- Alexis Hall, 29, had her daughter Jaicei on April 9.
- On April 18 she had a massive heart attack.
- She spent days on life support, but is now home with Jaicei.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alexis Hall and her husband, Jariel Hall. It has been edited for length and clarity.
My pregnancy with our daughter, Jaicei, was easy. I needed a C-section when she was born on April 9, but a few days later we were leaving the hospital as a family. I was excited to introduce the baby to Jaylen and my stepdaughter Jamiracle, who is 14.
The first few days at home were great. But after about a week, I noticed swelling in my hands and feet. I had shortness of breath. My mama always raised me to go to the hospital whenever anything was wrong. So, I left the baby with her, and Jariel and I went back to the maternity ward where I had just delivered.
Doctors realized I had a heart attack caused by a spontaneous coronary artery dissection. This happens when an artery bursts, and it’s most common in pregnant and postpartum women. Research shows it’s an understudied cause of maternal deaths.
Looking back, I am so proud of how I advocated for myself before the heart attack. If I had gone home when the doctors wanted to discharge me, I might not be here. Instead, I insisted on staying in the hospital. Because of that, doctors were able to give me CPR and later an Impella heart pump that saved my life.
Read the full article: I had a heart attack days after giving birth. Doctors dismissed my symptoms, but advocating for my health saved my life.
