Pregnant woman survives amniotic fluid embolism and emergency C-section

According to People, Jennifer Choate suffered an amniotic fluid embolism and cardiac arrest during labor, and doctors performed a perimortem cesarean that delivered her baby 33 seconds after the incision at 12:51 a.m.

Choate had been admitted on Feb. 18, 2025, with high blood pressure and headaches and was started on magnesium for concern about preeclampsia; labor was induced the next day with Pitocin and, in the early hours of Feb. 20, she became unresponsive after chest pain, head pressure and dizziness. After two minutes of CPR she was intubated, given emergency IVs in both shin bones and required a massive blood transfusion for postpartum hemorrhage after developing disseminated intravascular coagulation, and her heart and lungs later worsened, prompting transfer and placement on VA-ECMO.

Her fiancé stayed at her bedside while family members cared for their newborn; Choate was discharged after 11 days but returned when her C-section reopened twice and endured weeks of wound care, swelling and daily treatments. Nearly a year after the traumatic labor she still has back and scar pain, remains undecided about another pregnancy, and says she is grateful to be alive and to be her daughter's mother.

Key Topics

Health, Jennifer Choate, Amniotic Fluid Embolism, Perimortem Cesarean, Va-ecmo, Preeclampsia