Sarah Hiscock, a 26-year-old mother from Caerphilly, was 36 weeks pregnant with her third child when she woke on May 13 with diarrhoea and vomiting. Initially dismissing it as a stomach bug, her condition deteriorated rapidly. By the next day, she could not leave the house, and a friend had to take her older children to school.
Strange Symptoms Prompt a Hospital Visit
Despite the apparent stomach bug, Sarah knew something was wrong. Her feet would become freezing cold, her teeth would chatter, and she would drift off before waking again feeling normal. Trusting her instincts, she called the pregnancy assessment unit. Initially told it was likely a stomach bug, she was asked to come in immediately after mentioning her cold feet.
While explaining her symptoms to a doctor, Sarah experienced what she thought was falling asleep but was actually a seizure. Tests later revealed she had sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection that can rapidly lead to septic shock if untreated.
Rapid Response and Delivery
Doctors acted swiftly, starting antibiotics and inducing labour. Sarah’s daughter, Lilly-Rose, was delivered the next morning. As a precaution, Lilly-Rose also received blood tests and antibiotics in case the infection had passed to her.
In the early hours of the following day, Sarah began hallucinating, seeing her deceased grandmother. A nurse stayed with her through the night, providing comfort and support. Sarah spent six days in hospital continuing antibiotic treatment.
Trust Your Instincts
Reflecting on her experience, Sarah said: “If something doesn’t feel right trust your instincts and get checked. I’m so grateful to have my daughter and to the staff who kept us both safe.” She considers herself lucky that the doctor recognised sepsis quickly.
Recognising Sepsis Symptoms
The NHS outlines key symptoms of sepsis in adults: confusion or slurred speech, uncontrollable shivering, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, blue/pale/grey/blotchy skin (easier to see on palms or soles in darker skin), high or low temperature (high temperature less common in older adults), and not urinating all day or very little in 18 hours.
In babies and young children, symptoms include difficulty breathing or breathing very fast, seizures, high or low temperature, blue/grey/pale/blotchy skin, a rash that does not fade when pressed (rare but may indicate meningitis), unusual sleepiness, not urinating in 12 hours (under 5 years) or all day (over 5 years), and lack of interest in feeding or persistent vomiting.
