Mum urges pregnant women to get vaccinated after own experience
Date of release: 17 January 2025
A Wolverhampton mum whose baby was seriously ill after contracting a common winter virus has urged other soon-to-be mothers to get vaccinated.
Alice Reynolds with her son Chris
Alice Reynolds, 35, is using her experience to encourage expectant mothers to take advantage of the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine.
Her two-year-old son Chris contracted RSV twice as a baby – the first time when he was just 11-weeks-old.
When Chris contracted RSV for the second time aged one, he was admitted to New Cross hospital, where he was based on an isolated Paediatric Ward.
Alice, a Trade Union Regional Officer from Codsall, South Staffordshire, said: “Chris's breathing just wasn't right, and you could see his rib cage sucking in and a bulging in his neck. He was also simply exhausted. I was worried that he would suffer from not being able to breathe and get some sort of injury. Luckily, he had his oxygen levels monitored consistently as well as having a nebuliser to open his airways.”
The family were able to go home after two nights with an inhaler and contact details if they needed to go back to the ward.
She said it was a terrifying experience and has now had the vaccine in her second pregnancy.
Alice, a Trade Union Regional Officer from Codsall, South Staffordshire, said: “Chris contracted RSV twice as a baby, once at just 11 weeks old and again when he turned one.
“He was hospitalised for three days and placed on a specialised RSV ward.
“Seeing your child struggle to breathe is absolutely terrifying, an experience no parent should have to go through, but the doctors and nurses were amazing, and I couldn’t fault them.”
Alice is now 30 weeks pregnant with her second child. She was informed about the RSV vaccine during her first midwife appointment and at 28 weeks, she received the vaccine and took the opportunity to protect herself and her baby.
She said: “Back in 2022, when Chris was born, the RSV vaccine wasn’t available.
“Knowing there’s now an extra layer of protection for my baby it gives me peace of mind, especially during the winter months.”
Alice also believes that mums-to-be should consider the vaccine and said to speak to their midwife if they have any concerns.
She said: “The midwives are a huge help, you can ask them any questions and raise any concerns that you may have, they only provide options that are in your baby’s best interest.
“My friends and family raised concerns about the vaccine, questioning whether it can be trusted due to it being such a new vaccine but seeing the affects of RSV first hand I know how scary it can be.
“When you have been through something like that with your child, you think about it differently.
“I wanted to avoid hospitalisation and protect my child in their most vulnerable first months, that’s why I chose to have it when offered.”
Alice hopes her experience will help other pregnant women to explore their vaccination options.
She added: “I just want more parents to know that this vaccine is out there, it’s something I wish I’d had when Chris was born.”
ENDS
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
