World Prematurity Day - Serena's Story

All the scans up until 20 weeks were perfectly normal and we were told everything looked fine. Being excited about our impending arrival, we decided to book a 4D scan for 28 weeks. It was at this scan that we discovered that all was not entirely well. The sonographer wasn’t legally allowed to tell us anything medically so we were asked to call the midwife and book a hospital exam. Of course my heart sank with worry as we stepped into the hospital for another scan. We discovered I was suffering from problems with my placenta and that it seemed I would eventually develop preeclampsia. As result our baby wasn’t receiving much from the placenta to help her grow and developed IUGR. Something I had never heard of! Over the next few weeks I was to have weekly scans to monitor our baby’s growth, blood flow and oxygen levels and have several tests myself to monitor the developments of preeclampsia. Bizarrely I had no other symptoms apart from rising protein levels. At 34 weeks I was finally admitted into hospital for closer observation and it was decided that the time had come to deliver our baby via emergency c section as it was becoming too dangerous for both of us to continue any further into the pregnancy.

 Our daughter, Ailbhe Rae Grear was born at 16:04 on 27/7/2017 at 34weeks. She was born a tiny 3lb 4oz – even small for her gestational age. Thankfully, because of the outstanding vigilance and care of staff at Kingston Hospital throughout the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy, she was delivered safely and with no other health issues.

 

Ailbhe spent just 2 weeks in The NNU at Kingston Hospital. Cannot thank the entire team enough. As a first time parents, it was scary enough for my husband and I, and now to deal with a teenie little baby was going to be a challenge. All the staff were so supportive and helped us and Ailbhe every step of the way in those first few weeks as a new family.

 

Ailbhe is now 16 weeks and doing incredibly well. Had her weighed yesterday and she’s now 9lbs – growing beautifully. Her name means “little Irish warrior woman” and she has truly lived up to her name. I swell with pride every day watching her grow and will never ever forget the wonderful team of people who helped her arrive safely into our world.