A woman who, at 25 weeks pregnant, feared she might never walk again has returned to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) to thank the team who helped her and reassure other women experiencing blood clots during pregnancy that they are not alone.
Natasha Cole went from feeling fit and healthy to experiencing sudden, debilitating pain down her left leg.
She said: “It came out of nowhere.”
Pregnant with her second child, she knew immediately that something was seriously wrong. After her leg swelled dramatically and turned purple, a visit to A&E in November 2025 confirmed that she had an extensive blood clot.
Overnight, her husband became her full-time carer. He even devised the only way to get her to the toilet: pulling her across the wooden floor of their home on a blanket.
Natasha recalled how terrified she felt: “At one point, I genuinely didn’t think I would ever be able to use that leg again. It was really scary and really painful.”
Natasha was eventually placed under the care of a specialist team that included a consultant haematologist, a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) specialist nurse, a consultant obstetrician and a senior midwife.
She recalled the moment she arrived at Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) and was greeted by the team: “My mental health was at rock bottom at this point.
“I had no idea what was going on or what the prognosis was, so seeing a team who knew exactly what was happening and what was needed was so overwhelming. I just broke down in tears.”
NUH consultant haematologist Dr Emily Millen vividly remembered the day Natasha arrived for the appointment.
She said: “She was in a wheelchair because she was in so much pain, and she really needed us to get on top of that pain for her.
“The risk of a blood clot is higher during pregnancy, but the overall risk is about two women in every 1,000.
“The symptoms of a blood clot in the leg can include pain or swelling, and the leg may feel quite firm and hot.”
QMC labour suite midwife Hannah Slack delivered Natasha’s baby, Evelyn, in February this year.
It was not the first time Hannah and Natasha had met. By complete coincidence, Hannah had also been the midwife who delivered Natasha’s first baby, Henry.
Hannah said: “I knew Natasha was being induced with Evelyn because she was on blood-thinning injections, but I didn’t know the whole story. Hearing it from Natasha today is really shocking, and it’s good to know the context.
“She was very much in advanced labour when I went to collect her. Within about half an hour, she had delivered the baby, so it was really quick for both of us.”
As Natasha revisited the labour suites at QMC, she reflected on how difficult it had been to find other women who had experienced a blood clot during pregnancy.
She said: “I only managed to find one woman in Canada.”
By sharing her story, Natasha hopes to reassure other women going through the same experience that help is available and that they should not feel alone.
Dr Millen said: “I think Natasha’s story shows that, if you have symptoms you are worried about, please ask for help.”
NHS advice
During pregnancy, a blood clot can form in a deep vein, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE).
Warning signs include swelling, pain, redness and warmth in one leg, or sudden breathlessness and chest pain. If you notice these symptoms, contact your midwife, GP or NHS 111 immediately.
