A RARE pregnancy condition almost claimed the lives of a Whitchurch mother and her daughter as she gave birth.
Emma Wilkes, from Wheatsheaf Drive, says she and her baby daughter, Taylor, are lucky to be alive after her heart stopped while undergoing a caesarean section at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on July 24.
“I had been suffering from bleeding complications during the pregnancy,” Mrs Wilkes, 30, said. “So I went into hospital at 33-weeks and when treatment for the condition was unsuccessful, doctors decided to do an emergency caesarean”
It was during the procedure that the mother of four was struck down by an amniotic fluid embolism - a rare disorder, which affects around one in 8,000 pregnancies. It happens when the amniotic fluid that protects and nourishes the foetus in the womb enters the mother’s bloodstream causing an allergic reaction.
Once doctors had safely delivered Taylor, they battled for 20 minutes to resuscitate Mrs Wilkes. The condition also causes severe haemorrhaging and she received 19 units of blood.
“I knew nothing of what was going on, but my husband was outside and they told him that he needed to get in contact with my mother because things weren’t looking good - it must have been awful for him.”
As soon as she was stabilised, doctors treated the embolism and Mrs Wilkes was returned to the intensive care ward and reunited with Taylor.
“The staff at the hospital were fantastic. They stayed on after their shifts had ended to take care of me and make sure I was OK. I can’t thank them enough.
“The two surgeons, Mr Bernie and Mr Tapp were amazing and I owe them my life,” she added.
Around 80 per cent of those affected by the disorder don’t survive and many others suffer permanent brain damage. Thankfully Mrs Wilkes made a full recovery and left hospital the following Thursday.
But Taylor wasn’t quite out of the woods. Being seven weeks premature, she suffered from a lung disease, which meant she couldn’t leave hospital until last week.
“We will still have to go for check-ups, but Taylor and myself are very pleased to be home and doing well.”
It was also a very traumatic time for Mrs Wilkes’ three other children, Lauren, nine, Harriet, seven and Georgia, three.
“It was hard for them all, but they are pleased to have their little sister and mum home with them.
“I feel very lucky and fortunate to be alive,” she added.