Symptoms

Amniotic fluid embolism might develop suddenly and rapidly. Signs and symptoms might include:

• Sudden shortness of breath
• Excess fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
• Sudden low blood pressure
• Sudden failure of the heart to effectively pump blood (cardiovascular collapse)
• Life-threatening problems with blood clotting (disseminated intravascular coagulopathy)
• Bleeding from the uterus, cesarean incision or intravenous (IV) sites
• Altered mental status, such as anxiety or a sense of doom
• Chills
• Rapid heart rate or disturbances in the rhythm of the heart rate
• Fetal distress, such as a slow heart rate, or other fetal heart rate abnormalities
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness