AFTER collapsing at work when she was four months' pregnant, a Dunfermline mum believes "my baby saved my life".

Aimee Ellis suffered a complete heart block and fears if she hadn't been diagnosed at that time, she may not be here now.

Doctors discovered her pulse was very low and tests revealed the then 20-year-old needed to have a pacemaker fitted inside her chest to monitor and regulate her heartbeat.

She said: "I’m always a positive person so on the surface I was saying I was fine but it was terrifying. I was a young woman with a baby on the way and suddenly I was worried that I wasn’t going to make it.

“It’s like my baby saved my life. If I hadn’t collapsed and been diagnosed at that point, I don’t know what might have happened.”

Now 31 and with two children, Aimee is living life to the full despite her heart condition and looking forward to a fab festive season.

The mum to Lexie, 11, and five-year-old Frankie volunteers for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in Scotland, helping to set up a new Dunfermline fundraising group for more research into heart conditions, to keep more families together at Christmas.

She said: “I often meet people who are surprised to hear that I have a heart condition because I look young and healthy – it’s not what they expect.

"But heart and circulatory diseases really can affect anyone.

"That’s why I wanted to get involved and support the work of BHF Scotland, and I’d encourage more local people to get involved with the Dunfermline fundraising group.”

Complete heart block is a problem with the rhythm of the heart, when the electrical signals that tell the heart when to beat don’t pass between the top and bottom chambers as they should.

Her doctors have told Aimee that her heart condition is likely to be congenital – present from birth.

Although she was always fit and active when she was growing up, and was a keen dancer, she was left exhausted by any exertion. But she also believes that her levels of fitness have helped with her condition.

She described her second pregnancy as being massively different from her first, as she felt so much better and had much more energy.

James Cant, BHF Scotland director, said: “Aimee’s story is a real inspiration. She hasn’t let her heart condition hold her back and we’re really grateful to her for helping to raise awareness and funds in her community.

“But sadly, many other families will be missing a loved one this Christmas because of heart and circulatory diseases.

"The generous support of the Scottish public will make a huge difference to our Christmas appeal by helping to fund life-saving research to stop families from having to go through this heartbreak.”

One in four people in Scotland die from heart and circulatory diseases but the charity wants to change this.

The BHF Christmas Appeal aims to raise more than £500,000 for life-saving research into all heart and circulatory diseases, to stop families from experiencing this devastation. To find out more and support the appeal, go to www.bhf.org.uk/Christmas