Emergency C-Section Saves Baby and Mom After Rare Placental Abruption
Every second counted - Scripps and Rady teams were ready
Every second counted - Scripps and Rady teams were ready
Lauren and David Melzer were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. They had envisioned a natural, peaceful birth experience — but life had other plans.
Just four weeks before her due date, Lauren was struck by sudden, excruciating pain. Knowing something was wrong, the couple rushed to Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. What happened next was a blur.
Placental abruption: A rare but serious pregnancy emergency
Lauren was experiencing a placental abruption — a rare but serious pregnancy complication where the placenta detaches from the uterus before delivery. In severe cases, like Lauren’s, it can deprive the baby of oxygen and cause life-threatening bleeding for the mother. Swift action is critical.
Placental abruption is an uncommon condition affecting less than 1% of pregnancies, but it can be dangerous for both mother and baby. Risk factors may include high blood pressure, trauma, smoking or a previous abruption. Symptoms often include sudden abdominal pain, bleeding and contractions.
Rapid response: Emergency C-section and NICU care at Scripps
Within minutes of arriving at the hospital, Lauren was rushed into emergency surgery. “The placenta ruptured, and they had to do an emergency C-section,” Lauren recalls. “It happened so fast.”
In just 10 minutes, baby Rylan was delivered. He was immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), while Lauren recovered in the ICU. “The baby’s in the NICU, she’s in the ICU,” David remembers. “But because it was such a high level of care, I knew everything was going to be okay.”
The NICU at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas is operated in partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. Neonatologists from Rady Children’s oversee the specialized care of newborns like Rylan across all three Scripps NICUs. This collaboration ensures infants receive expert, life-saving treatment without families needing to travel far from home — a comfort especially important during high-stress situations like the Melzers’ emergency.
A healthy outcome: Gratitude and healing after crisis
Thanks to the skilled teams from both Scripps and Rady Children’s, Rylan received the round-the-clock monitoring and support he needed. Today, he’s a healthy, happy baby whose bright smile lights up every room.
Lauren reflects on the experience with deep gratitude: “It’s about having a team ready and available to help people like me when seconds count.”
David adds, “The level of care during that week was unparalleled to anything we could’ve imagined.”
Although Rylan’s birth was far from the one his parents had planned, the Melzers emerged from the experience with a renewed appreciation for expert medical care — and for each other.