Doctors Dismissed New Mom’s Pain, Saying It Was from Holding Her Baby. Later, 6 Deadly Blood Clots Were Found

**Mum’s Ordeal: Dismissed Pain Leads to Dramatic Diagnosis After Childbirth**

Zoe McGroarty, a 32-year-old woman from England, recently recounted her harrowing experience following the birth of her second child, a daughter named Daisy, on April 13, 2023. Despite exhibiting alarming symptoms shortly after giving birth, McGroarty felt her serious concerns were overlooked by medical professionals, leading to a critical health situation that could have had dire consequences.

Just two days after Daisy’s arrival, McGroarty experienced an unusual sensation—what she described as an “icy blast” that coursed through her body. Instinctively sensing that something was wrong, she reached out to her doctor for help. Unfortunately, her pleas for assistance were dismissed, with the medical professional attributing her symptoms to a common flu. “I was shocked that she dismissed it without hearing me out,” McGroarty said, reflecting on the initial encounter.

Over the following week, McGroarty continued to feel unwell. The absence of improvement prompted her midwife to get in touch regularly, but the mother’s condition rapidly deteriorated. She reported intense breathlessness, frequent need to sit down, and a growing sense of disorientation. “I felt so lightheaded, and at that point, I was starting to feel a bit disoriented and detached from reality,” she recalled.

As her discomfort persisted, McGroarty developed severe shoulder pain and sought further medical advice. However, she was again met with a lack of seriousness regarding her symptoms, being told that the pain was simply a result of the physical strain associated with caring for a newborn. Describing her experience, she said, “It was the worst pain I had ever felt, I could barely move my shoulder.” Frustratingly, despite having suffered from sepsis previously, she was reassured that her situation was routine.

Things escalated when the swelling around her collarbone became so pronounced that it rendered her in tears from the pain. It was only during an in-person appointment at the doctor’s clinic that McGroarty received a proper diagnosis: sepsis-induced blood clots, which required urgent hospitalisation. Doctors found six deep vein thromboses (DVTs) in her right arm.

DVTs can lead to serious complications if not diagnosed and treated quickly. The Cleveland Clinic explains that these clots can arise from a variety of factors, including vein injuries or sluggish blood flow, and exhibit symptoms such as pain, swelling, and warmth. The magnitude of McGroarty’s situation highlights the need for swift treatment to avoid potentially life-threatening outcomes.

Following the terrifying ordeal, McGroarty is now required to take blood thinners for the rest of her life. The experience has profoundly shaken her, resulting in a newfound anxiety surrounding future pregnancies. “I don’t want any more kids because this experience terrorised me,” she revealed.

In hindsight, she describes sepsis as resembling the flu but magnified, rendering her much worse off. She expressed a sense of gratitude for her survival, acknowledging how easily the situation could have taken a different turn. “It’s frightening to think it could have ended up so differently,” McGroarty reflected, emphasising her relief to be alive.

In response to McGroarty’s ordeal, a spokesperson from the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board issued a statement. While unable to comment on individual cases for privacy reasons, they highlighted the importance of careful, high-quality care across healthcare practices in the region.

“When concerns are raised directly with a practice or through the appropriate NHS processes, they are reviewed in line with established procedures,” the spokesperson noted, indicating awareness of the need for improvement within health services.

As Zoe McGroarty looks towards recovery, her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to patients’ concerns in healthcare settings. Her experience underscores the critical need for medical professionals to acknowledge and take seriously the symptoms presented by their patients, especially in postpartum cases where complications can escalate rapidly.