Postpartum
Mamas Get Blood Clots Too: Justine’s story
I had my first blood clot when I was 24 years old after ACL reconstruction surgery — a risk factor for blood clots that I was unaware of. After my surgery, I noticed that my arm was warm, swollen, and red, all signs of blood clots. I knew something was off, and decided to go…
I Had No Idea Pregnancy and Childbirth Were Risk Factors: Bailey’s Story
In September of 2020 at the age of 21, I was pregnant with my son during what appeared to be a perfectly normal pregnancy. Thankfully, I delivered a healthy baby boy. But just two days later, I began experiencing significant swelling in my left leg. I knew it was normal for pregnant women to retain…
I Felt Like No One Was Listening to Me: Natalie’s Story
A few days after my fourth daughter was born, I went to the emergency room for terrible leg pain. They did an ultrasound and assured me I did not have any blood clots. I went back again for a second time because I was certain I had a blood clot. Again, they sent me home…
Erring on the Side of Caution: Lindsey’s Story
In March of 2020, I had my second child via C-section. The surgery went well, and my baby was healthy. However, afterwards, I had a significant postpartum hemorrhage, which caused my body to have to work very hard to clot. About a week after coming home from the hospital, I developed a low-grade fever and…
How A Drawing Saved My Life: Lori’s Story
In August 2014, I was overwhelmed with joy after delivering my baby boy, Jack. He was perfect, the delivery was pretty easy, and I was ready to go home. During a brief moment of quiet during his nap, I perused through the endless literature provided by the hospital. A hand drawing of a leg, with…
My Only Symptom of DVT was Ankle Pain: Lora’s Story
In 2018, I welcomed my beautiful son into the world via Caesarean section. Everything was going well, except that I had ankle pain that radiated up my inner leg. I was told my ankle pain was due to the strain of pregnancy, and to continue to wear compression stockings. I did as I was instructed.…
The Right Treatment Changed My Life: Jan’s Story
In June 2011, 16 weeks after giving birth to my first child, I started having symptoms of back pain. As a 23-year-old new mother, I diagnosed myself with all sorts of things. I decided that the pain I was experiencing must be my kidneys reacting to alcohol after such a long time without any, and…
A Second Chance at Life: Danet’s Story
On January 4, 2010, I had just given birth to my first child at the age of 20. It was an emergency C-section that I was not planning on. The next day, I was having a hard time breathing, and I informed the nurses about this. They told me it was normal pain from birth…
The Most Terrifying Experience of My Life: Sue’s Story
I was 23 years old when I gave birth to my daughter in June 2010. During the last few months of my pregnancy, I sat and laid in bed a lot, because I suffered from sciatica, a condition in which compression of the spinal nerve causes pain in the lower back. Everything was normal with…
10 Years After My Factor V Leiden Diagnosis: Deirdre’s Story
Why NBCA is Meaningful to Me – By Deirdre Callahan On Mother’s Day 1997, I developed a DVT (blood clot) in my femoral vein. I had been a mother for almost 2 weeks. When I called the hospital, they told me to make an appt. with my doctor in the morning — they didn’t think…
