CAPITAL DJ Aimee Vivian was rushed to hospital with deadly sepsis from breastfeeding her baby after her GP missed her symptoms.
Now, the radio host, 34, is determined to speak out about her ordeal and encourage other women to get informed.
Aimee revealed she was hospitalised after developing sepsis[/caption]
Aimee Vivian was terrified that she might die during her hospital stay[/caption]
Aimee revealed she was hospitalised in June after developing sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s overwhelming response to an infection.
The new mum explained that she had been experiencing mastitis – where your breast becomes swollen, hot and painful which is most common in breastfeeding women.
Now, back home in Buckinghamshire with her daughter Charli, Aimee wants to raise awareness of the causes of mastitis and the sepsis infection which left her fearing for her life.
I remember looking at a hospital midwife and saying ‘please don’t let me die tonight’.
Aimee told The Mirror: “I remember looking at a hospital midwife and saying ‘please don’t let me die tonight.
“I really thought I wasn’t going to make it. I still can’t believe something so simple, which is supposed to provide life, almost ended mine.”
Speaking at Sepsis Awareness Month, she said: “Motherhood is an amazing journey but it can be hard.
“We need to talk about mastitis, learn the symptoms and what it can lead to. It’s time to support each other.“
Charli is Aimee’s first baby with her husband Steve, who remains out of the spotlight.
She has been part of the team on Capital FM for the past 10 years, currently hosting alongside Sonny Jay.
She is due back on air in October following her maternity leave, had Charli by planned caesarean section in June.
She said: “My pregnancy was pretty straightforward – I developed a whole new appreciation of what a woman’s body could do!
“The Caesarian was a really positive experience too with wonderful midwives – I was only in hospital overnight.”
However, Aimee’s body was producing an abundance of breast milk.
She said: “Everyone was telling me it was brilliant and I was feeling quite good about it.
What is Mastitis?
Mastitis is a condition which causes a woman’s breast tissue to become inflamed and painful.
It’s most common in breastfeeding mums, in the first three months after giving birth.
In breastfeeding women, it’s often caused by a build-up of milk – because the baby is having problems latching on.
Symptoms include:
- A red, swollen area which feels hot and painful to touch
- A breast lump or area of hardness
- A burning pain which is either continuous or only occurs during breastfeeding
- Nipple discharge – which may be white or contain streaks of blood
- Flu-like symptoms – including aches, a fever, chills and tiredness.
If you have these symptoms, speak to your GP straight away.
Sepsis is a serious complication of an infection, which can lead to multiple organ failure and even death if left untreated.
Once we got home, though, things became difficult
“Once we got home, though, things became difficult.”
Soon, her breasts became painfully engorged and medical staff offered advice on how to tackle it, but nothing seemed to help.
After three weeks, Aimee began to feel unwell – suffering with headaches and chills.
She explained: “I was tired too, but I was a new mum and just persevered.
“After a couple of days I still didn’t feel right, though. I’d read online about mastitis and knew I had some of the symptoms.”
Aimee made an appointment to see a GP who thought it was just an oversupply of milk.
Aimee explained: “She was adamant it was an oversupply of milk and that putting Charli on the breast would help.
“But I couldn’t. I felt ashamed, guilty. “I tried to advocate for myself but it was hard. I left the surgery doubting myself.”
The pain was excruciating and it was clear the milk was infected – there was puss in it.
But Aimee’s health got worse very quickly, she said: “I woke up early one Sunday morning to feed Charli and I was so cold my whole body was shaking.
“My head hurt so much I could barely lift it. Then I tried to pump some milk.
“The pain was excruciating and it was clear the milk was infected – there was puss in it.”
A scared Aimee then posted for help on her Instagram account and got a response from a local midwife who told her to go to hospital.
At hospital, Aimee was admitted and given intravenous antibiotics as doctors told her she had a ‘serious infection’ later confirmed as sepsis.
Aimee revealed that it was a horrible ordeal and that she was so upset at not being able to be with her new-born baby.
She explained: “The fear of dying when you hear sepsis is very real. I remember Steve and Charli had been to visit and when they’d gone I thought ‘what if I never see him or her again?’”
She was allowed home after four days in hospital but her recovery was slow.
I keep asking myself how my breast milk – the thing that is advocated so hard for – could have nearly killed me?
She also consulted a lactation expert to help stop her body producing milk as she cannot risk a mastitis infection again.
She said: “I keep asking myself how my breast milk – the thing that is advocated so hard for – could have nearly killed me?
“I don’t say that to scare people because breastfeeding is great but I wish I’d have known the symptoms of mastitis sooner;
“I could have gone to the doctor sooner, trusted my instincts, taken those antibiotics earlier.”
Aimee is now determined to speak out about her ordeal and encourage other women to get informed.
She said: “I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I have so trust your gut – you know your body better than anyone and don’t be afraid to speak up.”
Aimee is now looking forward to the future and and is excited for the next chapter with her family.
She said: “They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Now I know I am going to be ok. I am excited for the next chapter.”
Aimee is determined to help other women by speaking out about her ordeal[/caption]