Natalie & Brodie
Why Sepsis Awareness Is Part of My Birth Story
September is Sepsis Awareness Month.
I've thought about sharing this story many times over the years. Every September, I seem to come back to it and every year, I've hesitated. Maybe because it isn't actually a story about having sepsis. Neither my son nor I developed sepsis. It's a story about an infection during childbirth, how quickly things changed, and a nurse who recognized that something wasn't right before I did. And perhaps that's exactly why it's worth sharing.
It started with a completely normal pregnancy. In March 2014, after an uncomplicated pregnancy, I went into labour with my son, Brodie. After about 16 hours, I opted for an epidural and eventually drifted off to sleep. When I woke up, I casually commented that the room felt really hot. I remember my husband and nurse looking at each other. My nurse immediately took my temperature. I had a fever. She called the doctor, and from that point on, everything happened very quickly. An infection was suspected, antibiotics were started, and I was told that Brodie needed to be delivered by emergency C-section. There wasn't panic in the room. The doctors and nurses were calm. But there was urgency. And I could feel the difference. Then came Brodie. During the C-section, I remember hearing the doctors counting: "Three, four..." They were counting as they unwrapped the umbilical cord, which had become wrapped around his neck. And then, through everything happening around me, I heard someone say: "He's so beautiful." I saw his little face for only a moment before he was taken away. Brodie had also developed a fever and was brought to the NICU, where he would spend the next four nights being closely monitored, receiving medication, and undergoing repeated bloodwork. Eventually, I was taken to see him. That's when the magnitude of what had happened really began to sink in.
And this is where I want to make an important distinction. We did not have sepsis. I had developed an infection during labour, and Brodie showed signs of infection after birth. But infection and sepsis are not the same thing. Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection and is a medical emergency. An infection can progress to sepsis, but most infections don't. At the time, though, I knew enough about sepsis to understand why the medical team had acted with such urgency - and what an infection could potentially become if a person's condition deteriorates. That realization stayed with me.
What I remember most today is my nurse. I didn't recognize that anything was wrong. She did. She noticed. She checked. She acted. I'll never know what would have happened had she not taken my temperature when she did, and I don't pretend to know that either Brodie or I would have developed sepsis. But I do know that infections can become serious, that sepsis can progress rapidly once it develops, and that recognizing changes in a patient's condition and getting appropriate medical care matters. That day, our healthcare team did exactly that. And twelve years later, what I feel most when I think about those hours is gratitude. Gratitude that my nurse paid attention. Gratitude that my fever wasn't dismissed. Gratitude that the medical team moved quickly. Gratitude that Brodie was monitored so carefully. And immense gratitude that a frightening beginning ultimately became just one chapter in the story of a healthy little boy growing up.
So why share an infection story during Sepsis Awareness Month?
Because every case of sepsis starts with an infection. And awareness doesn't begin only after someone develops sepsis. It begins with understanding what sepsis is, knowing that infections can sometimes become serious, recognizing when someone's condition is worsening, and seeking medical attention when something doesn't feel right.
Some signs associated with sepsis can include:
fever, shivering or feeling very cold;
rapid breathing or heart rate;
confusion, disorientation or unusual sleepiness;
severe pain or discomfort;
clammy or sweaty skin; and
feeling extremely unwell or experiencing a significant change in condition.
No single symptom means someone has sepsis. But when an infection is present or suspected and someone is becoming seriously unwell, it's important to seek urgent medical attention.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period are also times when women and families are already dealing with enormous physical changes. It can be difficult to know what's normal and what isn't. So speak up. Ask questions. Tell someone when something changes. And if you feel that something isn't right, say so.
Twelve years later... Brodie is now a healthy, active 12-year-old who keeps us busy. And every September, I still think about that nurse. She noticed. She checked. She acted.
Our story didn't become a sepsis story. And I'm incredibly grateful for that. I'm finally sharing it because Sepsis Awareness Month isn't only for people who have survived sepsis or families who have lost someone to it. Awareness belongs to all of us. Because sepsis begins with infection and knowing what to watch for, recognizing deterioration, and seeking care quickly can save lives.