Hi I had my little miracle Kristina on the 4/6/19. She was 3 months early, her due date wasn't till 25th of august. I was 28-3 days when I got a c section. I went for my scan at 28-2 day's and they told me I had to go to wishaw that day. I was so scared I didn't know what to expect. They just told me at my scan that my little girl stopped growing, she wasn't getting enough fluids, so they told me it would be best to get her out, there would be a better chance of surviving outside the womb. I went into hospital that day, was placed on a machine so the nurses could hear Kristina's little heartbeat. I kept the last scan I had in the hospital with me. I just wanted to hold my baby and love her with everything I had. The next morning came, I was waiting to get taken into have my c section. I was given a jag to numb me from my waist down to my feet, I couldn't feel anything. I knew this is time now I'm going to meet my babie earlier than I should have, a lot earlier. There was 15 to 20 nurses in the room when they were delivering Kristina, all I could feel was nurses pulling me from the inside of me it feel they were tighten my stomach, but eventually my little miracle Kristina was born. She wasn't crying when she came out, so I asked why is she not crying, the nurse said don't be alarmed but I was so terrified. Then I heard her crying I thought thank God she's crying.

I didn't get to hold her after she was born, she was put a incubator then taken to the NICU. It was honestly really a hard journey for Me and m. babies dad and my family at the time. Kristina stayed in wishaw for 3 months in NICU. She was really sick when she was born, she was the smallest babie in NICU and the only babie that left without any oxygen. She is a real true miracle, but I took everyday as a blessing waking up and seeing Kristina lying there that made my whole day, just getting to speak to her and cuddle and kiss her it was the best feeling in the world. We also had to go to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 3 times because when Kristina was just first born she had major problems with her wee belly, they thought it was going to blow up, so we had to go to Glasgow for Kristina to get scans done and stuff to find out what was wrong. I just loved seeing her face morning and nights, she is a truly a dream come true she's my best friend for life and she is here now to have a good life to explore the world. She will be a big 2 next month on the 4/6/19. I'm so blessed to share this story with yous, sorry it's not that long. Kristina was also feeding out a tube for months and month's they sometimes had to stopped giving her milk because of her stomach blowing up, then she was starving looking for food but she's so better now. All she wants to do is run about wild Kristina has an older sister at 7 just now, so they've got each other. Wish everyone the best of luck and hope all babies in NICU are doing well thanks x

My beautiful girl was born 3 months early 26 weeks.. my body was ready to meet her, but she was not so had to have an emergency c-section. She was born at 14.25. I didn't even get chance to hold her, all I remember was her being put in an incubator and off she went to NICU.. so around 10'oclock that night I finally had the news she is stable, those were words of relief, as every time I asked how my baby was all I was told is she not stable. Around midnight I was aloud to finally see my beautiful girl, she was 1lb 14oz born, she was so tiny you could she her tiny body fighting to be here with me. After many blood transfusions, infections and biopsies and 89 long days in NICU, we was allowed to bring her home on home oxygen 2 weeks before her due date.

Christmas week she finally went off her oxygen, no medication, and she is thriving ...now may 2021 she is growing beautiful and is 9 months old.. if it wasn't for the amazing doctors, nurses, consultants, the medical research, she wouldn't of survived.. i owe everything to them, thank you..Alaya mae watts born 20.08.2020 she is my miracle baby girl.

I had my identical twins through IVF after trying for five years. My pregnancy was ok up until twenty five weeks, when I had daily contractions luckily my cervix didn't open until 33 weeks. I had severe pre-eclampsia and I was going to have a c-section on the Monday, but my waters went at 33 weeks 2 days and they had to do an emergency c-section. Joshua was born with polymicrogyria and lack of white matter of the brain making him blind. He has severe global delayed development. Jack has genetic problems the same as Josh and he has slight global delayed development and asthma, but they are both doing amazing.

Josh has the brain of a two year and is starting to walk. He has only two words . He can see most things now, it started of with him just seeing lights but now has pretty good vision. Jack is slightly behind developmentally, and has only three words, and has arfid eating problems now. They are both at special school but in different classes as Josh needs more help. They are both coming on amazingly. Josh has stopped his fits that he had every day and night and us off his medication. They both had jaundice at birth. They are both coming on so well and amaze me and the medical staff all the time.

