Marking World Prematurity Day with our small miracles
These are the tiny miracle babies, born early and nursed back to health by experts working within our Women's Hospital.
And we're sharing their stories on World Prematurity Day, which focuses on improving survival and quality of life for babies born early.
Little Arthur was born last year to the sound of Bonfire Night fireworks at just 32 weeks old.
He spent his first 24 hours intubated in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and three days later, was moved to transitional care. After a week there, he was discharged home on World Prematurity Day.
Arthur’s mum, Lilian, shared: “From the moment we were admitted, our consultant Dr Edwina Goh was nothing short of brilliant and reassuring.
“The midwife and infant feeding team who relentlessly supported us through our breastfeeding journey, the tireless, loving and dedicated NICU and TC staff and everyone else at the Women’s Hospital - we will forever be in your debt.
“Arthur is now a thriving, happy baby, and as his NICU consultant describes, smashing milestones and crossing centiles.”
Franke was born at just 27 weeks with a suspected bleed on the brain and he spent the first two months of his life in neonatal care.
Mum, Hannah, shared: “Although those weeks were some of the most frightening and emotional of our lives, they were also filled with so many little milestones, amazing strength and moments we will never forget.”
“I want to share our story to help other families going through those frightening early days and give them hope that there can be light at the end of what can feel like a very dark and uncertain time."
Frankie is now nearly 18 months old, a very happy, cheeky little boy thriving at home with his mum and dad.
Gemma Holder, Consultant Neonatologist, said: “We recognise how challenging it is for families during their journey on the neonatal unit and the whole team works hard to support the families, ensuring the best outcome for them and their babies.
“We are a very specialist neonatal unit with an on-site fetal medicine department, looking after extremely premature babies born from 22 weeks and some who are diagnosed with complex conditions and World Prematurity Day is important to highlight and celebrate these very special families.”
Every journey is different, and for babies born prematurely and their families, those early days can bring challenges and uncertainty, but what they share is the love, care, and dedication of their families and the people who care for them.