Neonatal Intensive Care
FAMILY EXPERIENCES
We’ve discovered in life that you can make plans, but outcomes aren’t a certainty.
We have had two pregnancies which ended in spontaneous extreme preterm labour and all of our children have spent the first few months of their lives in the Neonatal Unit at Wishaw.
We are incredibly indebted to the wonderful staff who have helped each of our children to survive and have provided them with the best possible start to life.
In January 2015, our first born, Nathan, arrived at 27+3 weeks gestation. Because we knew that I was in preterm labour, I had been in hospital in the days before he arrived, as we knew he would arrive quickly and would need immediate intervention. He weighed 1025g (2lbs 4.5oz) and spent 72 days being cared for before we were able to take him home.
With hindsight, Nathan’s neonatal journey was relatively smooth, although it didn’t feel like it at the time as we faced many challenges associated with having an extremely premature baby. We found ourselves immersed in an environment that is difficult to describe to others. Medical terminology and procedures, multiple alarms, breast pumps, processing difficult information and relying on the simple touch of your baby became part of our daily reality. Nathan was still tiny at 4lbs 10.5oz when we took him home.
As Nathan grew up, we were keen to expand our family but were understandably anxious. We found out we were pregnant in April 2018. At our 12 week scan, we were shocked to learn that we were expecting twins. At 15 weeks gestation (on the NHS’s 70th birthday), I had a suture placed, with the hope that this would alleviate another preterm delivery.
However, despite our best efforts, our twins made a dramatic and quick entry into the world in September 2018 at only 24+3 weeks gestation. We arrived at Maternity Triage in the middle of the night, with only an hour to spare before the babies arrived. Both were delivered in their membranes and with two Neonatal teams waiting to work on them immediately.
David arrived first and weighed 750g (1lb 9oz); Grace followed after only five minutes and weighed 550g (1lb 3oz). We thought that Nathan was tiny when he was born; it was impossible to imagine how the medical team could work with David and particularly Grace’s miniscule bodies. Amid our fears, there was a relief at knowing our babies were in the best possible hands.
We knew from the outset that this journey would be harder than our experience with Nathan and it certainly has been. Our emotions have been stretched beyond measure. We have faced serious complications along the way. At one point, David was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow for investigation and monitoring. Having our family separated was incredibly difficult.
Both babies have been particularly vulnerable and have different health complications as a result of their prematurity. Grace was able to come home after 106 days on oxygen (just before her due date). She’s been a daily visitor to David, who has remained in hospital due to ongoing health challenges. We’re currently at 147 days in hospital for David and we are hoping to be able to bring him home soon to join our family unit. At four years old, Nathan has also been immersed in the Neonatal life and has been a super big brother to David and Grace. It’s been good that he has been able to understand and contextualise the start of his life through visiting his siblings.
A friend reminded us that, “Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow.” We do not know what the future holds for any of our “preemies” but we know that we have learned so much about faith, hope and love from them and we know that we will continue to learn as our journey progresses.
Our faith has helped to sustain us as, despite the challenges, we have marvelled at our miracles who have taught us so much about resilience and finding joy in the smallest of victories. Whilst we would not choose this journey, we have been well supported throughout each challenge that’s been thrown our way. The unit’s family centred approach has enabled us to work with the medical professionals to ensure that we can be the best supporters, advocators, protectors and parents to our children. It’s been a real team effort, and for that we are eternally grateful.
