A mother has shared how a blood transfusion in the womb saved her son when she was just 17 weeks pregnant.
Laura Fricker from Weston-super-Mare contracted human parvovirus while pregnant, which was passed to her baby causing him to become anaemic. She was “blown away” after witnessing the life-saving treatment of her little boy via ultrasound.
Following two transfusions, Sebastian was born healthy and thriving, and is now eight years old.
Rare procedure
Laura said: “I absolutely had no idea that this could even happen, I’d never ever heard of babies having transfusions.”
She recalled how worried she was about the procedures carried out at 17 and 19 weeks, as it is rare for it to be done that early. Laura explained: “You could see on the screen the baby wriggling around and the needle going in and then the bubbles of blood going in.”
The mother shared: “Even now, I get a bit emotional talking about it, because it’s just, yeah, it’s a pretty big thing.”
She noted that Sebastian “just has two little scars” on his stomach from the transfusion. She added: “These are our little reminder of how lucky we were that two people selflessly allowed their blood to be given to him.”
Amazing
In 2024, baby Éabha was diagnosed with a build-up of fluid around her lungs and body at 27 weeks gestation, which could have led to heart failure. However, following specialist surgery in Nottingham, she was able to continue to grow until she was delivered by caesarean section at 31 weeks.
Éabha’s mum, Eleanor, said: “It is amazing what can be done in the womb before babies are even born.”
She added: “Éabha will always be our special miracle baby, she is a little fighter and we are just so grateful that she is here with us.”
Preemie mum thanks hospital staff for saving both their lives