Campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of the Parvovirus B19 also known as Slapped Cheek Syndrome This is my story. But it didn’t. The baby had drowned.
I would be grateful if you could take the time to read my own personal story then please like & share in order to save a baby’s life. My name is Dwynwen Davies and for the last 14 years have been working in childcare. I own a nursery and have close contact with the children in my care. As a professional childcare provider, I am aware of the various illnesses that children can pick up and spread ar
ound. I already have a six year old daughter and last year I found out that I was pregnant with what I thought would be my second child, on having the scan, it was revealed that I was in fact expecting twins! To say I was thrilled is an understatement. At 12 weeks during a routine check with my midwife, I mentioned to her that a child in my care had been diagnosed with Slapped Cheek Syndrome. Slapped cheek syndrome (also known as “fifth disease” or erythema infectiosum) is a type of viral infection that is most common in children, although it can affect anyone of any age. Slapped cheek syndrome is caused by a virus called parvovirus B19. Parvovirus B19 is an airborne virus spread in much the same way as the cold or flu viruses. It can be spread through coughs and sneezes that release tiny droplets of contaminated saliva which are then breathed in by another person. There are three high-risk groups in which the parvovirus B19 can cause a much more serious infection and trigger a range of complications. One of the high-risk groups are pregnant women without immunity. Parvovirus B19 infection can increase the risk of a miscarriage because the virus can cause severe anaemia in the unborn child. The overall risk of miscarriage after infection during pregnancy is thought to be less than 5%. She asked if I had been feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms, which I had been for several weeks during my pregnancy, and although she wasn’t overly concerned, she advised me to have a blood test to determine whether I had immunity to the syndrome or not. At 14 weeks the blood test came back showing that I had no immunity to Slapped Cheek Syndrome which meant that the Parvovirus B19 could be passed to my unborn babies. I was told I would have to have weekly scans in my local hospital to detect any fluid around the babies’ stomach which is what happens when an unborn baby develops the Parvovirus B19. At my 17 week scan, sadly fluid was detected in one of the twins. I was transferred to a larger, more specialised hospital where I was given two scenarios – the next 3 weeks would be critical, either the baby would fight the infection or continue to fill up with fluid until eventually the baby’s heart would stop. By 20 weeks, I was given the good news that my baby was showing all the signs of fighting the virus and the fluid was going down. I finally felt at ease, that things were beginning to look up and I even started baby shopping. I continued to have weekly scans and still everything looked as if all was well. Sadly at 24 weeks, on my last appointment with the specialist at the larger hospital, I was given the tragic news that the scan had revealed that the Parvovirus B19 had come back with a vengeance and that one of the babies was now filling up with fluid again. Normally during a single baby pregnancy, at this stage, a blood transfusion would be offered to the mother to try and help the baby fight the virus but because I was expecting twins, this was an option that they advised against because of the high risk to the second baby. This was a waiting game now just waiting for the baby to drown and that they expected the heart to have stopped in the next few days. Scans showed my baby was fighting but the agony continued daily and tragically at 28 weeks I was told that there was no heartbeat. With great difficulty and uncertainty as nobody could say what the outcome would now be on the second twin, I had to carry on with the pregnancy and just hope and pray that my second baby would survive. During this time, I started showing early signs of labour as my body tried to reject my dead baby. Eventually at 35 weeks, I was given a caesarean to deliver my twins. This was a real bag of emotions. What should have been one of the happiest days of my life, was now torn with sadness and joy as I held both my girls in my arms knowing that one of them wasn’t coming home with us. I have started the Martha Aur Appeal in her memory to raise awareness of the dangers of Slapped Cheek Syndrome to pregnant women, as this is where it all starts, as I wouldn’t wish any other parent to go through what I have been through. Slapped Cheek Syndrome is one of the lesser known virus’s and is classed as low risk but as you’ve read from my story, it can actually be one of the most dangerous virus’ for unborn babies and not enough is being done to raise awareness. That is why is need your help. One of the things that a parent can do is, if you know that your child has Slapped Cheek Syndrome, please stop and think of the danger to others if you expose your child knowingly to a pregnant woman, please, please, keep your child at home. Another thing parents can do is to make sure that they inform the nursery/school/etc. and that they then advertise the fact that Slapped Cheek Syndrome is in the nursery/school by putting up posters, sending letters home, etc. My next step in this appeal is to try and get the Local Health Authority and hopefully in the long run, health authorities nationwide, to print leaflets all about the virus and its dangers to pregnant women, I also want midwives when asking routine questions, eg. when asking if you’ve been exposed to measles, chickenpox, etc. to include Slapped Cheek Syndrome in their routine questions, I also want the immunity blood test to be included with all the other routine blood tests which could save a baby’s life. You can help do this as well by sharing my story. The more likes and shares that I get, the more the Local Health Authority might listen. Unfortunately, I cannot change my story, but by telling it to you, it will hopefully change somebody else’s story and save a baby’s life.
27/09/2019
6 years on we are still living with the loss of our beautiful baby girl Martha Aur. Delun Mair is now in her second year at secondary school and Cadi Aur is now in year 1 in primary school.
However, Martha Aur's legacy still lives on. After raising over £10,000, midwives in Wales are now equipped with information for pregnant women about the pavovirus which is linked to slap cheek in children. This will help raise awareness for women who are pregnant, and hopefully stop more families going through the heartbreak we did.
We love and think about you every day Martha Aur.
Slap cheek can kill unborn babies, please share to raise awareness.
