Heartbroken mum warns of killer mistake to never make with newborn babies after daughter dies from common infection
'TRAUMATISING' Heartbroken mum warns of killer mistake to never make with newborn babies after daughter dies from common infection
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A HEARTBROKEN mum is warning others of a common mistake made with newborns after losing her daughter to a deadly infection.
Hailey Riches, 25, knew there was something wrong with Violet Constantinou after she refused to feed and had yellow skin.
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At eight days old, it was discovered that Violet had neonatal herpes
Credit: SWNS
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Doctors noticed the newborn was having acute liver failure so was made highest priority for a liver transplant
Credit: SWNS
She was advised to take Violet to hospital as she "started getting worse".
At eight days old it was discovered from a series of tests she had contracted neonatal herpes (HSV-1) - a serious infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Violet was immediately given anti-viral medication, but her condition quickly deteriorated, and she began to experience seizures.
She was consequently taken to Southampton Hospital where she was placed in intensive care.
Doctors noticed the newborn was having acute liver failure and despite being put on highest priority in the UK for a liver transplant she tragically died at one month old while still waiting.
They told mum Hailey and dad Dimitri Constantinou, 30, they would never know where the herpes came from.
Hailey and her fiancé have vowed to spread awareness for people with cold sores, or those prone to the virus, to keep away from newborn babies.
Hailey said: "I do see it online many times people saying 'but why can't we kiss a baby?' when it is not their baby - it frustrates me because of having gone through this situation.
"This is why you have to be slightly protective and be aware. If you have got a cold sore don't go near a baby because it is deadly and can kill them.
"This is not to scare new mums or pregnant women. It is to say if you are not feeling right in yourself and if the baby is not feeling right then to be persistent and get it checked."
I kissed someone for the first time in a year and was left in a devastating state
Hailey added: "I don't have genital herpes, none of my family or myself had a cold sore outbreak. They said it is most likely from an outsource but they are not sure who.
"Anyone can spread the virus without even knowing. Even if you have got no symptoms you might still pass it on."
From a normal pregnancy to critical ordeal
Hailey Riches who works as a specialty coordinator for NHS said she had a "normal" pregnancy and gave birth to daughter Violet via an emergency caesarean on March 22, 2023.
Despite the newborn seeming "fine and well", once the family returned home, mum Hailey noticed that Violet started to feed less, looking fatigued and had a yellow skin.
A health visitor advised Hailey to take her to Worthing Hospital - where she was checked with a jaundice machine.
The newborn was sent home but everything "started to get worse", explained Hailey.
At eight days old, Violet was still having troubles feeding, so Hailey took her back into hospital, where a nurse discovered she had a high temperature.
At that point mum Hailey was admitted with sepsis.
This led to blood checks and a lumber puncture, which revealed that Violet had neonatal herpes (HSV-1) - a serious infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
It can be contracted before, during, or after birth.
Type 1 (HSV-1) is mostly spread by oral contact through kissing, sharing drinks or utensils, and causes infections in or around the mouth, like cold sores.
Violet was immediately given anti-viral medication, but her condition quickly deteriorated, and she began to experience seizures.
On April 1, she was taken to Southampton Hospital where she was placed in intensive care.
Hailey, of Billingshurst, Sussex, said: "The doctors said that we will be lucky to see her survive the next 24 to 48 hours.
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At one month old Violet tragically died, still waiting for a liver transplant
Credit: SWNS
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The couple were told they would never find out what caused the infection
Credit: SWNS
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On August 16, 2024, Hayley and her fiancé Dimitri welcomed daughter Lily into the world
Credit: SWNS
"She was deteriorating further and then they decided to flew her by helicopter to King's College Hospital in London because they realised she was having acute liver failure."
Violet was put on highest priority in the UK for a liver transplant but tragically died on April 21 while still waiting.
Hayley said: "It was absolutely traumatising. The worst time of our family's life - I don't think our family has ever gone through such a traumatic time.
"Every day something was happening and she was deteriorating further - it affected her brain, her lungs, she then had a cardiac arrest at one point where we watched her being resuscitated for nine minutes.
"It just got worse and worse and it was time to say goodbye at the end."
Doctors told mum Hailey and dad Dimitri, who works as a driver for builders merchants, they would never know where the herpes came from.
Anyone can spread the virus without even knowing. Even if you have got no symptoms you might still pass it on
Hailey Riches
Hailey added: "I don't have genital herpes, none of my family or myself had a cold sore outbreak. They said it is most likely from an outsource but they are not sure who.
"Anyone can spread the virus without even knowing. Even if you have got no symptoms you might still pass it on."
On August 16, 2024, Hayley and her fiancé welcomed daughter Lily into the world.
But Hailey explained she was "terrified" during the first months of giving birth following her experience with Violet.
She said: "I had consultants telling me the first six weeks are crucial to protect her because they have no immune system.
"I had always said to people no kissing, wash your hands when you come in or if you want to hold her. We were very protective because of the situation we went through.
"I do see it online many times people saying 'but why can't we kiss a baby?' when it is not their baby - it frustrates me because of having gone through the situation.
"This is why you have to be slightly protective and be aware. If you have got a cold sore don't go near a baby because it is deadly and can kill them.
"This is not to scare new mums or pregnant women. It is to say if you are not feeling right in yourself and if the baby is not feeling right then to be persistent and get it checked."
Hailey concluded: "Thank you to Southampton General Hospital, the Pediatric Unit and Ronald McDonald charity who accommodated us in Southampton and London during these tragic times."
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