My beautiful baby Liam was still born on the 12th nov 1992 . He was 6 days overdue and weighed 8lbs 8ozs, there was no reason for his death. It was a very long labour and very hard as he had already been dead 24 hours befour. I will never ever forget that day 29 years in Nov for him, I never forget him ever xxxx

I was 19 when I lost my baby at 18 weeks. It was awful, they put me on a ward of ladies who had all had hysterectomy's. My baby was put in the incinerator I was told, I just wanted to say goodbye but was told in such a horrible way. And all they said was your young, you will have more. Happily I have 4 beautiful children, but had lost 3 other babies in between my pregnancy's such a lonely place to be a painful place. Reading what you have all been through is so sad, we can only hope research happens quickly so others can be spared the heartbreak.

I was 19 when I got to nearly 8 months and went into labour for 9 hours and my baby girl was not alive. We was not allowed to see her, she taken away and we were told would go in the Incinerator, my heart broke. We were told your young you will have other children, twice more 6 months gone same story. Then some very kind doctor explained you have a weak Cervix so you will need to have a stitch put in which is called a shortcut suture. My 4th pregnancy I had this put in at 12 weeks and taken out when I went into labour at 33 weeks. I had my first boy Aaron then when fell pregnant again. The consultant said won’t put stitch in till 20 weeks. I got to 19 weeks and lost another baby girl, heartbreaking again. Felt like a baby machine eventually 10 pregnancy’s and 5 beautiful boys later I have my family. The hurt never goes and the you are young you will have more dose not take away the hurt the pain please not right but never give up.

My son was born on the 31 July 2009 on a Friday. He was 24 weeks premature and weighed 1lbs 5 ounces. Everything was fine til we noticed his stomach had bloated. We questioned this and was told it was just wind. That was on Saturday. Sunday morning we made our way to St Peters SCBO to spend time with Alex, but when we got there, they were already getting him ready for transfer to Brighton hospital for an operation. We followed the ambulance down to Brighton and met the specialist who told us that he only had a 10% survival. An ulcer had burst in his bowels and that they had to cut bowels and put them on the stomach. We signed the consent forms and waited. Our lives had turned upside down, as we sat there like zombies.4 hours later we were told that the operation was a success, but had to stay here for 3 months.

My partner stayed and I went home to my other son who was 5 at the time. Everyday was a nightmare not knowing if he would survive. After 3 months at Brighton Alex was transferred to St Peters Chertsey where he stayed for a further 3 months. During that time it was lovely to see him, but still not knowing what will happen.There were times when we showed up and had to come away as another premature baby had passed away. We couldn't bear it .The specialist asked if we would consent for his operation to be put in the medical journal without his name mentioned, as this was the first ever operation of this procedure on a 24 week premature baby, which we agreed. 3 months later he had his bowels put back together, within 9 months he was home.

He came out of all of this with just a murmur on the heart, which eventually past, and a war scar across his stomach. He is now 11 happy go lucky guy. There is hope for everyone, please never give up hope,10% is better than nothing.

My twins were born in 1987 at 28 weeks into my pregnancy. I was 20, healthy the pregnancy was going very well. I went into labour they didn’t seem to know why. I got taken to a room were so many doctors were there all telling me there role. My head was in a spin, I didn’t know what was happening. I got told I had to give birth after they were born they were took away to the nic unit and we didn’t see them until 7 hours later. No one told us what to expect, it was so frightening. We were told one of the twins was to poorly and wouldn’t make it. They were in hospital for 3 months, but they both survived they are 34 now.

They discharged them from hospital when they were 5. They had a rough first 2 years, but after that they have been healthy with family’s of there own. I don’t know what we would of done if we lost them. My heart goes out to everyone on here who have lost babies born early and not made it. I’ve put my story on to all mums and dads that have babies early it can turn out all right, but not everyone as been as lucky as us but the thing is no one could give me any answers why I went into labour at 28 weeks. I wanted some sort of answers, but they could not give me any, the only thing they told us is these things happen and probably there wasn’t enough room for them. I was being checked all the time so wouldn’t they have seen this on scans. Parents need answers especially if there babies didn’t make it. I think it helps slightly for mums and dads to eventually with time move on.

