A baby born at 23 weeks and four days is “thriving” and has celebrated her first birthday at home.
Baby Jemima weighed just 1lb 4oz when she was born with no detectable heartbeat. After being resuscitated, she was ushered into the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit at Medway Maritime Hospital, and was able to be discharged from the hospital a week after her due date.
In Great Britain, abortion is currently permitted for most reasons up to 24 weeks, and up to birth if the unborn child is deemed to have a disability.
Heart-wrenching
Mum Hannah, from Kent, shared how she was “heartbroken” when at 20 weeks pregnant she was informed that she was dilating early, which meant she was at high risk of losing Jemima.
She said: “We’d gone from sharing our excitement with our loved ones about having a baby girl the day before to being told we were going to lose her.”
After the birth Hannah recalled how her little girl was intubated, placed on heat pads, and moved to the neonatal ward: “Seeing Jemima in her incubator covered in tubes and wires was heart-wrenching.”
Grateful
Dad Craig said: “We are so grateful to all of the consultants, doctors and nurses who cared for Jemima and us while we were on the unit. Jemima wouldn’t be here without them.”
After she was discharged, Jemima remained on oxygen for a further four months, before she was able to finally come off respiratory support. Craig added: “Today, Jemima is absolutely thriving.”
Dr Helen Gbinigie, the neonatal clinical lead who cared for Jemima, stated: “Her story reminds us of the fragility of life, the strength of families and clinical teams working together”.
Sharing hope
Twins Freddie and Charlie were born at just 23 weeks in the same hospital in Medway in January this year.
While Charlie died a week later, Freddie was transferred to The Royal London Hospital where he underwent five surgeries and spent 230 days there as he “fought against all the odds thrown at him”.
Mum Lucy Havard said: “On my lowest days, I used to search the internet, just looking for positive stories because all I was being told by the doctors was he’s not going to survive.”
She added: “So, I just wanted to share some hope for other people: even if the doctors are preparing you for the worst it doesn’t mean that’s always the case because he’s proof, he did make it.”
Resilience and humanity
Consultant Neonatologist at The Royal London Hospital, Dr Vadivelam Murthy, explained: “Freddie’s journey is a remarkable testament to the skill, dedication and compassion of our neonatal teams.
“Caring for a baby born at just 23 weeks requires highly specialised expertise and a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. We are immensely proud of the care provided and delighted to see Freddie go home after such a challenging start to his life.”
Catherine Robinson, spokeswoman for Right To Life UK, commented: “It is wonderful to hear that little Freddie defied the odds and is doing so well, and our gratitude is with the medical team who supported him through his many difficulties in hospital”.
“Very premature babies like Freddie demonstrate how resilient even the youngest humans in our society are and point to the humanity of the children in the womb”.
Five-year-old girl with rare condition ‘brimming with life’