Matthew Okula confirmed that his wife, influencer Hailey Okula, died at age 33 from an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) after giving birth to their son, Crew.
AFE occurs when “amniotic fluid, fetal cells, or debris enter the mother’s bloodstream during pregnancy, triggering a severe immune-like reaction,” Dr. Precious Barnes, DO, a family medicine physician specializing in women’s health and fertility, told Us Weekly exclusively via email. “This can lead to sudden heart and lung failure, uncontrolled bleeding and organ damage.”
Dr. Barnes explained that AFE is often “unpredictable” and “extremely rare.” AFC is only experienced in 2 to 6 out of “every 100,000 pregnancies,” she added.
“Its rarity stems from the specific conditions required: a breakdown in the placental barrier must allow fetal material to mix with maternal blood, which is uncommon,” Dr. Barnes shared with Us. “Most cases happen in healthy pregnancies without warning.”
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Matthew announced the death of his wife following “complications from childbirth” in an April 1 Instagram post.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share the devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife,” he wrote, in part. “Words cannot convey the depth of the loss I feel. Hailey was more than I could have ever dreamed of in a wife and partner.”
That same day, Matthew confirmed that Hailey did get to briefly meet their son before her sudden death.
“She was able to see him for a split second, and I’m always going to remember that,” he told Fox 11 Los Angeles. “It just came upon me so quickly and unexpectedly.”
According to Dr. Barnes, AFE symptoms will strike “suddenly” during either labor or delivery. Mortality rates range from 20 percent to 90 percent with 50 percent of cases resulting in death “within 1 hour of symptom onset,” she added. “Survivors often [face] brain injury or organ damage.”
Treating AFE in the delivery room “requires a coordinated effort” from several medical professionals,” Dr. Barnes stated. “Treatment focuses on stabilizing the mother and fetus” and it is “critical” to treat symptoms immediately in an attempt to save both mom and baby.
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“Treatment begins with stabilizing the mother’s heart and lungs through resuscitation measures like oxygen delivery, IV fluids, and medications to support circulation,” Dr. Barnes continued, noting that “advanced life support techniques” are required in some cases.
“Even with prompt care, outcomes remain uncertain due to the severity of this condition,” she added. “Survivors often require long-term rehabilitation for neurological or organ damage caused by oxygen deprivation or shock during the event.”
Remembering his late wife, Matthew said Hailey “gave her life in the most noble way,” during the same interview from earlier this week. “I know she would be up there telling me that ‘You got it, raise this kid, don’t baby him too much, make sure you do everything we talked about doing,’”
