A MUM has claimed her baby boy saved her life after doctors discovered a fast-growing brain tumour – just weeks after she had given birth.
Abi Naylor started to experience excruciating migraines a week after the arrival of her son Roman in October.
Abi Naylor fell pregnant last year after previously having suffered a miscarriageSWNS
SWNSShe gave birth to Roman in October but a week later started to suffer with migraines and says she felt dehydrated[/caption]
SWNSThe mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which she said medics never would have discovered if she hadn’t been pregnant. Abi is pictured above with little Roman and husband Ross[/caption]
The 28-year-old said she also started to feel really dehyrated.
After a few days, she could barely walk or see, prompting her husband Ross, also 28, to take her to the emergency department.
The mum, from Congleton, Cheshire said at first, doctors thought she had been having a reaction to the epidural she’d had during labour.
However, the family pushed for more tests and it was revealed that Abi had a brain tumour.
A CT scan found a 7cm tumour and two days later, she was transferred to Salford Royal Hospital for an emergency brain surgery.
After a four-hour long procedure and an MRI scan, doctors managed to remove all traces of the mass.
Ross said: “Doctors couldn’t believe she had such an aggressive, fast-growing tumour for her age.
“They didn’t know if it was cancerous, or what they would find when they operated.
“It was a very scary time, especially just after the arrival of Roman.”
Abi, a workplace mentor, said doctors advised her that the stress of labour and her hormones had excelled the growth of the tumour.
“If it weren’t for being pregnant, it may have grown for longer and caused more damage.
“My little boy literally saved my life.”
The symptoms of a brain tumour you must know
The NHS states that symptoms of a brain tumour vary depending on the exact part of the brain that is affected.
Guidance states that the key symptoms are:
headaches
seizures (fits)
persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness
mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality
progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
vision or speech problems
Sometimes you may not have any symptoms to begin with, or they may develop very slowly over time, guidance states.
You should see a GP if you have these types of symptoms, especially if you have a headache that feels different to your usual ones.
If in doubt, see your GP. In the event of an emergency always call 999 or visit your nearest A&E department.
The couple discovered Abi had fallen pregnant in February 2022.
Abi and Ross had previously tried for a baby, but in 2021, Abi sadly discovered she had miscarried and she had to deliver their stillborn baby when she was just 14 weeks along.
“We were heartbroken and needed some time to heal before trying again.
“But we tried to enter the new year with a positive mindset,” Abi said.
When Abi fell pregnant again the couple were overjoyed and as part of their wedding, they also had a gender reveal.
Ross, a civil servant, said: “It was a very anxious time, but Abi was closely monitored throughout the pregnancy.
“The wedding and gender reveal was perfect – we hoped we’d left the difficult year behind us.”
Abi’s pregnancy had been going smoothly until she suddenly collapsed at 37 weeks along.
She was rushed to Macclesfield Hospital, Cheshire, but medics couldn’t find a cause.
She said: “Doctors are very reluctant to scan heavily pregnant women.
“It was left unexplained, but we thought it was just one of those freak things because I felt fine afterwards.”
After giving birth to Roman and being diagnosed with a brain tumour, Abi will now have to continue to go for checkups.
‘LITTLE HERO’
She is now enjoying time with her little boy whilst recovering from surgery.
Abi said: “Looking back, I have had headaches on and off over the years but thought nothing of it.
“I always put them down to things like not drinking enough water, or my period.
“If anything doesn’t feel right, definitely go to a doctor and get it checked out.
Ross added said: “We pushed for scans so it’s important you don’t get fobbed off.
”I dread to think what would have happened if Roman hadn’t come along. He’s a little hero.
“She’s still on the road to recovery, but she’s doing amazingly well.”