Danielle B.

At 39 weeks pregnant I was induced due to HELLP syndrome & pre eclampsia. During delivery my OB struggled to retrieve my placenta and they very quickly realized the reason. I had suffered from a uterine inversion- a medical emergency where the uterus does not detach from the placenta, causing it flip inside out and then causing it to partially or fully leave the body. The doctor had to manually place my uterus back into place, as I was bleeding out quickly and I would not have made it to the operating room. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth)

Unbeknownst to us, my uterus was in contact with a bacteria during that short time, that the antibiotics I was on were not working. I was released from the hospital on a Friday with my new baby, but back in the ER only hours later with symptoms of an infection. Upon arrival my blood pressure was 176/90, fever of 103.6°, and heart rate of 180+. I was immediately given a room in the ER, bypassing many obvious medical emergencies that were in front of me. At that moment I knew this was more than just an infection.

After many tests, scans, & ultrasounds it was discovered that the bacteria in my uterus was E. coli which lead to endometritis, and finally sepsis. I was away from my two children for my entire recovery in the hospital. I am very thankful and blessed to have survived and to be reunited with my children.