Influencer Hailey Okula died minutes after giving birth to her first child. The news was confirmed by her husband, who revealed that the 33-year-old nurse had undergone a cesarean section, which led to complications resulting in an amniotic fluid embolism. Here’s what we know.
What happened to Hailey Okula?
For almost two years, Hailey and her husband, Matthew Okula (a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department), had been struggling with infertility. They were now expecting their first child, Crew, who was born via cesarean section on Saturday, March 29.
After the surgery, Hailey held her son and, moments later, began to feel unwell, eventually suffering a cardiac arrest caused by an amniotic fluid embolism. Although doctors tried to resuscitate her, the influencer ultimately passed away.
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“Hailey’s strength was incomparable. There are no words to describe how much we wanted to become parents. After years of battling infertility and a long, difficult IVF process, we were thrilled to be expecting Crew. Hailey faced every obstacle with immense courage and love; despite everything her body went through, she never faltered,” Matthew wrote on his Instagram account.
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Who was Hailey Okula?
Hailey Okula, also known online as “Nurse Hailey,” was an emergency room nurse who gained nearly 1 million followers on her social media platforms. In 2019, she founded “RN New Grads,” an initiative created to support newly graduated nurses. Through her platforms, she shared valuable content for healthcare professionals, offering guidance on how to find a job and start a career in nursing.
What is an amniotic fluid embolism?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, an amniotic fluid embolism, also known as pregnancy anaphylactic syndrome, is a rare but potentially fatal complication that can occur during or shortly after childbirth. This condition happens when amniotic fluid, the fluid surrounding the fetus in the uterus during pregnancy, enters the mother’s bloodstream.
The exact cause of this phenomenon is still unknown. While the passage of amniotic fluid into the circulatory system is common during labor, some women experience a severe allergic reaction to this fluid, which is mainly composed of water, cells, and fetal tissue, mixed with blood.
This reaction can trigger respiratory and cardiac failure, as well as a cardiac arrest. Those affected by amniotic fluid embolism may also experience uncontrollable bleeding from the uterus or the cesarean incision.
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Survival rate of amniotic fluid embolism
The Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation (AFE), an organization dedicated to education, research, and support for affected families, reported that amniotic fluid embolism affects 1 in 40,000 women giving birth in the United States.
According to the foundation, since approximately 4 million births occur annually in the U.S., this means around 100 women could experience this complication. The amniotic embolism survival rate ranges from 20% to 60%, according to the organization.
“While survival has improved in the past 20 years thanks to advancements in intensive care and obstetric medicine, it is important to emphasize that an amniotic fluid embolism is extremely difficult to treat and is considered one of the most fatal childbirth complications in the world,” they said.
