by Nicola Donnelly whose son, Leo, was born prematurely in London in summer 2017. Leo and Nicola were transferred by Lucy Air Ambulance from UCL Hospital to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after three weeks in London. Leo is now eight months and enjoys cuddles, stories and baby sensory classes.
The birth of my son was as different to what I expected as I think it is possible to be. My vague birth plan (because I thought I had weeks and weeks to plan it) was for my husband to drive me to a midwifery-led unit close to my home in Dundee where we would spend a day or two with a crib waiting for us at home. I thought I would be 40 weeks, organised and taking home a newborn in a car-seat and clutching a ‘New Baby’ balloon.
In reality, I went into labour at 25 weeks and 6 days while in London. The delivery was breach and a team of doctors was waiting for my baby to enter the world so they could make him stable and take him straight to intensive care. At that point, all that mattered was my baby was alive, my husband had made it in time and the people around me knew exactly what they were doing. It was to be another 9 weeks before I could put my baby to my breast, 11 weeks before I could take my baby home.
In a neonatal unit, it can take a little while until you realise your role as a parent. As a new mum, you are biologically-wired to care for your child and an incubator presents a physical barrier. I was encouraged to read to Leo as a way of supporting his neural development, but also to bond and grow an attachment to each other. I read to Leo every day while he was in the hospital and I still do. It was one of the few things that made me feel normal as a parent to a very premature baby and I hope it helps other people too.
To help other mums with children in the Neonatal Unit at Ninewells Hospital, Nicola is fundraising to buy books for the unit. See her project here.
Nicola is also supporting our Mum Matters campaign. Join us in helping parents cope when their child is seriously ill by donating a Mum Matters Support Package.