At 16 weeks I was told to go to the MAU as I was leaking fluid. I didn't think much of it after having a 24wker 7 years prior. I thought nothing could get worse. After seeing a nurse and Dr they examined me, and their faces told me in that split second what was happening. The consultant told me I had bulging membranes...I was losing my twin boys. A surgeon told me he would take me to theatre to try a stitch, but there was a extreme high risk of nipping the membrane and I would lose my boys in theatre, so my option was to try because if I didn’t I was going to lose them. Whilst in theatre all I could do was hope. It felt like I was holding my breath for the longest time. My cervix was so short he wasn’t sure if I would make it to 22 weeks.

At 20 weeks I went into labour which was stopped, then again at 23 weeks. I was told no NICU beds were available in London the closest was Brighton, but the labour was stopped. At 29 weeks at 6 days, whilst at home with my little girl who was eating her breakfast, her dad had just got into the building site he was working on in London, my waters broke. My dad took me to the hospital where it was confirmed I was in labour, my little boys were making an appearance. In the early hours on the 25th August I was taken to the labour room, my partner was called, the NICU team came up to meet me. This was it, I knew what was going to happen because of having my daughter at 24wks I was calm scared obviously. My cervical stitch was cut but only half of my cervix was dilating in that moment the boys decided they weren't playing ball anymore one went bradycardic the tachycardic. I was rushed to theatre within 5 minutes. I hadn't ever seen so many people in a room. I just remember thinking "oh no this my biggest fear ". Within 10 minutes Buddy-Lee was born at 1.06pm and Arnie was born 1.07pm on the 25th august 2016 weight 2lb each. I didn’t get to see them I just heard a cry they were taken to NICU once Buddy-Lee was stabilised.

Once they left, I took a turn for the worst. I lost consciousness and don't remember anything other than waking up in a room surrounded by loads of drs and nurses on oxygen tube everywhere my body was in shock. I got to meet the boys the following day. Buddy-Lee was on the vent and Arnie on CPAP but both doing well. Arnie was on and off CPAP and vapotherm then oxygen. Buddy-Lee was off his ventilation and was doing amazing. Both boys went to SCBU at 18 days old they looked incredible. Arnie was still on oxygen, but Buddy-Lee was bossing feeding the lot the team said if he was 4lb and a few weeks older he would be at home, but something felt wrong. On a ward round I said to the consultant (the same one that diagnosed my daughter with meningitis while in NICU ) something doesn’t feel right...low and behold a mothers instinct isn’t wrong. That night I got a phone call at 2am to get to the hospital. Buddy-Lee was being transferred to the Royal London...my heart sunk. We got there and all I could see was the x-ray of my boys belly. He was so sick the transfer team ( ANTs) were trying to stabilise him...at 9am after 4 hours of trying to get him just right for transfer I had to kiss Arnie goodbye. Luckily my mum was with him in hospital. My partner followed the ambulance, but he was on blue lights racing down the A13 all I could think was don't die.

Once at the Royal London there was the biggest team of medical professionals I had ever seen waiting for my boy. The consultant cuddled me as I stood not knowing what was wrong. He confirmed my son has a life threatening, very fatal disease called Necrotizing enterocolitis. His bowel had perforated, and he needed life-saving surgery, but he was too unstable. We were put in the sick children’s trust, which helped us rest, but at 5am the next morning we were back sitting by Buddy-Lee's incubator as the nurse was preparing him for surgery. The surgeon and the consultant sat us down and told us very straight our little boy had a 2% chance of survival whilst in surgery. If there’s nothing he can do, he will sow him up and bring him back up to pass away, if there is he will do everything. We walked down to theatre the whole team, the surgical team, 3 NICU nurses, me and his dad. We had to say our goodbyes at the theatre doors, my heart was hurting I couldn't stop crying. Whilst Buddy-Lee was in surgery Arnie's consultant rung from Basildon, they had to put him on antibiotics as a preventive for NEC. I was torn, I was a mess...4 hours later our little boy came up and the surgeon sat explained everything, said Buddy-Lee's bowel was so bad every time he touched it, it crumbled, but he was left with 10cm of small bowel and a stoma. He wasn't out of the neck of the woods he was also battling sepsis and Necrotizing enterocolitis. When I asked when are we transferring back to our local he said your not, you’re going to be here for a year...I laughed in shock. We were told we couldn't leave Buddy-Lee for 2 weeks as he was too critical his chance of survival was 1%...

