Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation

My sister, Katie Dawson, suffered an AFE on July 23, 2018 when delivering her youngest child. She received numerous amounts of blood and blood products during this and had an emergency hysterectomy. We now work together with LifeSouth and the AFE Foundation to help save lives through blood donation and raise awareness for AFE. I would love for you to help us advertise this community blood drive and our mission to help end AFE. I am happy to give you any more information you may need.

Although the exact mechanism of how an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) occurs is not well understood. It is believed to occur when a mother suffers an allergic-like (immune) response to amniotic fluid and fetal material that enters her bloodstream during labor or shortly after delivery. It is important to note that the entrance of amniotic fluid and fetal material into the bloodstream is a normal part of the birth process and in most women, it does not cause this serious reaction. Most often an AFE involves two very serious and life-threatening complications; heart and lung failure (cardiorespiratory collapse) and severe bleeding (disseminated intravascular coagulopathy or DIC). Independently, each of these complications is extremely serious and life-threatening. Together, they are exceptionally challenging to treat and require immediate and aggressive medical care. Amniotic fluid embolism is rare and a leading cause of maternal death globally.