I glanced over the summary of the Preterm Birth Inquiry Report and a quote jumped out at me as sipped my coffee. “At exactly 30 weeks my twins were delivered by emergency caesarean. One night I was at Pilates and the next I was in hospital and supposedly a mother of two” “Supposedly.” That word hits hard.
Read MoreIt has been 21 months since the premature birth of my daughter Elsie and I’m still suffering from postnatal depression (PND) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I was diagnosed with PTSD by a therapist around eight months after Elsie’s birth.
Read MoreI gave birth to our baby girl Freya at 27 weeks 5 days, and what followed was a whirlwind of fear, uncertainty, and emotional upheaval. What made it even more difficult was my struggle with perinatal PTSD.
Read MoreAs 16 September came around, I was getting ready for Scarlett (born at 31 weeks) to start primary school. I could see she was excited to be starting school but I was so anxious about how she was going to cope.
Read MoreThe Smallest Things has hit its own big milestone. The big 10 - double digits! We took our first steps back in September 2014, originally set up as a blog and Facebook page to raise awareness of the ongoing needs of children born prematurely and their families after NICU.
Read MoreSebastian was born at 27+2 weeks’ gestation in March 2019, weighing just 1lb 8oz (706g). While the NICU team had made us aware of the potential lasting impacts of prematurity, school seemed distant and almost trivial during those early days and months.
Read MoreOur son Gregory was born suddenly at 27 weeks’ gestation in January 2012, weighing 2lb 9oz (1.16kg). I was at work 50 miles away from home at the time and had to rush to the nearest hospital in Edinburgh where Gregory was born just over a day later. We were totally unprepared for his early arrival.
Read MoreFour and a half years ago, our world was forever changed when, at just 25 weeks’ pregnant, our son Iwan made an early entrance into the world. Our tiny fighter began his battle for life in the neonatal intensive care unit and was given only a 17% change of survival.
Read MoreI am so incredibly proud to have shared my story and to have worked with so many others to bring about Neonatal Leave and Pay entitlements for parents of children born premature or sick.
Read MoreMy employer supported me hugely and gave me an additional three months’ leave at full pay to reflect the time between Alfie’s premature birth and his due date. Without it, I would have been forced to leave my job.
Read MoreWhy do I believe in these stickers so passionately? The answer is quite straightforward: they simplify a complex journey.
Read MoreI’m thrilled to share the journey that our team at Bright Little Stars in Stanmore has embarked on in achieving the Prem Aware Award.
Read MoreOur twins, Jakob & Lily-May, were born at 30 weeks and spent a long seven weeks in NICU following their premature birth. Recently, we celebrated their first birthday, happy and healthy, but it has been a long journey to get here.
Read MoreHello, I'm Jasmine, I'm 25 and I live in the West Midlands. In 1997 I was born 12 weeks premature, weighing 2lb (900g). My disabilities are dyspraxia and autism, which were both diagnosed very late when I was 16 years old.
Read MoreMy name is James Joseph Buckley and I was born at 23 weeks on 28 February 2002. Flicking through my mother’s diaries (from 2002 to 2008), I understand the desperation, heartache and sadness she must've felt after I was born.
Read MoreNine months on from completing the South Downs Ultra Marathon (at 50km, my longest run ever), I feel so very lucky and fortunate. Not only for my body, but also for my ability to have crossed the finish line. My twin brother Rufus and I were born at 23 weeks’ gestation in 1994.
Read MoreOur daughter Matilda was born at 27 weeks, weighing just 665g (1lb 7oz), in August 2021 after I’d suddenly developed pre-eclampsia two weeks previously. She spent 19 weeks in two hospitals, before finally making it home just in time for Christmas on 19 December last year.
Read MoreAt 31 weeks I was admitted to hospital with preeclampsia, which was soon to become HELLP syndrome. The nurses had to stabilise me for it to be safe enough for a c-section and, at 32 weeks exactly, my twins were born: Eloise at 2lbs (0.91kg) and Joshua at 3lbs (1.36kg).
Read MoreA year ago today I woke up in hospital next to my baby for the first time. Hazel had been on this earth for a grand total of 54 days and yet this was the first time I was able to see her the moment I opened my eyes, before either of us had had our coffee - a caramel latte for me, a shot of pure caffeine to the heart for her.
Read MoreFrom the moment my husband and I found out I was carrying twins, we knew it was highly likely they would spend time in neonatal care. We discovered I was pregnant with a boy and a girl and were told to prepare for a range of outcomes.
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