After 2 weeks I went to see Arnie. He was doing amazing, full feeds, oxygen breaks and he was bigger (thank god for my mum ). 2 weeks after Arnie came home weighing 4lb, Buddy-Lee was stable. He was on and off the vent for 6 weeks. 8 weeks after surgery he had his stoma reversed. It went amazing until 4 days after he got taken down for another life saving surgery, his stitches holding his bowel together had leaked in 4 places...after another 3 hour surgery he was back up fighting sepsis again. He couldn't come off the vent for 4 weeks, when they tried, he stopped breathing, it was a long road...in January Buddy-Lee had that stoma reversed after surgery he went to PICU as he wasn’t a neonate anymore. He looked amazing, his surgeon said how well it went, he was pleased after every surgery. I always asked is he going to be okay, he always said I'm in no doubt. Later that night we kissed him good night, went over to the sick children’s trust to eat and recap on how well Buddy-Lee looked. The next morning, we see him and he looked huge, pale and not good at all. The consultant explained Buddy-Lee was in multi organ failure, his lungs were bleeding, his kidneys were failing, we were told he had 2 hours to try and pull something amazing out of the bag. His NICU nurses came to say goodbye. His surgeon I asked once again, he is going to be okay, isn’t he? He sat us down and told us Buddy-Lee's had a stroke I don’t no if he will pull through this! My partners mum who lives in Australia jumped on a plane that night, my mum and brother in law came up the hospital. We were told our little boy was the sickest child on PICU that at moment. 40 minutes later Buddy-Lee was placed on a oscillator machine that is ventilation by shakes the lungs keeping them moving...it sounded like a hammer drill. I couldn't help my little boy, he had 17 medications a Hickman line ( for his TPN ) a central line in his groin and head. Cannulas in his hands and feet, my boy was fighting for his life harder than ever. 2 hours later his blood gases weren't as bad. He just needed time to recover from shock sepsis. 6 days later they tried to take him off the vent, but Buddy-Lee wasn't playing ball. He didn’t cope so ENT came observed the next attempt if it didn’t work a tracky would have been placed but Buddy-Lee played ball.

I finally got to hold my little boy, but something was wrong he was different, he was addicted to fentanyl. He was placed on a high dose of morphine and moved to his gastro ward where it became home for 11 months. Buddy-Lee came home on home TPN till he was 3, however Buddy-Lee is total peg dependent. He doesn’t eat or drink, everything goes through his feeding pump. Buddy-Lee has Short bowel syndrome (10cm out of 21feet remaining) with associated liver disease, gallstones, autism, global development delay, cerebral palsy, sensory processing disorder, OCD, PTSD, laxity of the joints and colus of the ankles and knees. Arnie has scarred lungs due to having croup so many times with severe chest infections, an unsafe swallow...he has high functioning autism and a chronic bowel condition.

At 22 weeks I started to feel some different pains, my mum said they could be braxton hicks and to put my feet up and rest .. which I did until 23weeks and 5 days to which i made my way to A&E. They took me to the maternity unit, which confirmed I was in active labour. I was 19 and also very scared. Never did I think anything like this would happen. I wasn't ever told about extreme premature births. The consultant and his team came in my room and told me to brace myself for the worst, as at 24wks, I was told she's coming today and we can't stop it happening. My waters broke and they were bright green and smelt like sewage, I had a major infection and so did she. At 10.29pm on the 3rd of December 2008 my little 1lb9oz little miracle was born. I didn't even see her, her cry was so quiet, the NICU team whisked her away. I didnt see her until the 4th December, the following day.

When I did get to see her I never thought the 1st time of seeing my little girl would be so hard. I couldn't touch her, her skin so see through, she was as red as a berry. When asked what her name is, so the nurse in nice could put it on her file, I took one look and said Logan Leonie. Other than not tolerant of any milk and not being able to get past 1ml of milk, she was doing well. I got to hold her for the 1st time on Christmas day at 22 days old, all over her were wires and tubes that where bigger and weighed more than Logan, but I didn't care. I held my little girl and thats all I needed.

