The scary symptom that a mom’s labor was about to become a fight to survive: “I think I’m about to die”

Casey Gould’s journey to motherhood was not an easy one. After suffering three miscarriages and facing infertility struggles, she and her husband decided to stop trying for a baby in January 2024. However, just a month later, Gould found out she was pregnant.

Throughout her pregnancy, Gould felt a sense of joy and excitement. She loved being pregnant and felt her baby moving around constantly. As her due date approached, she experienced some swelling, but her doctors assured her everything was normal. When she went into labor on November 1, 2024, she was filled with anticipation to finally meet her son.

However, what should have been a joyous moment turned into a life-threatening situation. During labor, Gould suddenly felt a sense of dread and saw ominous black shadows in the room. She alerted her doctor, who quickly realized that her son’s heart rate had dropped. Gould was rushed to the operating room for an emergency C-section, where doctors discovered that her own heart was failing.

Dr. Amer Sayed, a cardiologist, determined that Gould had peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare condition where the heart weakens in late-stage pregnancy or after giving birth. Gould’s heart function was at a dangerously low level, but with the placement of an Impella pump, her heart was given time to rest and recover. Gould spent two days in a coma in the ICU before slowly regaining consciousness.

After a nine-day stay in the ICU, Gould returned home to recover from major surgery and adjust to life with a newborn. Despite the challenges, she considers herself lucky to be alive and cherishes every moment with her son. Although she will need to see a cardiologist regularly and take medication for the rest of her life, Gould’s ejection fraction measurements have returned to normal levels.

Gould’s journey to motherhood has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but she remains grateful for the opportunity to be a mom. Her son, now a happy and healthy 1-year-old, brings her immense joy every day. Gould has shared her story at medical conferences and has been invited to speak at various events. She continues to embrace motherhood with gratitude and looks forward to making new memories with her family.

In conclusion, Casey Gould’s experience highlights the resilience and strength of mothers who face unexpected challenges during pregnancy and childbirth. Her story serves as a reminder of the precious gift of life and the importance of cherishing every moment with loved ones.