Chelsey’s Induction Emergency – A Success Story

Watch Chelsey share her story

As TriHealth OB-GYN patient Chelsey Robinson was nearing the end of her pregnancy, she was relieved that everything had gone so smoothly to this point.

“I had no issues besides morning sickness in the beginning, normal aches and pains throughout and carpal tunnel near the end,” she said. “And September 27th, 2024, was supposed to be baby day. An exciting day to be induced to meet my baby girl and watch her dad be a dad to a baby for the first time!”

However, on the day of induction, things did not go as smoothly as the rest of the pregnancy had.

“I do not remember a single second of that day or about 5 days to follow,” Chelsey said. “I only know what Josh, doctors, family and friends told me.”

Everything seemed to be going well at first when she arrived at Good Samaritan Hospital for induction. It was all going as planned.

“I was 3cm dilated when I asked for the epidural,” Chelsey recalled. “The anesthesiologist poked me once and it was uncomfortable, so she removed it and tried again. This time, I let out a blood curdling scream. My blood pressure was dropping and I became nauseous – I looked at Josh and told him I was scared. Then my eyes rolled back into my head, my hand went limp, and my heart stopped.”

Chelsey said that beyond this point, everything she knows about her hospital stay was told to her by her family, friends and care team.

 “The doctor came in and I was dilated to 10cm, so they used the vacuum and forceps to get my baby out,” she said. “Then they started CPR on me for 9 minutes, and my heart was beating again. Then it stopped again, at which point they did CPR again for over 20 minutes, bringing me back again.”

This cycle repeated once more, and the care team was able to bring Chelsey’s pulse back again after around 30 more minutes. She was then transferred to the ICU, where she was ultimately flown to Bethesda North Hospital for additional emergency care and to be put on ECMO, a medical device that temporarily supports the heart and lungs when they are unable to function adequately on their own.

“After being on ECMO and intubated for 4 days, they decided to take me off and wake me up,” Chelsey said. “No one was sure what I would be like or if I would remember anyone or anything. I knew everyone, but I did not know what happened or where I was. I remembered I had a baby, but did not feel like I had a baby – probably because I didn’t get to see or hold her for a whole week.”

She went on to explain that she didn’t know what happened to her until the day she was discharged from the hospital, an entire week later.

“I had an idea that they did CPR because my chest hurt, but I had no idea it went to the extent it did,” Chelsey said. “When I woke up my right calf and foot were numb, tingling and painful. I could not stand on my own, but I worked with PT and was able to walk with a walker.”

Chelsey went home a week later. She was not able to drive, do household chores or even be by herself for the first few days. It has been a few months now since her delivery, and Chelsey is in great spirits alongside her baby girl.

“I am almost back to normal, or at least what normal was for me. I have no long-term medical issues from this and will eventually be back to doing everything I could before this all happened,” she said. “God is great! My family, friends, doctors, nurses and anyone who prayed for me, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Okum, the cardiovascular surgeon and the other surgeons in the OR that night for saving my life. I would not be here today if it were not for you all.”

TriHealth has the largest network of Women's Care Sites, including more than 100 providers in nearly 40 OB-GYN offices across Cincinnati - and featuring the largest labor & delivery department and NICU in the region at Good Samaritan Hospital. For more information on easy scheduling access, nurse navigation, advanced perinatal certification and more, call 513-24-OBGYN or visit us here.