storytelling Workshop, facilitated by StoryCollab, sponsored by the Indiana Department of Health, and supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as part of the Maternal Health Innovations initiative. Find out more about StoryCollab here: www.StoryCollab.org. A mother's joyful return home with her newborn quickly spirals into a terrifying medical emergency. Just days after being discharged from the hospital, a new mom experiences a severe, life-threatening complication that was dismissed as anxiety. This powerful story sheds light on the critical gaps in postpartum care, the impact of living in a maternity desert, and the importance of self-advocacy when medical professionals are not listening. TRANSCRIPT: “Something’s wrong,” I tell my husband while holding my 6-day old baby. I want to keep talking, but I’m having trouble finding the words. A thick white haze covers my eyes. Then I feel something warm on my legs and nose. “Laura! You’re bleeding from everywhere!” On my sixth day postpartum, I almost died. Just the day before, I’d been discharged, even after expressing concern. The nurses reassured me I was safe, suggesting that any remaining high blood pressure was from my anxiety. I later learned I had severe, uncontrolled preeclampsia that turned into PRES syndrome, a rare neurological condition causing brain swelling. I’d been staying at my mom’s house in not-so-rural Indiana, but it’s still what they call a maternity desert. The closest hospital with essential maternity care was 45 minutes away. In the ER, my blood pressure went up, setting off alarms. I needed magnesium sulfate to save my life, but I had to wait until I could be transferred to a bigger hospital. That was six hours later. By then, my arms and legs were like limp noodles I couldn’t control. It was the height of Covid, and I was on the brink of a seizure or stroke… alone. Would I ever see my baby or family again? I called my husband crying to say goodbye. Just in case. That was my second emergency in the 6 days since Joelle was born, even though a nurse told me that “delivery was the cure” for preeclampsia. The first was right after delivery, and Joelle went straight to the NICU. I didn’t meet her for two days because I was on magnesium sulfate, bed-bound. Finally, the hospital broke policy, and we got a 20 minute visit. Before that, only FaceTime. No skin to skin. No running my fingers through her red hair. I still needed several days to adjust to the blood pressure medication, But I felt like I was being rushed out the door. Before they discharged me, I asked, “How about one more blood pressure for the road?” Turns out I was in a hypertensive crisis, so had to stay 2 more days. When they finally discharged me, I was still concerned. But the staff reassured me I was safe. For months, I watched while others took care of my baby. I didn't have the strength to stand long enough to make a bottle of formula. I was always short of breath. I couldn’t go back to work. And now, it’s unsafe for me to carry another child. I wish someone would have explained the postpartum risks and prepared me for the long recovery process. I’m part of a growing statistic, but I’m also a survivor, an advocate, and a mom. My favorite title of all.