A pregnant teenager who planned to get her Covid jabs after giving birth to her baby girl thought she was going to die when her lungs collapsed after she contracted the virus.
Lucy Smith, 18, was planning to delay getting her Covid jabs, as she was worried about potential side effects for her and her daughter despite medics recommending the vaccine for pregnant women.
But at 36 weeks pregnant, a week after being recommended the jab, she was rushed into the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, having been infected with the virus and suffering a shortness of breath.
Smith’s health deteriorated and medical teams at the hospital were required to perform an emergency caesarean, days after she was admitted, before placing her on a ventilator.
The teenager from Thornaby said it was a “really scary” experience.
“I didn’t know what would happen to me and my baby,” she said.
“I was in the maternity unit for four days before my lungs collapsed. They did an emergency C-section and then put me straight on a ventilator, meaning I didn’t get to see my baby, Billie Rae.
“When I was in ICU I didn’t know where I was, I thought I was going to die.”
After spending four weeks in the hospital’s intensive care unit Lucy started to recover.
She was moved to another ward and reunited with her daughter.
At this point she had only seen a photograph of her baby, and hadn’t even realised she was hers.
“When I got to see her in the delivery suite, I got to hold her for the first time, it was really emotional, I cried,” Lucy said.
The new mum is now back at home with her family and getting stronger every day. And after her horror experience, she is now urging pregnant women to follow their midwife’s advice and get the life-saving jab.
“Get it done,” she said.
“It’s really not worth the risk of not getting it. I nearly died.”
Since being discharged and spending quality time with her daughter, Lucy is planning on booking in to get the lifesaving jabs.
Deepika Meneni, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s clinical director for obstetrics, said the team was “so glad” to hear both Lucy and her beautiful baby girl Billy Rae were doing well and now able to spend important time bonding.
“We would highly recommend that mums-to-be get their Covid-19 vaccine,” she said.
“It’s the best way to keep both them and their babies protected against becoming seriously unwell.”
Meneni said anyone with questions could talk to their midwife, obstetrician or GP.
“We are here to help support you making a decision based on the best available evidence and information."
