Baby’s Stroke in the Womb Saved by Quick-Thinking Midwife
Nikki Legg, 29, from Waterlooville, had never heard of a baby having a stroke in the womb—until it happened to her. Thanks to the sharp instincts of her diabetic midwife, Ann Going, Nikki’s baby was saved against the odds.
Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy Risks
Nikki has lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood. When she and her husband decided to try for a baby, she started close care with portsmouth/" title="Portsmouth" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Portsmouth Hospitals’ diabetic midwife Ann Going. Ann kept a close eye on Nikki’s blood sugar levels before and during conception.
“I was over the moon to finally start trying after three months, and even more thrilled to find out I was pregnant less than a month later,” said Nikki, a dental nurse.
Signs Something Was Wrong at 37 Weeks
Throughout her pregnancy, Ann monitored Nikki regularly. Because Nikki’s baby was growing faster than usual, she had monthly scans. But at 37 weeks—just two days after a clear scan—Nikki noticed her baby wasn’t moving.
Panicked, Nikki rushed to QA Hospital for an emergency scan. Spotting Nikki in the waiting room, Ann immediately asked what was wrong. Although Ann started her day’s work, she kept checking on Nikki.
Midwife’s Quick Action Saves Baby
During the scan with another midwife, Ann noticed the baby’s worrying lack of movement. “They tried changing my position to get the baby moving, but nothing worked,” Nikki recalled.
Thanks to Ann’s vigilance and urgent action, Nikki’s baby received the care needed to survive a rare and terrifying stroke in the womb—a condition most parents never hear about.
