A MUM whose baby nearly died from whooping cough has urged other mothers to get vaccinated.

Caroline Walters' daughter, Phoebe, now five months old, fought for her life after contracting whooping cough and developing a blood clot on her heart.

She was taken to St Mary's Hospital at three weeks old and, within hours, was rushed to Southampton General Hospital's intensive care unit.

Caroline, 36, of Tayberry Close, Newport, said: "We were told she might not make it through the night.

"Paediatricians from all over Europe were consulted and a trial treatment, never used on a baby before, was tried.

"We were very lucky she fought through. Staff said she was a miracle baby."

Last January, 78 per cent of pregnant women on the Isle of Wight were vaccinated against whooping cough compared with 75 per cent nationally.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly infectious, serious illness that can lead to pneumonia and brain damage, particularly in babies who are vulnerable to complications and even death.

Caroline has urged other expectant mums not to risk their unborn children's lives.

She said: "Whooping cough is not widely heard of so women like me don’t realise how important the vaccine is.

"I have two older children and the vaccine wasn’t offered then. I know others who didn’t have the vaccine for the same reason.

"Phoebe is now five months old and thriving. This story could so easily ended differently. I want to get the story heard so no other family has to go through what we went through."

NHS England offers all pregnant women a vaccine to protect their babies from whooping cough.

Public health, screening and immunisation lead Clare Simpson said: "Between September and March, pregnant women can have the flu vaccine at the same time as the whooping cough vaccine.

"This protects the baby from the serious complications of flu which can cause stillbirth or early death.

"Don't delay. If you are pregnant, have both vaccinations now."