"Premature birth"

At 33 weeks my waters ruptured which landed me in St Michael's. I was given a dose of steroid injections to help my babies lungs develop quicker and antibiotics to avoid infection. After a few days in hospital I was becoming increasingly anxious about my baby arriving early, or something awful happening to my son, as the staff where thinking of sending me home. I had a test done to see the likelihood of me going into premature labour, which I was told I had a 9% chance of this happening, along with another test to prove my waters hadn’t actually broken - even though I was wearing a pad all week and could visibly see that they were constantly trickling out (along with other midwives confirming this too). I woke up the next morning in a lot of, what felt like, strong period pains. I was taken down to the delivery suite to be monitored closely. After having regular stomach tightenings, St. Michaels thought it would be best that I be transferred to a hospital that had space for my baby, if he where to arrive early. They put me in an ambulance and I was transferred to Taunton. I arrived in Taunton Saturday afternoon and by Sunday morning my waters had fully broken and I went into labour shortly after. My baby was finally born the same day weighing a healthy 6lb9oz at 34 weeks with the help of two amazing midwives, Amy and Megan. They looked after me so well and helped my son arrive as safely as possible during an incredibly anxious time. My partner and I were able to have some skin to skin cuddles for a short while before our baby had to have some assistance with his breathing and extra care in the neonatal ward.

It was scary to see my tiny baby with so many wires and tubes in him and not being able to hold him when he needed comforting. This whole world on the neonatal ward is so alien to us and felt like a very scary place to be in. So many machines beeping, people constantly poking and prodding him and just so much out of our control. It was incredibly hard to process everything and it was all happening so quickly. I am so thankful to have been at Musgrove and surrounded by such wonderful, kind, caring, compassionate human beings that I honestly don’t know how I would have coped without you all. Everyone on the neonatal ward does such a fantastic job with looking after these babies you really are all heroes. It’s been a long 2 weeks being away from home and my eldest boy. So from the bottom of my heart thank you so much as so many of you will stay in our hearts forever. A special thank you to Kate, Ally, Alparna, Bonnie, Vicky, Tina, Dr Ganga and Menaha for always listening to us and for the level of care you provided to our son. Every staff member here has been unbelievable, thank you.

After what started off as a very stressful, anxious and an emotional rollercoaster of a fortnight we’re finally on our way home to settle in with our new bundle of Joy.

Thank you so much for everything SNICU xx