A textbook pregnancy takes a dangerous turn
For Megan and Steve Gaffney,every step went smoothly and on schedule as the late-March arrival of their first child drew near. They even managed to move into their new home in Horace, N.D., the weekend before thebirth. "Everything had gone exactly as planned and I had a completely perfect pregnancy — every doctor's appointment was perfect," says Megan. "Nobody had any idea I would have any type of complication."
The unexpected happened on March 28 — the baby's due date. Megan had already been through several hours of labor at MeritCare Family Birth Center, but had not progressed as expected. "That's when Dr. Dangerfield decided the best option was to do a C-section (cesarean section)," recalls Megan. Dr. Jon Dangerfield, board-certified obstetrician at MeritCare, had been involved in Megan's care from the start of her pregnancy. "From the minute I met him, I was impressed," says Megan. "He's delivered a lot of babies, so I knew he was experienced, plus he's friendly and I felt very comfortable with him."
"If anyone thinks it doesn't matter where you have a baby, it does matter. We were glad to be at a place that had all the resources we needed."
Megan Gaffney
A C-section at 4:30 that afternoon delivered an 8-pound, 8-ounce baby girl. "As soon as Brynn was born, they told me she was healthy and doing well. I was really happy about that," says Megan. "But after the C-section, something went wrong." Megan suffered from a dangerous condition called refractory uterine atony — her uterus failed to contract and wouldn't stop bleeding.
Refractory uterine atony happens rarely — in less than two percent of all deliveries. In the past, this situation often required an emergency hysterectomy to save the mother's life. "I didn't know at the time that a hysterectomy was even a possibility, but looking back on it now, I think that would have been devastating," says Megan. "I'm only 26 and we hoped to have more than one child in our family. If that's what would've been needed to save my life, then yes, I'd be glad they did it, but if there was another option…"
Access to an advanced level of care
When initial measures failed to stop the bleeding, Dr. Dangerfield immediately contacted the
interventional radiology department, located in close proximity to MeritCare Family Birth Center. He knew there was a possible alternative to hysterectomy, but time was critical. "I knew when I chose MeritCare Family Birth Center that I would have all the resources of a big hospital, but I never imagined I'd need them," says Megan. "I just figured everything would go as smoothly in the birth as it had in my pregnancy."
Though Megan was in and out of consciousness during the 90 minutes that followed Brynn's birth, family members later told her what happened next: the entire hallway was cleared and her medical team rushed her down to interventional radiology. "When we got there, I remember meeting with a certified registered nurse anesthetist named Travis Mattern. He was fantastic — just so nice. He stayed with me during the entire procedure and so did Dr. Dangerfield," says Megan. "Steve couldn't be in the procedure room with me, so I was especially grateful for the support of the medical people. Even though I didn't fully realize what was happening because of the anesthesia, I appreciated having caring people near me."
Dr. Corey Teigen, board-certified interventional radiologist at MeritCare, performed a procedure that stopped the bleeding, ultimately saving Megan's life and her future fertility. The procedure involved threading a very thin tube from a tiny incision in the groin up into the uterine area, where a foam substance was injected to stop the flow of blood. Fluoroscopic imaging helped guide the minimally invasive procedure.
During her transfer from interventional radiology to a recovery room, Megan caught a glimpse of her family and friends. "They were all bawling, and I didn't understand why. To me, everything was fine and I wondered what was wrong with them," she says. "Later, when the medication wore off and I was more aware, they put it all together for me. I was amazed that so much had happened in such a short period of time. I was just so glad that the help I needed was right there."
A quick recovery, a good decision
After three days in MeritCare Family Birth Center, including plenty of rest and a blood transfusion to replace lost blood, Megan felt well enough to continue her recovery at home with Steve and Brynn. "I was still a little stiff the first couple days, but the recovery went a lot quicker and was a lot easier than I thought it would be," she says. "And it was just great to have a healthy baby. She's amazing."
Today, looking back at Brynn's birth, Megan continues to be in awe of all that happened. "We went through a lot, and poor Steve and our families were scared out of their minds because of what was happening to me, but it all turned out well and Brynn was completely worth it. We have a happy, happy baby," says Megan. "If anyone thinks it doesn't matter where you have a baby, it does matter. We were glad to be at a place that had all the resources we needed. The unexpected happened and they were ready for it."
To learn more about the care available at MeritCare Family Birth Center, visit baby.meritcare.com or call (701) 234-5661 or (800) 437-4010.
Learn more about the anesthesiology team at MeritCare in the Valley Health Journal Story Fast facts: The anesthesiology team at MeritCare.
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