'MIRACLE' baby Martha found herself at the centre of a 'rollercoaster' birth which saw 21 medics drafted in to deliver the newborn while simultaneously saving her mother's life.

New parents Ben and Laura Damulira, from Woodley, could have never foreseen the 'dramatic' birth they faced when Laura was rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) last month.

The 29-year-old mum-to-be was more than a week overdue when she was rushed in as an emergency - all while the coronavirus pandemic was at its peak.

Not only was she rushed in for an emergency caesarean but doctors also found out Laura had life-threatening, undetected heart issues.

She said: "It has been a total rollercoaster which started when I rang 111 because I was nine days overdue and had developed swollen ankles which I was worried could be deep vein thrombosis.

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"I was advised to go to emergency department and next thing I knew I had been admitted and told I had serious heart problems which was a complete shock."

Doctors quickly diagnosed Laura with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy which is a weakness of the heart muscle that develops during the final month of pregnancy through to five months after delivery.

She added: "The next day doctors said they needed to perform an emergency caesarean and that consultants from the Brompton were coming over with a special heart by- pass machine that apparently only about five other hospitals have.

“They gave me a general anaesthetic and the next thing I remember is waking up in ICU at Harefield Hospital.”

The team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital were joined by medics from London's Brompton Hospital to form a 21-strong force of life-saving consultants, anaesthetists and other health professionals.

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They worked for several hours to safely deliver baby Martha as well as fight to maintain Laura's heart function to keep her alive through the birth.

At the end of the marathon procedure, Laura was rushed to Harefield Hospital where she spent nearly two weeks in intensive care.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was five days before the new mum was able to set eyes on her newborn baby thanks to a relaxing of strict rules so husband Ben could take Martha in to meet her mum.

Laura was transferred back to the RBH late June for days of further tests and observation and it was only when she was finally allowed to go home to Woodley on Thursday, May 29, that she was properly reunited with baby Martha.

During all the drama, Martha - who weighed in at a healthy 8lb 9oz, was being cared for at the RBH's special baby care unit.

Laura said: "It was such a big shock finding out about my heart problems, especially when I was so heavily pregnant.

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"Now I really want to raise awareness of this - Peripartum Cardiomyopathy - which is a condition that comes on during pregnancy, but the 3rd trimester symptoms disguise the fact there’s anything wrong.

"The care I’ve had from all the doctors and nurses has been exceptional, especially when you realise just how amazingly rushed they are dealing with coronavirus.

"Martha is doing so well - it’s such a relief that she’s not been affected by all the drama."

RBH obstetrician Jill Ablett said: “It’s great to have such a positive outcome to what was a very serious and sudden situation. We had to do a lot of work to set up the theatre for all the medics and machinery we needed to keep Laura and her unborn baby safe.

“This is a fantastic example of partnership working, not just within teams at our Trust, but from other hospitals too.

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"We’re all so pleased there’s been this happy ending and Laura has gone home to enjoy family life with her new baby."