A mother and daughter who would have died without emergency blood transfusions are urging people to become donors.

Gillian Carr received 13 units of blood after her daughter, Elizabeth, was born prematurely by emergency Caesarean section.

She haemorrhaged after the birth and lost pints of blood.

Her daughter, who weighed 2lb 11oz when she was born 13 weeks early, received two transfusions of 15ml, the equivalent amount of a tablespoon.

Mrs Carr, of Hogarth Road, Hove, said: "I know we are both lucky to be alive. We were saved by 15 complete strangers who were prepared to give their blood for the benefit of others."

Mrs Carr had miscarried four times before she became pregnant with Elizabeth.

She was on medication for a blood-clotting problem when she rushed into hospital feeling unwell about 25 weeks into her term.

Elizabeth was born in the emergency operation at the Royal Sussex County Hospital a couple of weeks later after Mrs Carr contracted an infection.

Her husband Nicholas, an accountant at Varndean College, Brighton, said: "It was terrible. I spent half an hour with my daughter in the special baby unit but when I came back to Gillian I knew something was wrong. There were about a dozen people standing around the bed."

Mrs Carr, who was 39 when she gave birth, had lost pints of blood and was floating in and out of consciousness.

Doctors began the first of 13 emergency blood transfusions, 450ml each, which is almost a pint, to save her life.

Mr Carr said: "Her blood pressure was dangerously low and they kept bringing in these pouches of blood and changing them over.

"I was scared. After all the circumstances of the previous miscarriages I could have ended up with a healthy baby but could have lost my wife."

Elizabeth was also given transfusions to replace blood taken from her in tests because premature babies cannot produce their own supply.

Mrs Carr, a part-time maths teacher at Cardinal Newman School, Hove, was released from hospital 11 days after the birth.

At seven weeks old, weighing 4lb 7oz, her daughter was allowed home and the Carrs were a family at last. Elizabeth is now a healthy five-year-old about to complete her first year at Aldrington Primary School in Hove.

Her parents have not forgotten the debt of life they owe to the anonymous blood donors who saved her and her mother's life.

Mr Carr had never given blood before the birth but is now a regular donor, attending sessions with his wife in Hove run by the National Blood Service (NBS) three times a year.

At least 3,500 donors are needed a day to supply hospitals in London and the South-East.

Jensen Calleemootoo, of the NBS, said supplies often became dangerously low approaching summertime.

He said: "Many more people are taking holidays abroad and often donors forget to give blood before going away. This can have a huge effect on blood stocks. It is important we build up stocks before summer starts."

Mrs Carr, who has given blood since she was 18, said: "I have given blood for years but never thought I would be the one needing a donation.

"It is a quick and painless process but saves people's lives. After the miscarriages Elizabeth was always going to be a special baby.

"My biggest thanks go out to the strangers who saved both her and me."

To find out about NBS sessions in Sussex phone the NBS on 0845 7711711 or log on to www.blood.co.uk