Capital FM star Aimee Vivian developed the condition mastitis while breastfeeding which led to deadly sepsis
13:55, 04 Sep 2025Updated 16:33, 04 Sep 2025
Capital FM’s Aimee Vivian nearly died
It is one of the most natural things a woman’s body can produce. It sustains life and helps to strengthen the bond between mother and child. But Capital FM star Aimee Vivian’s breast milk nearly killed her.
“I remember looking at a hospital midwife and saying ‘please don’t let me die tonight’,” she tells The Mirror. “I really thought I wasn’t going to make it. I still can’t believe something so simple, which is supposed to provide life, almost ended mine.”
Now 34-year-old Aimee, back home in Buckinghamshire with daughter Charli, is keen to raise awareness of the causes of the breast condition mastitis and the subsequent deadly sepsis infection which took hold earlier this year.
Speaking at the start of September’s Sepsis Awareness Month, she says: “Motherhood is an amazing journey but it can be hard. We need to talk about mastitis, learn the symptoms and what it can lead to. It’s time to support each other.“
READ MORE: ‘I have HIV and I still breastfeed my baby – there are so many misconceptions’READ MORE: Expert who reversed her severe eczema issues warning as Brit kids ‘among most allergic’
Aimee and baby Charli enjoy a cuddle 
Aimee looking healthy after her ordeal
Married to husband Steve for two years, Aimee, who is due back on air in October following her maternity leave, had her daughter June by planned caesarean section in June.
She says: “My pregnancy was pretty straightforward – I developed a whole new appreciation of what a woman’s body could do! The Caesarian was a really positive experience too with wonderful midwives – I was only in hospital overnight.”
But from day one Aimee’s body produced an abundance of breast milk. She says: “Everyone was telling me it was brilliant and I was feeling quite good about it. Once we got home, though, things became difficult.”
Baby Charli had difficulty latching on to breastfeed because of a tongue tie – a condition where tissue connecting a baby’s tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than normal.
An appointment was made for doctors to rectify the problem and, in the meantime, Aimee used a breast pump to help her feed and to ease the huge supplies of milk her body was producing.
Soon, though, her breasts became painfully engorged. Medics offered advice on how to tackle it, but very little worked. After three weeks, Aimee began to feel unwell – suffering with headaches and chills.
She recalls: “I was tired too, but I was a new mum and just persevered. After a couple of days I still didn’t feel right, though. I’d read online about mastitis and knew I had some of the symptoms.”
The inflammatory condition is common in breastfeeding women and can be caused by an infection or a build up of milk. Symptoms can include swollen breasts which are hot to the touch as well as ‘flu like symptoms.
New mum Aimee with baby Charli 
Aimee enjoys a day out with baby Charli
Aimee made an appointment to see a GP who wasn’t convinced it was mastitis. She remembers: “She was adamant it was an oversupply of milk and that putting Charli on the breast would help. But I couldn’t. I felt ashamed, guilty. “I tried to advocate for myself but it was hard. I left the surgery doubting myself.”
She did secure antibiotics – albeit with the proviso from the doctor that she start them only if she felt no better. “I thought ‘maybe it will get better’ and I just got on with things,” says Aimee
But over the next couple of days Aimee’s health deteriorated. “I woke up early one Sunday morning to feed Charli and I was so cold my whole body was shaking. My head hurt so much I could barely lift it. Then I tried to pump some milk. The pain was excruciating and it was clear the milk was infected – there was puss in it.”
At her wits’ end she posted for help on her Instagram account and got a response from a local midwife. “She messaged me and said: ‘you need to get down to the hospital. Don’t leave it any longer,” she says.
Within a couple of hours Aimee was admitted and hooked up to intravenous antibiotics with what doctors told her was a ‘serious infection’ later confirmed as sepsis.
Pregnant Aimee shows off her bump 
Aimee looks radiant
Aimee says: “It was horrible. I felt so unwell and so upset that as a new mum I couldn’t be with my baby. “The fear of dying when you hear sepsis is very real. I remember Steve and Charli had been to visit and when they’d gone I thought ‘what if I never see him or her again?’”
After four days in hospital she was allowed home but admits her recovery has been slow, both mentally and physically. She also consulted a lactation expert to help stop her body producing milk as she cannot risk a mastitis infection again.
She says: “I keep asking myself how my breast milk – the thing that is advocated so hard for – could have nearly killed me? I don’t say that to scare people because breastfeeding is great but I wish I’d have known the symptoms of mastitis sooner; I could have gone to the doctor sooner, trusted my instincts, taken those antibiotics earlier.”
Now she is determined to speak out about her ordeal and encourage other women to get informed. She says: “I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I have so trust your gut – you know your body better than anyone and don’t be afraid to speak up.”
As for the future, Aimee is looking forward to days spent with her brand new family. “They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” she reflects. “Now I know I am going to be ok. I am excited for the next chapter.
READ MORE: Beauty fans rush to Boots as No7 beauty advent calendar with ‘highest ever value’ launches