Nurse And Influencer Hailey Okula Dies After Childbirth

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Hailey Okula, a 33-year-old nurse and social media influencer from Southern California, tragically passed away shortly after giving birth to her son, Crew, on March 29, 2025. Known for sharing her fertility struggles with nearly 470,000 followers on Instagram, Hailey's journey to motherhood was both long and arduous, culminating in the joyous news of her pregnancy after undergoing IVF.

On that fateful day, the excitement in the delivery room was palpable. "We hear the baby cry and we were excited he was finally here," recalled her husband, Matthew Okula, during an interview with KTLA. "She made a comment about how big he was. I grabbed her hand and said, ‘He’s beautiful and I will see you over there in a moment.’ We were so excited and then it took such a quick turn.”

Just minutes after welcoming their son, Hailey suffered a rare pregnancy complication known as amniotic fluid embolism (AFE). This condition occurs when amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream, triggering a severe immune-like reaction that can lead to cardiac arrest. Matthew described the terrifying moment when a doctor entered the room to inform him that they were administering CPR on Hailey, whose heart had stopped. "It hadn’t been a minute or two later that the doctor came in and told me they were doing CPR and her heart stopped," he recounted, visibly shaken.

Hailey's death was confirmed in an emotional Instagram post by Matthew on April 1, 2025. He wrote, "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share the devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife." He went on to express the profound loss he felt and highlighted Hailey's strength throughout their journey to parenthood. "Hailey faced every hurdle with so much courage and love—even though her body went through so much, she never wavered. Though her time with us was tragically cut short, Hailey’s love for Crew was limitless, long before he entered this world. She would have been the most amazing mom.”

Dr. Precious Barnes, a family medicine physician specializing in women’s health, explained that AFE is extremely rare, occurring in only 2 to 6 out of every 100,000 pregnancies. "Most cases happen in healthy pregnancies without warning," she noted. The severity of AFE is alarming, with mortality rates ranging from 20% to 90%. In many cases, symptoms can strike suddenly during labor or delivery, leading to severe complications.

Matthew, who works as a firefighter in Los Angeles, is now faced with the daunting task of raising their newborn son alone. "I never thought I would be a single father raising a newborn," he lamented. Yet he remains committed to honoring Hailey's memory and raising awareness about the dangers of amniotic fluid embolism. "It’s about 100 people a year in the United States that [AFE] happens to. That’s a lot of broken hearts and shattered families. Hailey would want to use this right now to see how we can figure out a way to not let this happen to other families,” he stated.

In addition to her role as a mother, Hailey was a dedicated emergency room nurse who founded RN New Grads, a program aimed at supporting newly graduated nurses. Her Instagram account, @rnnewgrads, provided educational resources and advice to help new nurses navigate their careers. Matthew has vowed to continue Hailey’s legacy through this initiative, ensuring that her passion for helping others lives on.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with funeral expenses, raising over $385,000 towards a goal of $450,000. The outpouring of support from the community reflects the impact Hailey had on those around her.

To honor Hailey’s life, a candlelight vigil is scheduled for April 26, 2025, at SeaLegs at the Beach in Huntington Beach, California, at 6:30 p.m. Friends, family, and followers are expected to gather to celebrate her memory and the love she shared with her husband and newborn son.

In the days following Hailey's passing, Matthew has shared intimate glimpses into their life together through videos and photos on Hailey’s Instagram account. He revealed that they had been together for nearly 13 years, and he continues to cherish the memories they created together. "She gave her life in the most noble way," he reflected. "I know she would be up there telling me that ‘You got it, raise this kid, don’t baby him too much, make sure you do everything we talked about doing.’”

Hailey Okula’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the unexpected challenges that can arise during what should be a joyous occasion. Her legacy as a devoted nurse, loving wife, and soon-to-be mother will undoubtedly endure through the lives she touched and the impact she made in her community.