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Mom who lost both arms and legs following traumatic birth gives advice to other pregnant women

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A mother from Kansas who became a quadruple amputee following a traumatic birth has shared her advice to other women.

Brie Morgan Bauer, 35, had to undergo an emergency C-section to deliver her third child, Beau, on February 17, 2024, but contracted streptococcal toxic shock syndrome during childbirth.

She had to be put into an induced coma, and while both she and Beau – who was born weighing just 2lb 8oz – survived, she had to undergo a life-changing surgery to amputate both of her arms and legs.

After months of treatment, Brie was finally discharged from the hospital on June 25, and could return home with her husband Reid and their children.

Brie had initially gone to hospital after experiencing “several days of feeling flu-like – body aches and general discomfort”, where doctors determined she was in labor despite her being just 27 weeks pregnant.

They made the decision to deliver Beau by C-section, deeming the baby in danger, and Brie ended up losing a lot of blood during the procedure.

GoFundMe set up for her explained: “The medical team struggled to get oxygen to her fluid-filled lungs and to stop her bleeding. Brie began to suffer from organ failure.”

Mom who lost both arms and legs following traumatic birth gives advice to other pregnant women

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Brie was then placed into a medically-induced coma and her family were heartbreakingly told she was “unlikely to make it through the night”.

However, Brie’s body fought on, and the following day her lab results revealed that she was battling streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

The infection was located in her uterus, and doctors performed an emergency hysterectomy, during which they discovered that part of her colon had died, meaning she was forced to undergo her third major surgery in under 72 hours to fit an ostomy.

While she pulled through the operations, Brie’s limbs had begun to be drastically impacted by the life-saving medications she was being given.

The fundraiser explained: “Her hands and feet were turning black from lack of blood flow – amputation discussions were inevitable.”

Over the coming weeks, Brie underwent surgery to remove both arms and legs, as well as battling infections and setbacks, and only woke from the coma briefly, when her husband was able to tell her: “Brie, it’s Reid. The baby is safe, he’s beautiful and looks like you.”

Thankfully, Brie managed to survive the gruelling ordeal, and was able to be discharged home, where her neighborhood greeted her with a welcoming parade.

Mom who lost both arms and legs following traumatic birth gives advice to other pregnant women

Brie revealed the challenges she’d faced on returning home after four months in the hospital, explaining on Instagram: “A lot of people have been asking what it felt like coming home after being in the hospital for four months. Honestly, it felt a bit like returning from a long vacation.

“Seeing my kids every day and sleeping in my own bed has been incredible, but there’s still a lot of adjusting to do. Figuring out how to navigate the first floor independently has been quite the challenge.

“Simple tasks like opening drawers or the refrigerator are difficult. I’ve learned that I can’t fit through the doorway into the pantry, which has been particularly frustrating since I’ve been eating like crazy (thanks, stress), and I hate having to ask people to grab food for me.

“Out of everything, the hardest part has been my inability to hold baby Beau. It’s ironic how both Beau and I are hitting milestones at the same time – who will be able to turn over first? Whose hair will grow in first? We’re both on a journey of recovery and growth together.”

She also recently took to social media to reveal her advice for other expectant mothers.

Brie acknowledged that what she went through is extremely rare, but added: “But with that said, the nurse in me, I wish I were more cognizant of me traveling. I traveled for work and I probably would have – I don’t know if I would have said no or not, but I guess just being pregnant, when you travel, I would say wear a mask, wash your hands constantly, and that’s really all we can do.”

She also added that she would advise people to get checked out if they begin to feel unwell and not allow their doctors to “brush off” their concerns.

“What I felt that day, I had been kind of sick the day before,” she revealed, adding that her provider had told her she’d likely contracted strep orally, which then had a more serious effect on her body as a pregnant person’s immune system is suppressed.

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