This is the emotional moment a mum met her week-old baby for the first time after her amniotic fluid leaked into her bloodstream and left her fighting for her life.

Jamie Miller, 39, from Illinois, US, suffered an amniotic fluid embolism - a very rare birth complication that can be fatal for both mum and baby.

But miraculously, both Jamie and baby Michael survived and are now thriving at home.

“I know it is pretty much a miracle that both of us survived with likely no physical effects,” Jamie said.

“I am very aware of how rare the event was and then how rare it is that we both are here to talk about it.”

As a nurse who had previously worked on the delivery unit where she gave birth, Jamie had learned about the dangers of AFE throughout her career, but hoped she would never see it and never expected to experience it herself.

Although she was at a slightly higher risk of complications because of her age, she had a normal pregnancy and continued to work right up until the day before her induction and labour.

Welcoming a new baby was particularly special for Jamie and her husband Tim, 38, after losing their daughter three and a half years ago.

Jamie said: “Our family has been through a lot. My daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma at the age of six. She died 11 months later from complications related to her treatment.

“We are still healing and think about her constantly. We were prepared for an emotional pregnancy and birth knowing that this brother will never get to meet his amazing sister.

“We thought that was going to be the hardest part. We were not prepared for what happened. Anyone who has a child after losing one knows that the emotions are very complicated. You miss them in ways you didn't know existed.”

On 25 September 2021, Jamie went into hospital as planned and everything was going smoothly for her birth

She said: “I was progressing normally. My bag of waters had been broken and I was resting with an epidural. My husband was the only person in the room with me and he was resting on the couch.”

She said: “I asked the nurse to assist me with repositioning and upon turning on my left side, I felt an explosion in my chest.

“Sort of like every cell in my body went to one place in the middle of my chest. It was a pain I had never experienced before.

“My nurse was still in the room and I yelled as I grasped my chest. I then immediately started vomiting blood.

“She pulled the emergency light and I closed my eyes and drifted in and out of consciousness. I remember knowing something was very wrong, I also felt I couldn't do anything.”

Medics quickly realise it was an AFE and Jamie can remember them saying those words as she continued to vomit.

She said: “Even though I knew what was happening, and I knew what an AFE was, I still wasn't scared or in pain. I felt very calm.

“I could tell they were trying to decide if they should use my epidural as the anaesthesia for the c-section.

“I knew I didn't want to be awake anymore and I said ‘just put me to sleep’ and the nurse heard me and told the doctor.

“That's the last thing I said and the last thing I remember. I woke up a few hours later with a tube in my throat in the ICU. I was intubated, uncomfortable and very confused.”

Once she was asleep, they were able to carry out an emergency c-section.

Born weighing 7lb 15oz, Michael wasn’t breathing and they had to resuscitate him, but luckily they were able to stabilise him and transfer him to a nearby children’s hospital.

At the same time, Jamie went into disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) where blood clots form throughout the body, blocking small blood vessels.

Jamie said: “They continued to work on me by transfusing blood and blood products to replace what I was losing. In total, I received over 65 blood products over the course of my stay. Most of it was during the first few hours of birth.

“They closed my incision while my abdomen was still bleeding. I had lost the ability to clot so they needed to get me closed up and apply pressure to the wound with sandbags and a pressure dressing.

“Then they had to get my uterus to stop bleeding. Bleeding from the uterus is normal after the placenta is delivered but my body had no way to stop the bleeding from that area and a Bakri balloon was placed inside the uterus to stop the bleeding.

“I was transferred to the ICU where I continued to bleed and they continued to give me blood and clotting factors.

“I was told I had emptied out the hospital's supplies of blood products and the doctors worked to have others sent from nearby hospitals.”

Doctors expected Jamie to remain unconscious for some time but amazingly, she woke up later that night.

She said: “I remember the first person I saw and that spoke to me was a very excited ICU nurse who introduced herself and said that I have to see my husband because he has been waiting to see you.

“Then one by one, my husband and family were allowed to see me in the ICU.

“I couldn't speak (I was still intubated) but I was able to squeeze hands to let them know I was ok.

“Everyone was crying when they saw me, so even though I felt that I was alright, I could tell I had given them all a scare.

“I was told my son was stable but had been transferred. I remember dozing off and waking several times and forgetting what had happened so throughout the night I asked the nurses what had happened. At times, I still thought I was pregnant.”

With Jamie recovering and Michael in another hospital, it was seven long days before she got to meet her baby as he was well enough to be discharged.

She said: “That same day, I was transferred from a step-down unit back to the OB floor. This was so my son could visit.

“I felt very overwhelmed when I saw him. I was anxious leading up to the time I met him. I worried he wouldn't know who I was. I didn't feel healthy enough to take care of him.

“I worried I had caused him harm but as soon as I saw him and he was placed in my arms, it was like nothing had happened to either of us.

“I was so in love and he was just as cute and sweet as could be. I was surprised with how in love I was with him.”
Amazingly, three days later, Jamie was also well enough to go home to be reunited with her husband Tim, 38, and their 14-year-old son.

Since then, both mum and baby have recovered well and Michael is now a healthy three-month-old.

She said: “By the time they let me go home, I was so ready. I wanted to be with my family and get to normal

“Now, we are doing amazing.”

Emotional mum meets week-old baby for first time after amniotic fluid leaked into her blood during birth and caused 'explosion in her chest'.

