Christine was 39 weeks pregnant with her second son in December 2021. Until that point, her pregnancy had been seamless, with no preexisting conditions or complications. Her first pregnancy and delivery were also healthy.
On the night of December 13, she started to go into labor. She sensed something was different from her first pregnancy and that something seemed to be wrong. Christine began having seizures, which is something that she had never experienced. Her husband rushed her to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with Eclampsia and HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count syndrome.)
The Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) hospitalist on duty (Dr. Vandever), quickly performed a life-saving emergency C-section. Afterward, Christine went to the ICU and her baby was admitted to the NICU.
As she was recovering in the hospital and visiting her son in the NICU she wasn’t producing enough milk for her son. Her sister, a new mom, donated her own milk so that Christine’s son could have exclusive breast milk feedings in the NICU.
After she fully recovered and returned home, Christine started researching milk donor opportunities and learned there was a need for breast milk. She applied to become a registered milk donor and was approved. She was able to donate and give back to the same hospital where she received emergency care.
WATCH her video and learn about her life-changing experience.
“In the midst of this entire experience, I was able to take that knowledge that I gained with my time with my son in the NICU and give back by being a milk donor where the milk is donated to NICU babies. It’s just amazing full circle of my experience being able to bless other families and their babies.
And so, in the end, it all started with me being under the care of Dr. Vandever and her saving my life and saving my son’s life and for me to be able to give back in this way. It’s just an amazing testimony of how everything works out for good and so I’m just so grateful that I’m here today where I can share this story.”
Earlier this year, Christine and her son had the opportunity to meet OBHG hospitalist Dr. Vandever and thank her for saving her and her son’s life. Christine continues to give back to the community and is involved with the Preeclampsia Foundation. (See video here Christine participated in during Preeclampsia Awareness Month).
She also shares her perspective on the value of OB hospitalists here. Watch below to hear her emergency birth story.