My name’s Maria, and in 1996 I was pregnant with my son Stuart. I was so excited to be a mum but had no idea what drama was in front of me.
At 34 weeks pregnant I started to get really breathless when walking, but I was told it was down to carrying my baby, it happens.
When I went for an antenatal check at 36 weeks, I was told I had pre-eclampsia, and had to go to hospital to “rest” and was duly admitted for over 2 weeks.
By this time, I was in agony with my legs, I just couldn’t lie on them. Again, I was told baby was sitting on nerves. No mention of DVT/PE during my pregnancy, was never mentioned in any classes. I had no clue about them, no idea I was at risk due to pregnancy.
But at 38 weeks, by emergency C-section I had a big bouncing baby boy. Another risk but again not a mention of blood clots.
After 5 days I was sent home after having heparin injections, which nobody explained what they were for. I was never issued surgical stockings, during or after birth.
But something wasn’t right. I was exhausted, sore, my chest was on fire, burning and so breathless. I struggled to walk with my baby in his pram.
At 6 weeks I had my postnatal check and discussed my worries with my doctor.
She told me, “Take it easy, you’ve just had a baby”!
But 3 days later I collapsed alone with my baby (my husband was a fisherman and away). When I woke, I crawled to my phone. An emergency doctor came and told my mum that we couldn’t wait for an ambulance, I needed to get to hospital immediately. So, our friend raced us through to hospital (1hour away).
I was in a very bad way, I couldn’t even walk from the wheelchair to the bed! Submassive PEs and DVTs. My heart was struggling and I was in respiratory failure, was put on oxygen as my sats were so low and a heparin infusion. After scans, bloods and everything else involved in diagnosing. I was told I was very lucky to wake up and get to hospital!
I was like a lost soul; I had a newborn at home and stuck in hospital for 10 days. I felt robbed and angry. It didn’t need to get that bad! If only someone had listened, instead of being fobbed off. If there had been information on clots, if it had been spoken about, I could have advocated more about my health worries.
Eventually I got back on my feet, but I was so down, the best time of my life had been blighted by these nasty clots that almost took me out. It’s sad to hear that these stories are still being told even now. There needs to be more emphasis and knowledge about blood clots. Patients should be given more information, and professionals should have the knowledge and above all listen to their patients more. It really could save more lives.