Logan became tolerant of a milk, called neocate, she was growing she came off the vent and went to scbu. Her 1st day in scbu she looked pale, she was projectile vomiting and had explosive diahorra. When I called for the nurse she pulled the red emergency buzzer a team came in took my little girl and put her on a crash bed. I didn't know what was happening, once stable she was taken back to nicu and needed cpap put back in the incubator.. I was devastated. I sat with her all day till 9pm at night, I needed to eat and most of all definitely needed a shower. Whilst at home I got a phone call to go straight back, the consultant said they are suspecting meningitis my heart sunk I didnt understand how did she get this? Why wasn't I poorly?

When I got back to the hospital I had to consent to a lumber punch for her, all that was explained was she had to have needle in her spine. I walked in on them bending my little girl in half, Logan was on the vent trying to cry but no sound was coming out. I broke down not being able to help her. Later that night it was confirmed Logan had streptococcal meningitis. We were told to get ready to say goodbye . She was in a room on her own, her nappy couldn't be changed properly because her heart would slow right down, so the nappy was placed under her not done up. She looked as flat as a pancake. 2 days of people giving you the look of sympathy I just wanted scream at everyone. I was so angry at the world . On the 2nd evening we were told it wasn't looking good as she had now had a bleed on her brain. For 2 weeks I watched my little girl fight so hard to be told she isn't strong enough they don't think she will make the night. But my little girl did, she made the next night and the next night, every night till she came home at 6 months old weighing 4lb.

My little girl is 13 this year. Logan has cerebral palsy, autism, ADD, a chronic bowel condition and non eplieptic vacancies. Logan attends special needs senior school where she has grown into such a loving caring girl ... shes my little Logan berry. 

I had twins 23 years ago born at 23 weeks. My little girl weighed 1lb 5oz, my son weighed 1lb 71/2 oz. My little girl died at 13 days old and my son was in the special care for 4 1/2 months, he is now 23.

My little boy was born at 28 weeks weighing 1lb 8oz. We spent a very long 14 weeks in NICU, 1 step forward, 3 steps back, but he amazed me every day with his strength and determination to live. He fought off infections and stopped breathing needing resuscitation. I thought I’d lost him as they whisked him off blue and lifeless, my screams being heard all over the unit. But he made it through that too, my absolute hero, my true little miracle. He’s now almost 2 and a very happy healthy little boy. He’s small for his age but definitely not in personality!! Never give up, these tiny little babies are the strongest people I have ever come across. 🥰💙🥰

My son Isaiah was born on 17th February 2016, due date was 17th April 2016. Labour started at 6 1/2 months, but I stayed in hospital for a month and managed to deliver at 7 months 3 days to a preterm 3 pound baby. I was able to get steroid for his lungs. He came out not breathing, so was assisted resulting with him now, 5 years old, having a few health problems. I donate wipes, cotton wool pampers and preterm clothes every year on my sons birthday to show my appreciation. My baby boy is thriving specially with the support he is getting from NHS.

In 2018 I first fell pregnant, however we found out at our first scan that our baby’s heart had stopped between 8-9 weeks of pregnancy and a missed miscarriage was the diagnosis. Fast forward to June 2020 and we couldn’t believe we were having another baby. We were so nervous the same thing would happen, but this time our baby’s heart was so strong and everything seemed perfect. At 16 weeks 3 days I began bleeding, had a sore back and extreme tiredness too during that week. By the Sunday I was fully dilated. I was admitted into hospital and told I had an incompetent cervix & may deliver overnight, thankfully I didn’t and they were able to give me an emergency cervical stitch. Each scan there after the amniotic fluid was always low, Belle was very low and didn’t seem to change position very much. They were worried about her limbs being distorted due to low fluids and her possibly being stuck in the same position for weeks. They thought she only had one kidney at one point, luckily it was confirmed she had two.

At an appointment at 22+4 I was admitted for bulging membranes, I was given steroid injections and a magnesium drip and at 23+2 I gave birth to my little girl. They didn’t expect her to weigh 1 on, they estimated she would be less than this. They scanned me before removing the stitches so I could deliver my daughter & found there was no amniotic fluid left at all. The doctor delivering Belle told me that they didn’t know if she would make it through the birth and if she struggled they couldn’t offer a c-section as she was just too small. The cord prolapsed and Belle needed to be born quickly. Thankfully she was. My husband’s face turned white when he saw just how small she was. We both cried as the NICU team worked on her. They told us she was stable but it seemed her heart and lungs were worse than they expected.

