In March 2019, Jemma welcomed her second baby, Jovie, via a planned C-section. Everything seemed to go smoothly, and after a few days, they were discharged home.

During a routine post-birth visit, the midwife noticed concerns about Jemma’s health. She felt unwell but brushed it off - her focus was on her newborn and her energetic three-year-old, Jorge. After a call to maternity triage, she was checked over at the hospital and sent home.

A few days later, at nearly three weeks postpartum, the midwife visited again. Baby Jovie was doing well, but Jemma wasn’t. She had a high temperature, raised blood pressure, an increased heart rate, and severe lower abdominal pain. Assuming it was just post-C-section discomfort and exhaustion, she hadn’t realised how serious it was. The midwife, however, knew something wasn’t right and immediately arranged for her to be admitted.

Once in hospital, tests confirmed that what started as cellulitis had developed into sepsis. Her husband, James, was warned to "prepare for the worst" - a terrifying moment he kept from Jemma until much later. She was placed on an IV of strong antibiotics and monitored closely for five days. Thankfully, she responded to treatment, but she spent a full week in hospital before she was well enough to return home.

Jemma is incredibly grateful to the midwife who insisted she get help, and to the hospital team that treated her. Looking back, she urges all new mums to listen to their bodies. If you feel unwell, don’t dismiss it. If something doesn’t seem right, speak up. And if you’re a friend or family member who notices unusual symptoms, don’t hesitate to say something.

Mums pour everything into caring for their newborns - but if mum isn’t well, she can’t do that to the best of her ability. Sepsis can be life-threatening, but with quick action, it can be treated. If you suspect sepsis, just ask "could it be sepsis?"