This is the emotional moment a mum met her week-old baby for the first time after her amniotic fluid leaked into her bloodstream and left her fighting for her life.

Jamie Miller, 39, from Illinois, USA, suffered an amniotic fluid embolism - a very rare birth complication that can be fatal for both mum and baby.

But miraculously, both Jamie and baby Michael survived and are now thriving at home.

“I know it is pretty much a miracle that both of us survived with likely no physical effects,” Jamie told Jam Press.

“I am very aware of how rare the event was and then how rare it is that we both are here to talk about it.”

As a nurse who had previously worked on the delivery unit where she gave birth, Jamie had learned about the dangers of AFE throughout her career, but hoped she would never see it and never expected to experience it herself.

Although she was at a slightly higher risk of complications because of her age, she had a normal pregnancy and continued to work right up until the day before her induction and labour.

Welcoming a new baby was particularly special for Jamie and husband Tim, 38, after losing their daughter three and a half years ago.

Jamie said: “Our family has been through a lot. My daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma at the age of six. She died 11 months later from complications related to her treatment.

“We are still healing and think about her constantly. We were prepared for an emotional pregnancy and birth knowing that this brother will never get to meet his amazing sister.

“We thought that was going to be the hardest part. We were not prepared for what happened. Anyone who has a child after losing one knows that the emotions are very complicated. You miss them in ways you didn't know existed.”

On 25 September 2021, Jamie went into hospital as planned and everything was going smoothly for her birth

She said: “I was progressing normally. My bag of waters had been broken and I was resting with an epidural. My husband was the only person in the room with me and he was resting on the couch.”

But the situation suddenly changed.

She said: “I asked the nurse to assist me with repositioning and upon turning on my left side, I felt an explosion in my chest.

“Sort of like every cell in my body went to one place in the middle of my chest. It was a pain I had never experienced before.

“My nurse was still in the room and I yelled as I grasped my chest. I then immediately started vomiting blood.

“She pulled the emergency light and I closed my eyes and drifted in and out of consciousness. I remember knowing something was very wrong, I also felt I couldn't do anything.”

Medics quickly realise it was an AFE and Jamie can remember them saying those words as she continued to vomit.

She said: “Even though I knew what was happening, and I knew what an AFE was, I still wasn't scared or in pain. I felt very calm.

“I could tell they were trying to decide if they should use my epidural as the anesthesia for the c-section.

“I knew I didn't want to be awake anymore and I said ‘just put me to sleep’ and the nurse heard me and told the doctor.

“That's the last thing I said and the last thing I remember. I woke up a few hours later with a tube in my throat in the ICU. I was intubated, uncomfortable and very confused.”

Once she was asleep, they were able to carry out an emergency c-section.

Born weighing 7lb 15oz, Michael wasn’t breathing and they had to resuscitate him, but luckily they were able to stabilise him and transfer him to a nearby children’s hospital.

At the same time, Jamie went into disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) where blood clots form throughout the body, blocking small blood vessels.

Jamie said: “They continued to work on me by transfusing blood and blood products to replace what I was losing. In total I received over 65 blood products over the course of my stay. Most of it was during the first few hours of birth.

“They closed my incision while my abdomen was still bleeding. I had lost the ability to clot so they needed to get me closed up and apply pressure to the wound with sandbags and a pressure dressing.

“Then they had to get my uterus to stop bleeding. Bleeding from the uterus is normal after the placenta is delivered but my body had no way to stop the bleeding from that area and a bakri balloon was placed inside the uterus to stop the bleeding.

“I was transferred to the ICU where I continued to bleed and they continued to give me blood and clotting factors.

“I was told I had emptied out the hospital's supplies of blood products and the doctors worked to have others sent from nearby hospitals.”

Doctors expected Jamie to remain unconscious for some time but amazingly, she woke up later that night.

She said: “I remember the first person I saw and that spoke to me was a very excited ICU nurse who introduced herself and said that I have to see my husband because he has been waiting to see you.

“Then one by one, my husband and family were allowed to see me in the ICU.

“I couldn't speak (I was still intubated) but I was able to squeeze hands to let them know I was ok.

“Everyone was crying when they saw me, so even though I felt that I was alright, I could tell I had given them all a scare.

“I was told my son was stable but had been transferred. I remember dozing off and waking several times and forgetting what had happened so throughout the night I asked the nurses what had happened. At times, I still thought I was pregnant.”

With Jamie recovering and Michael in another hospital, it was seven long days before she got to meet her baby as he was well enough to be discharged.

She said: “That same day, I was transferred from a step-down unit back to the OB floor. This was so my son could visit.

“I felt very overwhelmed when I saw him. I was anxious leading up to the time I met him. I worried he wouldn't know who I was. I didn't feel healthy enough to take care of him.

“I worried I had caused him harm but as soon as I saw him and he was placed in my arms, it was like nothing had happened to either of us.

“I was so in love and he was just as cute and sweet as could be. I was surprised with how in love I was with him.”
Amazingly, three days later, Jamie was also well enough to go home to be reunited with her husband Tim, 38, and their 14-year-old son.

Since then, both mum and baby have recovered well and Michael is now a healthy three-month-old.

She said: “By the time they let me go home, I was so ready. I wanted to be with my family and get to normal

“Now, we are doing amazing.”