Your stories of having premature babies
Premature birth is a common and serious health problem that affects families up and down the UK. Over the past year, families have been kind enough to share their stories with us to help raise awareness of premature birth.
My daughter Molly was born at 25+6 weeks. I had an OK pregnancy, and at 24 weeks, things went `squiffy` I had 4 days in hospital with bleeding and mucus, but they sent me home. The following Saturday, I felt uncomfortable all day.
By the afternoon, the discomfort was becoming more regular -about every 15 minutes. At 6.10 I phoned the hospital and they said come in. Within 20 minutes (the car journey) I was having crippling contractions every 2 minutes, at 6.45 I was 9cm, my waters intact and in extreme pain. At 6.50 Molly was born.
She weighted 2lb 2oz - a great weight for such an early gestation. She was really strong, and at 20 hours old was in air. Then it went downhill at 7pm Sunday night. By midnight, after she had crashed for a 3rd time, the neonatal team asked our permission to not resucitate her.
Molly dies at 28 hours old.
I now have a son, but he was 5 weeks early at 35 weeks. No-one can tell me why. I want my son to have a sibling who is here, but I am too scared, and cannot face the responsibility of having to bury another baby - I would feel guilty as I know the risks.
Lack of information, lack of research and lack of consistency in care for premmie babies means we are too fearful to build our family, and we have so much love to give - especially because of what Molly taught us.
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