A Costa Mesa woman is crediting her Apple Smartwatch with providing life-saving alerts during a serious medical emergency while she was pregnant.
Jess Kelly, who was 37 weeks pregnant at the time, recounted feeling unwell while resting in bed. She initially deliberated whether her symptoms signaled a return of morning sickness or if she was developing her son's stomach flu, according to her account. It was during this period of inactivity that her Apple Watch issued an alert indicating her heart rate had climbed above 120 beats per minute, which she stated felt "really odd" given her sedentary state.
Over a 30-minute period, Kelly said she received two more notifications regarding her elevated heart rate. By the third alert, she concluded that “Something is going on” and recognized the need for medical evaluation. Acting "out of an abundance of caution," Kelly decided to go to the hospital.
Upon her arrival, doctors swiftly informed Kelly she was suffering from a placental abruption, a serious condition defined as the placenta detaching from the inner wall of the uterus prior to birth. Kelly was also found to be in labor, and doctors reported she was losing blood quickly. Kelly described the intense hospital environment, later conveying her profound fear for her life during the emergency.
Despite the gravity of the situation, her baby girl, Shelby Marie, was born three hours later. Kelly emphasized the profound potential gravity of the situation, stating that if she had disregarded the watch's warning and remained at home, the outcome could have been devastating, potentially leading to tragic services for either herself, Shelby, or both, instead of celebrating her baby's one-month birth.
Dr. Brian Kim, a medical professional with Providence St. Jude Medical Center, explained that an accelerated heart rate can stem from a variety of factors, including anxiety and dehydration. Dr. Kim stressed the importance of heeding alerts from devices like the Apple Watch, advising that individuals should seek medical attention immediately if something appears wrong. He suggested that monitoring one's body rhythm with such technology could potentially save a life.
Kelly concurred with Dr. Kim's advice, urging others who receive similar alerts not to disregard them. She stressed that these notifications are "not just a text message, help you find your phone alert," but serve as vital prompts to pay attention to one's body.
