A Mother’s Journey Through Unexpected Challenges
Casey Gould had always dreamed of motherhood. However, her path was filled with heartbreak as she and her husband experienced three miscarriages, and infertility treatments seemed ineffective. January 2024 marked a turning point when they decided to stop trying, but just a month later, Gould found out she was pregnant.
Though she was anxious, her pregnancy was smooth sailing. She reveled in the baby’s constant movement. Some swelling occurred toward the end, but doctors reassured her it was nothing to worry about. When labor began, she felt only excitement, eager to meet her son.
“You think you’re nearing the finish line. You feel well, he’s doing well. It’s just a matter of getting the baby here,” said Gould, now 33, recalling the start of her labor on November 1, 2024.
However, once labor began, it stretched on for 36 hours, and by the time she was ready to push, something felt amiss. Although her vitals remained stable and pain was managed by an epidural, a wave of dread washed over her.
“I kept telling myself to stay calm, but then I saw this dark shadow in the corner of the room. It felt ominous,” she recounted. “When the doctor returned, I grabbed her and a nurse, saying, ‘Something’s off. I think I’m going to die.’
Emergency Surgery and a Coma
Moments after she spoke, her son’s heart rate plummeted, and Gould was whisked off for an emergency C-section. He was delivered swiftly, but it became apparent that her heart was failing.
Dr. Amer Sayed, a cardiologist, discovered Gould’s ejection fraction—a measurement of heart function—was alarmingly low at just 13%. Normal levels range from 55% to 70%, he explained.
Faced with limited options, Sayed decided to insert an Impella pump, a device meant to give the heart a rest, through her femoral artery. Gould remained in a coma in the ICU for two days while doctors monitored her recovery.
When she woke up, she was overjoyed to see her husband and newborn son, still unaware of the seriousness of her condition.
“I thought I had just bled out during the surgery. I later learned I’d been in the cardiac ICU, which was surreal,” Gould said.
Understanding Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Gould had experienced peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare condition characterized by an unexpected weakening of the heart during late pregnancy or shortly after. Dr. Adam Small from NYU Langone noted that this condition affects about 1 in 5,000 pregnancies.
It’s challenging to predict who might develop this condition, Small indicated, with various risk factors including age and previous pregnancies. Warning signs may include shortness of breath, and Gould’s sense of fear likely stemmed from fluid in her lungs or dropping blood pressure.
It’s noteworthy that not every case necessitates a C-section; that depends on the stress a traditional delivery could impose on the patient’s heart. The Impella pump served as a crucial lifeline for Gould.
A Miraculous Recovery
After nine days in the ICU, returning home proved difficult. Recovering from major surgery while taking care of a newborn was overwhelming. Initially hesitant to delve deeper into her medical ordeal, she gradually began asking her family and examining her medical records.
“That night was traumatic for so many involved. Coming to terms with it has been tough,” Gould reflected. “Learning about it felt detached, almost surreal.”
Now, her heart function has returned to normal, and she continues medication while regularly consulting with a cardiologist. However, future pregnancies are deemed high-risk, meaning Gould likely won’t have more children.
“The transformation I’ve undergone is remarkable,” she noted.
Being a mom, as she described, has been a true blessing. Her son, now a happy and energetic 1-year-old, is thriving, even beginning swimming lessons. Recently, she shared her experience at a medical conference in Phoenix, proudly bringing her son on stage, and is planning a family trip to Montana’s Glacier National Park.
“I get to be his mom and my husband’s partner. Just simple moments, like bike rides this summer, feel incredibly special. Each day is like a gift,” Gould expressed, reflecting on her journey.
