You are here: Alfie’s Journey
Alfie was 12wks early, he was born 27wks5days at 12pm 19th Dec 2014. Everything was going grand with my pregnancy until we reached 20wks I started bleeding and getting tightenings, our hospital kept a really close eye on us as soon as the bleeding subsided I was aloud to go home on strict instructions bed rest and come back up weekly for check ups.
The night before Alfie was delivered I was feeling really unwell and getting some tightenings, by the time I got to the hospital my fingertips were white my lips blue then the shivering started, I got took from maternity assessment almost immediately to delivery suite where they tried to give me medication to bring down my heart rate and Alfie’s as his was over the 220 mark and tests lots of tests to see what was going on.There was a decision I was to be delivered as soon as it was safe for Alfie and me.
By morning we weren’t any better and given the steroids my waters started to leak and they were green. Alfie was breech so it had to be an emergency c-section, I was by myself as it was all a bit of a rush and my partner had our other children to watch. Alfie came out by the sunroof weighing only 2lb12oz, they had to put him in a special bag to keep him warm. Alfie was took to NICU (another world) and got the most amazing treatment, they put the ventilator on him and gave him another does of steroids along with his longline in for treatments he will need his fats and caffeine and his antibiotics.
As his mummy I did everything I could on the days he was unstable I would sing to him, the days he was good I would do ALL his cares and kangaroo cares anything I could possibly do I would. His journey was 5 months there were lots of wins, it did always feel like the losses were more. I had septicaemia and couldn’t visit him for two days, I was aloud to express still and did so, the hospital also provided a webcam so I could see his every single movement until I was well enough to be by his side.
He was in NICU for six weeks then got promoted to HDU which where we saw all his wee baby friends move on to Special Care, the bad days got less here and a little routines started we would try him with the bottle and baths and intergrated them into his days, his nana would wash and bag everything everyday we really felt we got to bond so much more with Alfie here. Alfie got a ph study test done to show he had reflux disease which we maintained with meds. Alfie had a sleep study done that showed he had Chronic lung Disease which they showed me how to maintain his flow and keep him on the oxygen therapy and an apnea monitor for coming home and take control.
Alfie would scream in agony which all the signs symptoms and tests led to milk intolerance to my milk which left him bleeding inside out which was terrifying Neocate special formula really helped with this but he never gained much weight and looked so fragile. Alfie did undergo an operation for his groin Hernia he did have another one in his belly button which went away itself.His eyes were great and his hearing too so that was something .He was very very ill but we had amazing support from our hospital and they really helped us look after Alfie, the community nurse Julie came out every week and monitored our darlings progress and we would visit the hospital monthly for our development appointments and to see his dr then it became three monthly then yearly.
We slowly but surely weaned him off everything when he was ready and .....when Alfie reached the age of two he was a picture of health, he got discharged from the hospital and development team it was a very emotional day he is our miracle . As his mummy my theory is Alfie just needed a little more time with his lungs his gut everything really .
Kristina Richardson KristinaVictoria05@icloud.com Yes Yes