🥰🥰🥰🥰
6 blynedd ymlaen rydym yn dal i fyw gyda cholli ein merch fach brydferth Martha Aur. Mae Delun Mair bellach yn ei hail flwyddyn yn yr ysgol uwchradd ac mae Cadi Aur bellach ym mlwyddyn 1 yn yr ysgol gynradd.
Fodd bynnag, mae etifeddiaeth Martha Aur yn dal i fyw. Ar ôl codi dros £10,000, mae bydwragedd yng Nghymru bellach gyda gwybodaeth i ferched beichiog am y pavovirus sydd wedi'i gysylltu â slap cheek mewn plant. Bydd hyn yn helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth ar gyfer menywod sy'n feichiog, a gobeithio atal mwy o deuluoedd rhag mynd trwy'r torcalon a wnaethom.
Rydyn ni'n caru ac yn meddwl amdano ti bob dydd Martha Aur.
Gall slap cheek lladd babanod yn y groth, rhannwch os gwelwch yn dda i godi ymwybyddiaeth.
25/05/2018
Noson emesienol iawn yn Gaerdydd neithwr yn gweld sut mae a***n Apêl Martha Aûr yn helpi newyd bywydau teuluoedd. Seren bach fi ⭐
A very emotional night in Cardiff last night to see how the money from the Martha Aûr Appeal is helping change families lives. My little star ⭐
03/04/2017
Please share this link around as much of the UK as possible.
If you are pregnant or know someone that is, please try to make sure you or they are not exposed to it. Read Dwynwen Davies's own tragic personal experience on this page of what can happen to a pregnant woman who's been exposed to 'slapped cheek syndrome'. Thank you 😢
Ar ddydd Sul, Mawrth 12fed byddaf yh rhedeg Hanner Marathon Llanelli i godi a***n i Apel Martha Aur / On Sunday, March 12th I'm running the Llanelli Half Marathon to raise money for my Martha Aur Appeal!
If you are willing to support me, please visit my page at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dwynwen-davies or contact me at Y Dyfodol on 01570 493601.
Pob diolch / Thank you
Dwynwen xx
Please help us reach our target by making a donation to this worthy appeal. Thank you.
Os gwelwch yn dda helpwch ni i gyrraedd ein targed drwy neud cyfraniad i'r apel teilwng yma. Diolch yn fawr.
Ar ddydd Sul, Mawrth 12fed byddaf yh rhedeg Hanner Marathon Llanelli i godi a***n i Apel Martha Aur / On Sunday, March 12th I'm running the Llanelli Half Marathon to raise money for my Martha Aur Appeal! If you are willing to support me, please visit my page on www.JustGiving.com or contact me at Y Dyfodol on 01570 493601.
Pob diolch
Dwynwen xx
NOTE: Please use the link on the post above as this will take you straight to my page. Thank you
On Sunday, March 12th, 2017 I will be running Llanelli’s Half Marathon to raise much needed funds for the Martha Aur Appeal.
During Autumn 2013 I lost one of my unborn twins, Martha Aur due to Parvovirus B19, commonly known as Slapped Cheek, which I contracted from a child at the nursery I own and manage.
At the time, I was not aware of the danger that slapped cheek posed to pregnant women and their unborn babies: neither were many medical specialists who I turned to for advice and guidance at that time. This is the reason why the Martha Aur Appeal was launched.
Since November 2013 I have been campaigning and raising awareness about this nasty virus and the threat it poses to unborn babies. A total of £10,000 has already been raised locally for the Martha Aur Appeal, through events and donations from a very supportive community in South Ceredigion. I have ensured that public awareness of Parvovirus B19 has been raised but there is more work to be done: one aim is to improve early detection by specialists and to fund a research programme into Parvovirus B19 which will be managed by the University of South Wales. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
On a positive note, Martha’s twin sister, Cadi Aur, is a healthy, flourishing three-year old who fills our lives with love and joy.
It was too little, too late for Martha Aur: please support my mission to ensure that no other women and families have to endure what happened to me.
Dwynwen
14/05/2015
THIS MONDAY, 18th MAY at 22:40 on BBC One Wales watch the repeat of episode 3 which follows Dwynwen Davies' story and heartbreaking birth of her twin girls (Episode 3 - THE COUNTRY MIDWIVES: Carmarthenshire community midwives Annwen and Sian are caring for a mum who is facing the sadness of loss in pregnancy. Extreme morning sickness causes dangerous dehydration in another mum-to-be).
Watch it on BBC iPlayer after the episode has been screened by following the link below: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b03xd2b6
Should never have been published and distributed in the first place
Sickness advice leaflet to be pulled
A controversial leaflet advising parents when to keep sick children home from school across south Wales is to be withdrawn.
19/10/2014
Cael hwyl yn noswaith codi a***n i Apel Martha Aur
Having fun at the fundraising night for the Martha Aur Appeal
19/10/2014
Hoffwn diolch o waelod calon i bawb am eich cefnogaeth i Noson Martha Aur Appeal nos Wener. Diolch i chi gyd am eich rhoddion haelus dros ben, naill ai drwy rhodd a***nnol, eitemau i'r Arwerthiant, gwobrau raffl neu prynu. Codwyd £8,000 ar y noswaith ac mae rhoddion a***nnol yn dal i ddod mewn. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi gyd x
We would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for your support for Martha Aur's Night last Friday. Thank you all for your generous donations either by donating money, items for the Auction, raffle prizes or buying. We raised £8,000 on the night and money donations are still coming in. Thank you all very much x
27/09/2019
25/05/2018
03/04/2017
25/02/2017
23/02/2017
14/05/2015
02/12/2014
19/10/2014