Mrs Mackie, 28, could not even cuddle her new born son James or pick him up because she was in so much pain.

The new mother was forced to cover herself in Muslin cloth before she went near her son.

After a skin biopsy she was diagnosed with Pemphigoid Gestationis, a rare skin disease caused by an allergic reaction to her baby developed while she was still pregnant.

Mrs Mackie was put on a course of strong steroids and after a month the blisters subsided leaving her able to hug James for the first time without feeling pain.

"The idea of not being able to hold James for that long was unbearable," said Mrs Mackie. "At first, when I was told I was allergic to my own baby I thought it was some sort of joke.

"But when it sank in I was totally devastated. It felt like my world had caved in. It was such a heartbreaking time. I had to watch while my husband gave our son his first bath.

"And in those first few weeks when James cried I had to watch as my husband picked him up to comfort him instead of me."

The problems began the morning after he was born when Mrs Mackie began breastfeeding.

She noticed the palms of her hands were tingling and the day after the tingles started turning into a red blotchy rash which spread all over her body.

"For weeks I had to wrap damp towels round my arms to feed James from a bottle - but it just made the rash worse. Now I can cradle my little lad it's heaven. I never want to let him go now."

Mrs Mackie, of Erdington, West Midlands, added: "A cuddle from your own child is the most precious thing in the world and now I can cradle my little lad, it's heaven. I never want to let him go now."

Husband Robert, 37, added: "It was heartbreaking to see how upset Joanne was. But when the time finally came for her to be able to cuddle James without feeling any pain it was such a special moment which neither of us will ever forget."