Belle did so well and they always joked how fiesty she was, pushing their hands away, covering her eye from the light even though they were still fused shut. She hated when they touched her, her levels indicated this & when my husband and I touched her all of her levels improved. This was such a special experience. It was like she just knew it was us. At 7 days old Belle began to swell and they told us she had sepsis and it was critical. They said she had been so strong throughout and hopefully she would again. We stayed with her and cried, prayed and told her how much we loved her. They told us they had tried everything they could and she was just too poorly. This was the worst time of our lives. We told Belle we were proud of her and loved her so much & if she needed to go it was ok. We also asked her for a sign. We put her back into her incubator and her heart began slowly dropping. We knew this was it. My husband carried our beautiful girl to the family room where our parents could meet their grandchild for the first time. Belle waited until my mum held her before she took her last breath. We miss her so much and think of her every minute of every day. We long for that day we will get to hold both of our babies again and never have to let go.

My son Shane was born on 5 March 1980. I gave birth to him when I was 26 weeks pregnant he was so small. The doctors and nurses tried so hard for him. He put on weight and grew and was able to come home after 4 months, but after 2 weeks at home I noticed something was wrong he would just cry out as he was in pain. He then went silent and we rushed him to the hospital where he died. Later we found out he had a rare bone sickness, myself and his father was so broken but we where lucky we had 2 older children that helped us get through it, but it was hard. I wish no family should go through this, but it happens. Sorry for all the families that have gone through this,

Our story begun on Tuesday 23rd June 2020 at 22:15. I was 29 weeks gestational, I was woken by my waters breaking. We quickly shot up to the Maternity unit... It was confirmed that my waters had broken but there was no sign off labour. The doctors wanted to keep me in for observation... I was due to go home Wednesday 24th June 2020.... I was about to be discharged when my gorgeous little girl decided it was time to come into this crazy world.

Trish was 29 weeks gestational, when her waters suddenly broke and she was rushed to hospital. Doctors confirmed that there was no signs of labour, but just the next day, when she was due to go home, her little girl decided it was time to enter this world. I was quickly taken to the delivery suit where I was given several different medications to help my daughter... the NICU staff were present, and they talked me through everything that was going to happen once my girl had been born. 02:06am my little girl was born, they quickly took her and put her onto the resuscitation bed (unsure what it’s real name is) they put a ventilator into my daughter I was so scared and worried because I couldn’t hear her crying or any form off movement, my Partner was by me trying to keep me calm, she was then quickly rushed into NICU where later that morning I got to see her for the first time, I didn’t get to see my daughter until 6:30am. I was still in the delivery suite, and my partner had to leave at this point due to COVID-19 restrictions. I then went into theatre to have my placenta removed due to it been stuck. My daughter was getting on really well in NICU.

She had her ups and downs but got threw it. We took everyday step by step, as one day she would be doing fantastic & the next day she wasn’t doing so well... After 7 1/2 weeks in NICU we finally got to take our precious girl home. Our daughter came home on oxygen as she wasn’t coping very well without it. At 6 months old our beautiful girl said goodbye to the oxygen. My daughter is now 8 months old (9 months in 3 days) and doing absolutely fantastic! We cannot thank our NICU staff enough for saving our daughter life and allowing us to have such an amazing life/ future with our girl.

I did not know I was expecting untill I was 5 months. My son was born a month later with a lot of health issues, including heart problems. He weighed 2lbs and after a lot of heartache and time in hospital he is now 24 years old. He has cerebral palsy, but nothing stops him. He has fought health issues all his life, but now a lovely young man and at collage doing teachers training course. Its only due to the great support of the hospitals and nursing staff.

Me and Ruby's dad were on a little holiday in Wales, at this point I was 27 weeks + 2 days. I'd been in the sea, lying in the sand and just had a brilliant time. I'd noticed my back was niggling, but didn't think anything of it. But as the day went on it got worse. We got back to the caravan and I decided to lie down, but I started experiencing pain in my tummy, after being stubborn and thinking I'd just over exerted myself, we decided we should get some advice on what to do. We were told to go to hospital and get myself checked over, so off we went all the while the pain is increasing.

