First-Time Mom Delivers Early at BSA While Suffering from COVID-19

January 27, 2021

Clara Perez, 23, was 34-weeks pregnant when she began experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

"I was having a lot of muscle pain and throwing up,” Perez said. “I wasn't able to keep anything down, not even water. I was also running a fever and had lost my taste and smell.”

Due to the severity of her symptoms and her concern for her unborn child’s safety, Perez went to the BSA Emergency Room. Once at BSA, she was given an IV and staff began monitoring both her and her baby’s vital signs.

Once she was admitted, it was decided that she would need to have a C-section to ensure her baby stayed healthy.

"The process was scary for me,” Perez shared. “I was all by myself, having my first baby who was premature, and it was all happening in the middle of the night. The staff made me feel comfortable when explaining to me what was going on and did a great job of trying to calm my nerves. It was just a tough situation because I am a first-time mom, having to go through it all alone."

Right after the baby was delivered, Perez was intubated and put on a ventilator due to the severity of her COVID-19 symptoms. For the protection of her baby’s health, Perez was not able to meet her daughter during this time.

“I didn’t get to meet my daughter for about two weeks,” Perez said. “I discharged my baby girl to my mom because she was ready to go home before I was.”

Perez spent time recovering in the BSA Intensive Care Unit due to her condition.

“My doctor did such a good job of explaining what was going on,” Perez shared. “I was sedated most of the time and so conversations would sometimes not match up as I remembered, but he always took the time to explain to make sure that I understood him.”

After 17 days at BSA, Perez was discharged on December 1, after recovering from COVID-19. Once at home, Perez got to meet and hold her daughter for the first time.

“I really appreciate all the nurses, doctors and staff at BSA,” Perez stated. “They all took such good care of me and my child. I want to thank housekeeping as well. They would always talk to me while they were in my room and they just made me happy. I just want to say thank you to everyone that helped me.”

 

For fast, accurate and available COVID-19 testing, visit BSA Urgent Care Center at 4510 Bell Street from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. during weekdays and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on weekends. The BSA Emergency Room, voted Amarillo’s Best Emergency Room, is open 24/7 for COVID-19 testing.

 

 

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