LITTLE MIRACLES
MOTHERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES ON WORLD PREMATURITY DAY
EXPECTING parents count down the days of the nine months of pregnancy until meeting their new baby on the expected due date.
The hospital bag is packed and the date is thought as the expectant child’s birthday. .
But not all mothers are able to have the birthing experience they imagined as prematurity can occur. According to The World Health Organisation, 15 million babies across the globe are born early each year.
Yesterday was World Premature Day and mothers in Hull shared their experiences of f when their baby arrived early.
‘Born with zero life expectancy’
Charlotte Atkinson, has a 17-year-old daughter named Heidi.
Heidi was born at just 27 weeks old, around three months before her due date.
Charlotte said: “She had stopped growing weeks before her birth, she spent 6 months in hospital before she was able to come home on oxygen, bless her.
“She was born with zero life expectancy, but when she was born by emergency C-section she came out screaming to everyone’s surprise.
“At the time I didn’t speak about it enough, but we really are lucky at how brave our daughter was.”
Heidi is now completely healthy, living a happy teenage life.
‘MMY little princess’
Emma Cull had baby girl Bella Rae Shepard in May of this year.
If having a new-born during a global pandemic was not hard enough, Bella was unexpectedly born four weeks early.
She was born by emergency C-section, weighing 4Ibs, 13oz.
Emma said: “This is her today (pictured). She is my little princess.”
“If I am honest I didn’t get the birthing experience I wanted during this time.
“It felt very lonely for both me and my partner, despite having the midwife and other ladies in the room with me.
“You watch TV programmes like One Born Every Minute, and want your experience to be the same.”
Despite this, Bella is a happy and healthy baby b who loves being dressed up by her mum.
‘We both stayed by his side’
Courtney C Scott gave birth to little Ollie Harrison when she was just 26 weeks pregnant on October 30, 2018.
The first-time mum’s felt an unusual pain and a went to Hull Royal Infirmary as a precaution.
Courtney’s partner, Ryan Harrison said: “For “Fo the first four to six weeks we there was a risk that tha Ollie wouldn’t make ma it.
“It was a hard time f for us and we both stayed by his side.
“I can’t put into words how grateful I am and having Ollie in there just opened my eyes to what can happen.” .”
Weighing just 2lbs
Ella Lemm, who studied childhood studies at the
University of Hull, celebrates her daughter
Bethany every day.
The now happy and healthy 17-year old, was born at 25 weeks weighing ng just 2lbs.
Ella enjoys sharing how far her daughter has come from the struggle at birth.
Bliss, UK’S leading charity for babies born premature or sick, provides free support to parents.
It works with health professionals to provide training and improve care for babies, campaigns for improved hospital resources and is actively involved in pioneering neonatal research.