Anyway long story short, we got to the hospital just after 6pm and were seen and told that I was in labour and to far gone to stop it. I had Ruby at 7.48pm, she was born into a Tesco freezer bag to help keep her warm. She was 2lb 4oz born. I didn't get to see her as they were working on her and whisked her off to the NICU. We saw her briefly before we all settled for the night. The next morning we were told Ruby had suffered a bleed on the brain and needed to be transfered to the NICU at BWH. We got to Birmingham and was told Ruby had suffered severe brain damage and we were told that it was very likely that she would have some form of disability, that she might not walk etc.

From July to the August Ruby went between Bridgend hospital (where she was born) and Birmingham womens, Worcester and Hereford (home hospital). She was doing well and we were close to being able to take her home. Then one night she wouldn't settle, we were sent home to rest and come back in the morning, but we were called in the morning and told we had to get to the hospital as Ruby was extremely poorly. When we arrived we couldn't see Ruby for all the doctors around her bed. When we did she her she was so bloated all over and you could see her her veins, we were told she had necrotizing entercolitis and it was a matter of life and death. After hours and hours they had to make the decision to transfer her (even though she wasn't stable) to B'ham. She had a 5 police car escort and we were told that they couldn't guarantee that she would make the journey. We were so numb from hearing this. Off she went and we travelled up shortly after. She was operated on the next day and lost 40% of her small bowels... But she survived.

Ruby then spent the next 6 months in BCH. We had many more touch and go moments, but when we finally got told that she could come home, it was the most amazing feeling but also scary knowing we weren't going to have the security of the amazing hospital staff that took care of her. Ruby is now 11 years and has severe CP, Epilepsy, c.v.i, short bowel, completely gastrostomy fed and severe learning difficulties. We have had so many ups and downs over the years, but she's still here showing us what an absolute warrior she is. We are and always will be incredibly grateful to all those that work within the NHS and all those that helped to keep Ruby here with us. #NHSHEROS

Born at 27 weeks one with Cerebral palsy and the other with hydrocephalus both made it and are nearly 29. Thanks St. Marys in Newcastle.

This is Frankie, she was 8 weeks early due to placenta previa. She was in nicu for 2 weeks and scbu for 2 weeks, she weighed a lovely 5lb 6!! I caught Covid when I had my emergency csection so I wasn’t able to see her for 2 weeks which was awfull! And her dad couldn’t meet her until she came home! She was very poorly to start with, but she was so strong she just got better every day, she is now 11 months old and doing amazing. x

My twins were born 32 years ago at 26 weeks, weighing 1.10oz and 1lb.15oz. They were born in the jubilee hospital in Belfast. Every day was a nightmare, both were in the neonatel ICU unit and on life support due to lungs not being developed. Alarms would go on and of all the time, never knew from one hour to the next what would happen. There were days they had good days, and days they would have bad days. At 3 weeks they was both taken of life support and apart from being very small, they done very well. They still had oxygen, but it wasn't on very high and at 9 weeks both were feeding by bottle and there weights had went up to 2lb 8 and 2lb 4. They had been moved from ICU and into premi ward and in cots and out of a incubator.

Being born in June, it was the middle of September before we got the heaviest twin home and Oct we got the smaller one home. Apart from childhood illness. they never really looked back. One is now married and as you can see in photo, they are identical and are now 32 year old, so anyone with a baby in the ICU unit you need to take everyday as it comes. Some days will look like everything is going well and next day you could be back to square 1. Some days you spend all day waiting by the phone and by evening they were doing well, just you never know from one hour to the next what will happen. It can be a very stressful time for parents and family members. I went on to have 2 other children also born prematurely, one at 5 weeks and one 9 weeks early, and all 4 have never had any problems once they left hospital. I hope this helps with anyone who has a premi baby, just take one day at a time

My partner Clara was pregnant and due to give birth on 8th February 2021, however, on 17th December 2020 I had returned home from work and an hour later Clara started having contractions. I wasted no time and I got her in the van and drove her to Medway Maritime Hospital Kent, we arrived not a moment too soon because I was told ( go in room 8 YOUR HAVING A BABY right now!). I went into shock, but I composed myself so I could support Clara. I was at Clara's bedside and watched the entire birth process thanks to Borris Johnson's legislation on allowing dads to be at the birth during covid 19 !

