Sarah's Sepsis Story
17th July 2026
Sarah from Caerphilly was 26 years old and 36 weeks pregnant with her third child.
Throughout her pregnancy, Sarah had been dealing with repeated urine infections. She had experienced the same thing in her two previous pregnancies, so although it wasn’t pleasant, she wasn’t overly worried. Apart from that, she was fit, healthy, and looking forward to welcoming her baby.
On 13 May, Sarah woke up feeling unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting. By the next day, she felt so poorly that she couldn’t leave the house. A friend had to come and collect her two children and take them to school.
Something else didn’t feel right. Sarah’s feet would suddenly become freezing cold, so cold that her teeth would chatter. She would then fall asleep for a short time and wake up feeling slightly better. The vomiting and diarrhoea continued, and her partner encouraged her to phone the pregnancy assessment unit. At first, she was told it was probably a stomach bug. When Sarah mentioned how cold her feet were becoming, she was told to come into hospital straight away.
At the hospital, they took blood tests and a urine sample. Sarah explained to the doctor that she had been unwell for two days and described the strange episodes with her feet. While she was speaking, it started happening again.
“I think it’s happening now,” she said.
The next thing she remembers, doctors were calling it an emergency. What Sarah thought were moments of falling asleep were actually seizures. She had never experienced anything like it before and felt scared.
Further tests were carried out, and the results showed that Sarah had sepsis. Doctors explained they needed to act quickly and that her baby needed to be delivered as soon as possible. Sarah was started on antibiotics through a drip, and labour was induced.
At 10am the next morning, Sarah’s daughter, Lilly‑Rose, was born. As a precaution, Lilly‑Rose also had blood tests and antibiotics in case the infection had passed to her.
In the early hours of the following morning, Sarah began having hallucinations. She saw her nan, who had passed away. When she told the nurse, the nurse stayed with her throughout the night, helping her feel safe and supported.
Sarah remained in hospital for six days, continuing treatment with antibiotics.
Lilly-Rose is turning twelve soon. Looking back, Sarah knows how lucky she was. The doctor who recognised sepsis acted fast, and the care she received made all the difference.
“If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and get checked,” she says. “I’m so grateful to have my daughter and to the staff who kept us both safe.”
Sepsis can be life-threatening, but with quick action, it can be treated. Learn the symptoms. If you suspect sepsis, just ask "could it be sepsis?"