Pregnant mother with the flu gives birth to her baby girl while in a COMA

A flu-stricken mother has given birth to a baby girl while in a coma – and both of them survived against all odds.

Perth woman Gillian Wright, 28, was struck down with a severe case of influenza four weeks before her baby girl was due to be born.

Doctors at Perth’s Armadale Hospital were forced to place her in an induced coma before performing an emergency C-section in a desperate bid to save the lives of her and her unborn child.

Ms Wright’s husband Alex had been told by doctors ‘to prepare for the worst’ because ‘we don’t think she’s going to make it’.

Young Kayleigh (pictured) was born four weeks early with influenza and spent her first 10 days on antibiotics in intensive care

Ms Wright finally woke from her coma eight days later and was able to meet young Kayleigh. 

‘It upsets me knowing she was lay on my chest as soon as she was born and I don’t get to remember that,’ Mr Wright told Daily Mail Australia. 

The C-section helped Gillian’s lungs to open up, which was vital to the survival of both her and her baby, according to doctors.

Kayleigh was born four weeks early with influenza and spent her first 10 days on antibiotics in intensive care.

Ms Wright does not remember meeting her daughter for the first time because anaesthetic was still in her system. 

Ms Wright’s (pictured right) husband Alex (pictured left) had been told by doctors ‘to prepare for the worst because “we don’t think she’s going to make it”‘ while his wife was in a coma

Ms Wright (pictured) was discharged from the maternity ward and told by a GP to ‘take panadol and gargle aspirin’ in the week leading up to her hospitalisation 

‘Everyone asks me if it was weird but it’s not like I had forgotten what was happening,’ she said.

‘I just wasn’t aware that the 24 hours has turned into eight days.

‘I was so excited when I had come around enough to remember. But I was also so scared.

‘I kept thinking something was wrong and I was doing something wrong.’

Although the mother-of-two missed out on meeting Kayleigh when she was born, she said there is ‘plenty of time for more “firsts”.’

Ms Wright had not been vaccinated against the flu before she was struck down with the virus.

‘No one had offered or suggested it,’ she said. ‘I feel I wouldn’t have been as sick as I was (if I had taken the flu shot).’

Removing baby Kayleigh (pictured) with a c-section opened Ms Wright’s lungs up, allowing her and the baby to both survive 

‘Kayleigh (pictured) is now three months old and thriving. She is in her usual happy state,’ Ms Wright told Daily Mail Australia 

Mr Wright’s husband issued a stern warning to would-be parents following the ordeal.

‘I almost lost my wife Gillian and daughter Kayleigh from this virus floating around and 14 other families have not been as lucky as us,’ he wrote on Facebook.

‘Please take this flu season more seriously and make sure you all get your flu shots, especially the kids.’

Kayleigh was taken off antibiotics when the infection left her system.

She was monitored closely in the NICU before she was eventually taken home with her family.

‘We are both well and on the mend now so that’s all that matters,’ Ms Wright told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Kayleigh is now three months old and thriving. She is in her usual happy state.’   

Ms Wright said there is ‘plenty of time for more “firsts”‘. She is pictured with her husband Alex, Kayleigh and her five-year-old son

Baby Kayleigh was born with the flu and managed to overcome it thanks to close monitoring in the NICU and antibiotics