Sheffield mum who tested positive for coronavirus celebrates safe arrival of baby girl

Abi Atkin, aged 34, tested positive for Covid-19 at the end of March after being admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties.

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She was the first pregnant woman to test positive for the deadly virus at the Jessop Wing Maternity Unit in Sheffield during the pandemic and was left fearful for the health of her baby as Covid-19 wreaked havoc across the country.

But Bonnie was safely welcomed into the world on Sunday, May 10 and is now being cared for at home by her doting mum and dad, Sam, 32.

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The 7lb 9oz beauty was kept isolated in a hospital room with her mum after the birth as coronavirus continued to spread across the UK, but when the pair were deemed fit to leave, they were discharged to spend lockdown at their High Green home.

Abi, who works as a PA for a rail engineering firm in Sheffield, said testing positive for Covid-19 ‘brought home the reality of how it can affect anyone’.

“I had been working from home for three weeks before I was tested and had only been out of the house once for a midwife appointment, so it just shows that you can pick it up anywhere,” she said.

“It certainly brought home the reality of how it can affect anyone.”

She said she had been struggling to breathe when she visited her GP and was referred to the hospital for checks.

“I had the breathlessness but not the cough or temperature so I don’t think anyone really thought I would have it. When the nurse told me in hospital that she was really sorry to say I had tested positive, we were all really surprised.

“They were said I was the first to test positive at Jessops and because it was unprecedented they took really good care of me because nobody knew if it was going to affect the baby. It was a worrying time.

She said: “It was all a bit bizarre and slightly unreal to be seen by all the doctors and nurses in full PPE.

“You think you are invincible but then something like that happens and it is a reality check.

“After all we have been through, such as the worry after testing positive, being kept isolated after the birth and not being able to show Bonnie off to family and friends afterwards, she is worth it all.”