Mum Loses 12 Pints Of Blood In Childbirth

Mum Loses 12 Pints Of Blood In Childbirth
|

Archant

A mother lost an incredible 12 pints of blood – more than is in an average human body - after giving birth to a whopping 11lb 2oz baby boy.

Rachel London, 29, almost died during her ordeal and had a massive blood transfusion followed by emergency surgery just minutes after giving birth.

She held baby Jacob for a few moments before being rushed to theatre at Ipswich Hospital with a torn cervix and vaginal wall.

Her terrified husband Michael feared she would die after she lost over seven litres of blood, the equivalent of 12.3 pints.

The average woman has eight to 10 pints in her body.

Rachel, who also has a three-year-old daughter, Eloise, told her local paper: "There were times when they didn't know if I would survive because I was losing so much blood.

"Without the nurses and doctors I wouldn't be here today - they were brilliant. I can't praise them enough for everything they did for me.

"I was given a blood transfusion. But I was even losing that blood and in total doctors said I lost seven litres of blood - which is actually more than is in the average human body.

"It was all a bit of a blur because one minute I'm giving birth and the next I'm going through to theatre.

i

My husband thought he was going to have to explain to our three-year-old daughter Eloise that her mummy wasn't going to come back.

i

Rachel was kept in intensive care for two days before undergoing further surgery. She then spent three days recovering on the maternity ward.

Meanwhile, Jacob was suffering his own ordeal when he contracted a vomiting bug which meant he had to stay in hospital under supervision for eight days.

Rachel has now urged people to give blood to save lives all over the country.

She said: "It saved my life and it is so important because giving blood can save so many people.

"I didn't realise the importance of giving blood until this happened to me but now I would urge everyone to give blood."

To find out more about donating blood, click here.