Health and fitness coach Becki Barratt never imagined she would hear the words “you’ve had a stroke” at the age of 33.
But just three weeks after welcoming her second child into the world, she had suffered a stroke while breastfeeding at home.
This meant that instead of enjoying those precious first weeks with her newborn, she was navigating motherhood while living with left-sided paralysis.
Becki, who lives in Chester with her husband James, daughter Aréya and son Beauden, recalled the moment she knew something was not right.
“My hand suddenly started spasming. Holding Beau, panic swept through me, I shouted for James. I remember saying, ‘something is wrong’.
“As I stood up, I knew my legs weren’t strong enough to hold me.
“I could feel them giving way beneath me. I slowly collapsed to the floor while still holding Beau.”