"Having my baby 10 weeks earlier than expected"

I was being monitored every week in the GRI for my blood pressure and my baby’s growth due to pre eclampsia. I went in to my routine weekly scan and doctors appointment when my bp spiked dangerously high and was taken to the HDU in the labour ward where the fantastic medical team got me stable. I was then taken to the ward and admitted. The next 3 days were a rollercoaster of emotions being taken to the labour ward and back down to the ward due to my bp. On day 4 my bp went high again but also my baby’s heart rate had taken a dip and again back to the labour ward where it was decided  the safest option for myself and my baby would be to deliver her. I had a c-section that evening.

I was worried due to her being 10 weeks early and so small weighing just over 2lbs but the medical team are fantastic and the neonatal unit staff took me and my fiance a walk around before I had the baby to show us where she would be and explained everything to us which made me feel better about everything that was about to happen. I didn’t realise it’s not as rare as I thought for 30 week old babies to thrive in the unit and my baby is doing great!

She was in the ICU for two days and then moved to the special care room. I was sitting with her one day when Barry come up to me and asked if I needed a hand filling out the expenses form and he would help, I was given leaflets but hadn’t had time to read everything and wasn’t aware I could claim back for food and travel for my fiance having to come to the hospital everyday. This is a fantastic service as you don’t realise how much you spend on food and travel and when you're going through trauma like this you don’t think about that but we had dipped into our savings for the baby quite a lot so to have help from Barry was excellent.

Fast forward two weeks and I have been discharged myself and spend 3-4 hours during the day in the neonatal unit with my baby. My fiance after his work spends a few hours a night with her too and my 3 year old daughter is allowed to visit. I think it’s great they only allow siblings into the unit and only allow mum and dad to hold the baby due to infection spread.

I could not thank the midwives, doctors, nurses enough for the fantastic work they do in the unit for my baby and family. My daughter is doing amazing and I know she is being looked after when we cannot be there through the night with the team. I think Barry is fantastic too as I wouldn’t know how to fill out the forms myself so his help has been greatly appreciated too. Thank you to all at the GRI.