Share Her Story:
In January of this year, I first read about the tragic death of Christine Fields, a 30-year-old mother who bled to death after a C-section due to a lapse by the surgical team at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Christine’s story is one of heartbreak and systemic failure, highlighting the urgent need for change.
Few details about Christine’s care initially came to light. While she was in labor, there was a change in the fetal heart rate that caused alarm. Doctors then insisted on an emergency C-section.
Christine’s fiancé, Jose Perez, was the one who first noticed her rapid deterioration after she was brought to the recovery room. Unresponsive and slumped to the side, Christine’s condition alarmed Jose, who tried to revive her with ice and alerted a nurse.
Despite attempts to resuscitate her, the staff’s efforts, including CPR, were unsuccessful. Hours after her son was delivered, Christine bled to death. She died In November of 2023.
Woodhull initially had no explanation for their delay in detecting Christine's worsening condition. A report from the state health department later revealed that a medical mishap, including a lack of documentation and a communication breakdown with the surgical team regarding a uterine arterial injury, resulted in Christine's death.
Christine was not the first mother to die at Woodhull. Just three years prior, the death of Sha'Asia Semple, a 26-year-old first-time mother following a botched epidural, had also highlighted the hospital’s failings. The anesthesiologist in question had a significant history of botched epidurals and unsafe care practices.
Despite national attention and the subsequent stripping of the responsible anesthesiologist’s medical license, these significant interventions only occurred after Sha'Asia death.
Why do we have to die before someone will DO something?
In New York, an average of 20 to 30 maternal deaths occur each year, primarily from infections, embolisms, overdoses, or hemorrhage. Over 80 percent of these deaths are deemed preventable. In New York, Black women are 9x times more likely to die during childbirth than white women.
Woodhull Medical Center itself had a troubling history of maternal deaths resulting from medical misdiagnosis, as identified by state medical authorities. In fact, during the health inspection and investigation, inspectors were so alarmed by the findings uncovered that they actually paused their overall inspection of the hospital to address the immediacy of patient harm.
In New York, Black women are 9x times more likely to die during childbirth than white women.
Woodhull has become a symbol of New York’s maternal mortality crisis, despite once being considered one of the safest places to give birth due to the midwives who attended most vaginal births there. Midwifery care is known to reduce maternal complications and deaths, yet the rise in C-sections poses new challenges.
Christine had hoped for a vaginal birth, but when her baby’s heart rate dropped, doctors quickly moved to perform a C-section. This raises critical questions: Are these C-sections always necessary? Could interventions, such as position changes and other non-medical interventions, help to achieve natural births and reduce C-section rates?
Christine Fields leaves behind three children, including her newborn son, Anuel, who she never got to meet, a fiancé, and a family forever changed by her loss.
Her story is our call to action.
**Join Us for the "Say Her Name" 5K and Health Fair**
In honor of Christine and countless other mothers, we invite you to join us for the "Say Her Name" 5K and Health Fair for Maternal Mortality Awareness this fall. This event aims to raise awareness, provide education, and foster community support to prevent maternal deaths.
**How You Can Help:**
1. Register for the 5K and Health Fair: Participate in the event to show your support and learn more about how you can contribute to reducing maternal mortality.
2. Donate: If you cannot attend the event, consider making a donation to support our cause. Your contribution will help us provide resources, education, and support to mothers and families in need.
Why do we have to die before someone takes action? Let Christine’s story inspire us to demand better care and accountability.
Together, we can make a difference and save lives. Join us in our stand against maternal mortality, and help us create a world where every mother can thrive. Because every mother deserves to survive and thrive.
Christine’s story must not be forgotten. By raising our voices and taking action, we can honor her memory and work towards a future where no mother faces the same fate.
Your advocate for ALL moms and babies,
LaToya
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