She Survived the Unthinkable — Annie Sterle on Amniotic Fluid Embolism, Birth Trauma & AFE

On March 22, 2020, Annie Sterle checked into the hospital to have her baby boy. Hours later, she experienced an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) — one of the rarest and most catastrophic complications in all of obstetrics. She survived. But surviving was only the beginning.

Annie spent 24 days separated from the son she nearly died giving birth to. What followed was a long, painful road that most people never see: PTSD, attachment struggles, and a recovery that tested her, her husband Tony, and their entire family in ways that went far beyond the physical. The trauma didn't end when she left the hospital. In many ways, that's when it started.

As an OB-GYN, I've trained for AFE. I've drilled for it. I've lost sleep over it. I had even heard Annie's story firsthand from the colleague who saved her life — before Annie and I ever met. Hearing it directly from her was something else entirely.

In this episode, Annie and I talk about what AFE actually is, what happened in that delivery room, and what the long road back really looked like — physically, emotionally, and for her whole family. We talk about PTSD after childbirth, the bond between a mother and a baby interrupted by catastrophe, and what it takes to find your way back to each other. And we talk about what she wants every pregnant person, family member, and healthcare provider to know — because awareness and compassionate care change outcomes.

We also talk about her documentary, 24 Days Without You — a clinical education film now being used in hospitals, nursing schools, and grand rounds across the country — and the AFE Foundation, the leading support and research organization for families and clinicians impacted by AFE.

If you've been pregnant, love someone who has, or care for patients who do — this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned:
24 Days Without You documentary: https://www.24dayswithoutyou.com
AFE Foundation: https://afesupport.org
AFE Foundation crisis hotline: 1-307-END-AFES (1-307-363-2337)

Annie Sterle & 24 Days Without You:
Instagram: @24dayswithoutyou
Facebook: 24 Days Without You
LinkedIn: 24 Days Without You

The Dr. Kristin Lyerly Show brings you honest, unfiltered conversations at the intersection of medicine, politics, and the fight to build a healthcare system that actually works. New episodes on YouTube, Substack, and wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Follow Dr. Lyerly:
Substack: drkristinlyerly.substack.com
Instagram: @drkristinlyerly
Threads: @drkristinlyerly
TikTok: @drkristinlyerly
Bluesky: @drkristin4wi.bsky.social
Facebook: @drkristinlyerly
Twitter/X: @drkristinlyerly
LinkedIn:@drkristinlyerly

Dr. Kristin Lyerly is an OB-GYN based in northeast Wisconsin and a leading voice on healthcare, politics, and the issues shaping our collective future. As the named physician plaintiff in a landmark Wisconsin abortion decision, she brings a perspective to these conversations that goes beyond politics. New episodes drop every week. Subscribe to stay current on reproductive rights, health politics, all things Wisconsin, and everything else that matters.

Producer: Abraham Lyerly
Music: Nic Tierman
Graphics: Nathaniel Gonzalez