Stacey saved
A first-time mum from Warragul has heaped praise on the West Gippsland Hospital for saving her life after a traumatic birth experience.
Stacey Cleversley said she only had minutes with daughter Eady before complications arose and she was whisked to theatre. She later woke up in Monash Hospital.
“They replaced my whole entire body unit of blood; four to five litres of blood,” said Stacey.
Stacey’s husband Dan was caring for their newborn daughter when he learnt of Stacey’s precarious position and the need to rush her to Monash.
Stacey said Dan recalled being told, “it’s really touch and go, we don’t know if she will pull through”.
Having returned to their Warragul home last week, Stacey said motherhood was crazy but wonderful, with Eady the result of a long IVF journey.
“I just think it needs to be acknowledged that we have this little country hospital in our own backyard and what a magnificent obstetrics and midwifery ward team we have up there, because literally they saved my life.”
“You probably don’t associate that with our country town, but it was a traumatic event and they handled it so well. Their care is next to none. The care and support that we received is beyond.”
After a long journey to fall pregnant, Stacey said all was going well as she prepared to deliver Eady on Wednesday, April 15. After pushing for two hours, her GP obstetrician Dr Patrick Ruane was called in and intervention, including forceps, was needed.
Believing the hard part was done, Stacey had somewhere between two and five minutes of skin to skin contact with Eady before learning the doctor was unable to get the placenta out and she would need to head down to theatre for it to be removed manually.
Given a spinal anaesthetic, Stacey said all the doctors and nurses, led by Dr Patrick, were wonderful and “so I felt in good hands”.
“Then all of a sudden, I started feeling not right. It was sort of like a near drowning experience.”
Relieved when it was decided to put her under, Stacey woke up in Monash Hospital.
She learnt staff had inserted a balloon to try to stop the bleeding and stabilised her, but the call was made to transfer her to Monash. The helicopter was called but, due to poor weather, she was transferred by road ambulance.
Stacey stayed in Monash, away from Eady, until she was able to be transported back to Warragul hospital on Friday night for a special reunion.
“Warragul (hospital) worked really hard to get me back to Warragul, and the lovely support was just beyond.”
Back at West Gippsland Hospital, Dan was caring for Eady who also had some breathing difficulties and required specialised care.
Stacey was able to spend the weekend with Dan and Eady in hospital before heading home last Monday.
She praised all staff – including paediatrics, breastfeeding nurses and other allied departments – for all they had done and the ongoing support.
“The quick actions of the hospital saved my life.”