Miriam Ben Hamo, a 40-year-old mother of eight from Modiin Illit, died at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer on Thursday night. She had suffered a rare and life-threatening complication while giving birth at Ma'ayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak, Kikar HaShabbat reported.
The emergency began on Thursday morning, when she developed an amniotic fluid embolism during labor. This is an obstetric complication that is rare and cannot be predicted. Medical teams at Ma'ayanei Hayeshua fought for her life and performed prolonged resuscitation. She was then connected to an ECMO machine, which supports heart and lung function, and transferred to Sheba for further treatment.
Despite the efforts of the medical teams, doctors pronounced her dead during the night. She is survived by her husband, eight children, including the baby girl born during the emergency, and a large extended family left in shock and grief.
Ma'ayanei Hayeshua Medical Center said on Thursday that the patient was a woman in her 40s with no underlying medical conditions who had developed an amniotic fluid embolism during labor. "Amniotic fluid embolism is an obstetric complication, rare and unpredictable," the hospital said in a statement. "The woman underwent prolonged resuscitation by a senior multidisciplinary team that fought for her life, was connected to an ECMO machine and was transferred for further treatment in the intensive care unit at Sheba Medical Center."
The baby was delivered safely during the birth. She is in good condition and remains at Ma'ayanei Hayeshua for further care and observation. The medical center said it would continue to support the family.
Amniotic fluid embolism occurs in roughly one in every 20,000 to 80,000 births. It causes dangerous instability in the interaction between the blood, heart and lungs, and maternal mortality from the condition ranges from 13% to 30%.
Her funeral was scheduled to leave at 9:30 a.m. Friday from her home at 39 Avnei Nezer Street in Modiin Illit. Burial was set for 12:30 p.m. at the Yarkon Cemetery, via the Petah Tikva gate.
