Donna Davies

On what I thought would be the happiest day of my life turned out to be the most scary experience I have ever been through, after a rather easy pregnancy followed by a very quick 4.5 hour labour ( although very painful) I gave birth to my first son in February 2021. All was well until I was discharged 5 hours later. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth)

I was sick outside the hospital and had a racing pulse and generally didn’t feel well…. thinking it was just the result of giving birth and taking home a newborn baby I thought nothing of it. Within 2 hours, my pulse was racing even more I along with hot flushes and feeling sick, I drove myself back to hospital, leaving my partner and newborn son at home. Within a few hours of being in hospital, out of nowhere my temperature shot up and I felt as though I was going to have a heart attack my heart was beating so fast. I was put onto a IV drip and given antibiotics, fluids and paracetamol. Next thing I knew I was surrounded by around 15 doctors and 2 midwives holding my hand.

I could tell this was serious and my life was on the line. I was then allocated one to one care for my first week of recovery. After spending 2 weeks in hospital, I was finally able to go home to my son and family (due to the covid pandemic I was not able to have any visitors, so it was very difficult to go through all that without being able to see my family).

I was sent home with antibiotics, injections and blood pressure medication. Little did I know I was not out of the woods yet. I suffered from serious panic attacks and was unable to look after my son, I struggled to bond with him after being separated almost from birth. Mentally I could not cope. I was unable to sleep and struggled to even see anyone even my own family. It was like nothing I had experienced before. I knew I had to seek professional help. After 2 weeks I was given medication to help with the anxiety attacks, which kicked in after a week or so. Doctors confirmed I had suffered with PTSD after not just trauma from giving birth but from a near death experience.  I can’t thank the staff at the hospital enough for saving my life, although those memories still haunt me. I now love being a mum and finally feel like I can enjoy family life.