What condition should the EMT suspect in a woman who experiences sudden difficulty breathing three days post-delivery, accompanied by decreased consciousness and tachycardia?

The scenario describes a woman who experiences sudden difficulty breathing, decreased consciousness, and tachycardia three days after delivery. These symptoms strongly suggest the possibility of a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, typically caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or other parts of the body.

Pulmonary embolism is particularly relevant in the postpartum period due to increased risk factors such as hypercoagulability, immobility following delivery, and potential injury to blood vessels during labor. The sudden onset of difficulty breathing, combined with altered mental status (decreased consciousness), indicates a significant and urgent medical condition that warrants immediate attention. Tachycardia accompanies these symptoms as the body's compensatory response to reduced oxygen levels and increased demand due to the potential strain on the heart.

The other conditions listed do not align as closely with this combination of symptoms. For instance, intrauterine bleeding would typically present differently and likely before delivery rather than after. Acute pulmonary edema is characterized by fluid in the lungs usually due to heart failure, and while it can present with similar respiratory symptoms, it would more likely have a slower onset or be related to pre-existing heart conditions.