Baby Molly was born at 1:36 am on the 18th Dec 2020 weighting just 4lb 13oz via natural birth. Molly had to stay in icu for 16 days, which felt like a lifetime as we just wanted our daughter home. However her stay in icu was essential for her and she reached her mile stones quickly and was able to come home with us for the first time on 4th January 2021. Her stay in the icu for that period of time, while essential for molly, was difficult for us as parents as whilst being allowed unlimited access to her in icu, we where not able to bond with her naturally in our home environment in those crucial first few days/ weeks. We did not feel a bond with her, nore did we feel the love we expected to feel. I was concerned about my state of mind and Clara's also, and felt angry that we felt so numb, as we had decided to have a child to love and take care of, and since I was actually in foster care on a section 31 care order for my entire childhood, these feelings of numbness really really concerned me as I was scared stiff that I'd become like my parents and reject my own daughter! This however was completely normal because we where unable to take her home immediately, therefore was unable to establish the parental bond we longed for.

This, however, was quickly established once Molly was home safe with us and now all is well. The entire thing was a rollercoaster of emotions and emotions that took us by surprise too. Now 8 weeks later, baby Molly is doing very well and we both love her with all our hearts, She is suffering with Colic which is very common regardless of being premature or not! Colic is trapped wind and is very uncomfortable for the baby and will make the baby scream and scream relentlessly and it is very stressful for baby and parents, but there are medicines you can give baby before meals that will ease there discomfort and give the parents a night's well needed sleep! Other than the very common Colic issue, which we are treating with support from the gp, Molly is doing fantastically and we couldn't be more happy.

Hope some of the things I have said will help others who may be struggling with there thoughts, the entire thing is a mine field of perfectly normal emotions that don't feel normal at the time. I also found that watching the physical birth process happen bought me and my partner closer together 😀

When I was 18 I met what I thought was my forever. We were together for about 6 months when I found out I was pregnant, I was taken to hospital because I was in so much pain, thats when I found out I was 3 weeks pregnant. My pregnancy was pretty straight forward except I was huge. I was a size 10 then at 6 months pregnant I was a size 22!!!!!

At 37 weeks I was tiny again. I went to see my midwife and she said it was fine, she said it was nothing to worry about and would book me in for a scan in a week, the day before I was due my scan I was really ill. I phoned the hospital and went in they gave me a scan and told me A.J had passed away. He weighed 3lb 11.5ozs. My placenta had stopped working at 30 weeks. 3 months later I found out I was pregnant again, I was scanned every 3-4 weeks and everything was fine. I gave birth to my daughter at only 5cm dilated as she had passed away, they did bring her back though.

11 months later I gave birth again to a perfect health boy. Roll on 2.5 years and I fell pregnant again. This time it was a bumpy pregnancy. I saw my consultant at 32 weeks and told him something didn't feel right. I was booked in the following day to have a c-section, when I arrived at the hospital they had no idea I was coming, so they told me I could stay the night and they would keep an eye on me. The following morning they placed me on the monitor and her face dropped. I was rushed to theatre within 20 minutes KYLE JAMES was born by emergency c-section. He weighed 3lb 25ozs and was barely alive. The SCBU were amazing. 12 days later he came home. When he was 10 weeks old I woke in a panic and found he wasn't breathing. 1 year later I had an ectopic pregnancy and had to have one of my tubes removed. I was told I had 11% chance of ever having another child.

2 years later I didn't feel well so I went to the doctor and was told I was pregnant, I was 8 weeks. 1 week later I started to bleed very heavily. I went to the doctor again and was told I had had a miscarriage. 3 weeks later at another appointment I was told I was 12 weeks pregnant, I had miscarried 1 of my twins. I was in hospital for 4 month on full bed rest when my daughter was born at 32 weeks by c-section. She weighed 4lb 5.5ozs. She was in SCBU again and again they were amazing.

Little Rosie's mum suffered badly from pregnancy cholestasis, mum's levels where erratic throughout the weekly blood tests, until one day it was "right you're having your baby tomorrow 33weeks plus 5". Rosie's mum, Sarah, didn't show an ounce of fear. 

I put on a brave face trying not to pass out in the operating theatre, managed to hold in the tears until that brief cuddle before being whisked off to NICU, not being able to see her for hours. Finally seeing Rosie with that cpap mask was the most unnatural thing I'd ever experienced. The staff looking after these baby's don't get enough credit, the reason I'm sharing this is to get awareness. You never quite know if that next baby in that plastic box is going to be yours.