Rosie had a healthy, low-risk pregnancy and was looking forward to welcoming her first child to the world. However severe complications following the birth of her little girl, Gabby, left her fighting for her life.
“I was admitted to ICU due to a very rare complication which led to my bowel perforating a few days postpartum. This required emergency surgery and I was later taken to ICU, due to the surgery itself and the complexities of my care needs after giving birth.
“Southmead Hospital looked after me incredibly well and provided life-saving treatment, but the whole experience profoundly affected me, both physically and mentally.”
Rosie was referred to the Critical Care Follow-up Clinic—a pilot project funded by donations — that supports patients’ emotional and physical recovery after critical illness.
“The service offered a space to talk about what happened and understand why. I had some questions about my future health which the team was able to answer. The psychologist acknowledged the traumatic experience I’d been through and provided the practical and emotional support I needed to return home. Now, I’m happy, healthy and looking forward to the future with my young family.”
