A woman, 28, gave birth to her son while she was in comatose, fighting for her life. She was on ventilator for close to 10 weeks after contracting COVID while pregnant.
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Serious Complications
The mum of three was in intensive care and placed on a ventilator when a team of medics from the Liverpool Women's Hospital were brought in to deliver her baby. Joseph was born 11 weeks early and was moved to a neonatal ward.
According to Sophie, her family was told to expect the worst as her condition showed no sign of improving. Sophie said:
Staff at the Royal informed my family that I might not survive the delivery because I was so weak. They allowed Joseph's dad to come in and see me but not my parents due to the risk of Covid.
She got to meet her son the first time via FaceTime but could barely remember the encounter as she was heavily sedated.
I got to hold Joseph for the first time on October 4. They let me see Joseph for the first time in mid-September through FaceTime. But I was heavily sedated and can't remember a thing about that day now.
‘Covid Nearly Killed Me’
Sophie is still in recovery after she contracted pneumonia as a complication of the virus. She said:
I had to learn to walk again because I had been in bed for so long. And I had to learn to eat again after undergoing a tracheotomy. It's been hard and there is a long road ahead.
According to her, she was unable to take the vaccine because of her pregnancy. She is now raising awareness about the severity of the disease and wants as many people as possible to get vaccinated. She said:
Covid nearly killed me and I had no underlying health conditions. I was not vaccinated, but that was because I was pregnant. I am now due to be vaccinated soon and can't wait. People need to take this seriously. I did not doubt Covid existed but did not fully appreciate how devastating it could be.
According to the Guardian, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) estimates that just 15% of pregnant women have had two doses of the vaccine so far. England’s top midwife has urged expectant mums to get the vaccine.
