Recommendations for practice include early
consideration of amniotic fluid embolism where
even just one symptom may be present. It was the
fast action of the obstetric registrar that stopped
Jan’s condition from getting worse, and quite
possibly saved her life. Clear identification of any
deviations from the normal, which can include
tachycardia and hypotension, should be made by
the midwife, and timely summons of appropriate
and experienced medical aid should be made in all
such cases. All diagnosed cases of amniotic fluid
embolism should be reported to the UK Obstetric
Surveillance System (UKOSS) national amniotic
fluid embolism register (Coates, 2009). Further research into whether amniotic fluid embolism is
likely to recur in subsequent pregnancies needs
to be undertaken on a wider scale, as this would
be useful for midwives and health professionals to
prepare for a possible amniotic fluid embolism.