Chloe Jacobs woke up to a terrifying morning she’ll never forget. At 39 years old and 34 weeks pregnant, Chloe experienced a placental abruption, a condition where the placenta detaches from the womb, leading to unimaginable blood loss. What began as dizziness at 1:30 am turned into a harrowing emergency within hours.
After waking up to heavy bleeding, her fiancé Chris Smallwood dialled 999, and Chloe was quickly rushed to St Mary’s hospital on the Isle of Wight. Their baby girl, Pixi, was delivered via emergency C-section at 4:51 am, but not without further complications. Chloe lost over eight litres of blood and was put into an induced coma to manage the bleeding, receiving numerous blood transfusions.
Chris witnessed an emotional rollercoaster, from seeing Pixi safely delivered and taken to a special care baby unit to anxiously waiting for updates during Chloe’s surgery. At one point, he was even advised to call Chloe’s mum, indicating the severity of the situation. Thankfully, the medical team managed to stop the bleeding, and Chloe began to recover faster than expected.
Now back home with baby Pixi, Chloe reflects on the life-threatening ordeal with immense gratitude for the NHS, acknowledging how lucky they were to receive such life-saving care. Both mother and daughter are thriving, and Chris feels incredibly fortunate for his healthy, strong family. “It’s amazing she’s here and so well,” he shared, relieved beyond words.
Chloe’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of swift medical intervention and the courage of both families and healthcare professionals in the face of such emergencies. Give your loved ones an extra hug today, and share Chloe’s story of survival and resilience.