A MOTHER is lucky to be alive after joy at the birth of her daughter soon turned into “terrifying” blood loss that left her needing six blood transfusions.

Sarah Palmer, of Bow Street, gave birth to little Jaqueline Jean Hebbard on 30 April.

Sarah, who works for Aberystwyth University at IBERS, and her partner Lee Hebbard took their new bundle of joy home the following day.

Less than a week later, however, Sarah suffered complications from the birth and began haemorrhaging.

She was rushed back to Bronglais Hospital.

“It was absolutely terrifying,” Sarah­ told the Cambrian News. “I spent five nights in the hospital and it’s estimated I lost my entire bodyweight in blood.

“I needed six blood transfusions.”

After weeks of recovery, Sarah, along with her partner and baby, returned to Bronglais Maternity Ward on Sunday to thank staff for their “exceptional care”.

“I was very, very lucky to have had such wonderful care,” she said.

“The staff have been exceptional.

“We really wanted to go back and thank them and have brought a few presents.”

Sarah, originally from Australia, moved to Ceredigion in 2014 to start work at IBERS after first moving to the UK in 2006.

She began donating blood at 15 and has called for others to donate to the Welsh Blood Service to help out.

“The Welsh Blood Service is always desperate for donations,” she said.

“My brother has never given blood because of his fear of needles, but after this even he has told me he is going to put that fear aside.”

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