BABIES We can’t wait to get him home
Baby’s name: Kingsley Ikechuwkwu Lucky Michael Emmanuel Okafor. Date and place of birth: February 16 at 2.33pm at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Weight: 2lb 6oz. Parents: Mum Laura Okafor, 30, and dad Lucky Okafor, 29, from Caerau, Cardiff.
Mum’s story: “I didn’t suffer any physical morning sickness, just the feeling.
“I craved ready salted crisps with cheese and chive dip.
“To begin I was relaxed about the birth. I had one previous planned C-section with my first daughter, then an induced natural on my second daughter.
“Myself and my mum booked a private scan at 18 weeks and found out it was a boy, we were so excited.
“I then bought scratch cards to reveal the sex to his dad and my daughters.
“My eldest was ecstatic but my youngest girl Rosie wasn’t too pleased, she wanted another sister. Dad obviously was very pleased.
“When I had my scan at 20 weeks they noticed a few problems with baby’s growth and placenta. I was admitted to hospital at 28 weeks for nearly four weeks before birth with numerous problems where I received steroid injections to help develop his lungs ready for early labour.
“We decided to name him after his dad whose name is Lucky. Although it is very unusual we thought it had a lot of meaning.
“Then at 31 weeks I went back and forth to UHW for daily CTG [cardiotocography] traces and, for a scan at 32 weeks there, they told me baby hadn’t grown for two weeks.
“Kingsley got taken straight to the neonatal intensive care unit minutes after birth.
“He came out crying then stopped, so they had to intervene and give him some help.
“Dad cut his cord and took some pictures and they swept him off. I went to recovery and saw him five hours after he was born.
“I can’t explain how amazing the staff there are – they are angels in disguise.
“I was discharged two days after my C-section. Leaving to go home without my baby was so hard. Kingsley is still in hospital now on week seven.
“He does love his sleep but when he can’t settle he likes to let the nurses know, but they are amazing and will comfort him with cuddles when I’m not around.
“He is always giving us smiles and is very nosy. He enjoys looking out the window at the birds when we’re having cuddles.
“He has completed our life. Although the last few months have been so hard back and forth to the hospital, especially having our daughters at home, juggling school runs and after-school clubs as well as hospital visits – we couldn’t have done it without our family.
“They have been there to support us and look after the girls.
“We’re not quite sure how long the journey in neonatal will last, and as much as we love the nurses and doctors who have helped Kingsley progress so much, we can’t wait to get him home. It isn’t until you have needed the care of neonatal that you realise how amazing the staff are and that what they do is so incredibly talented.”