James was born at 29 weeks weighing just 2 pounds and half an ounce.
James’ mum Sarah tells their story.
“I was 29 weeks pregnant and I felt that my usually very active baby wasn't moving around as much, so I decided to go in for a scan for some reassurance. When I went in, they found some unusual heart patterns suggesting that the baby was in distress. After several days of monitoring, they decided that it was going to be safest to deliver the baby sooner rather than later. We are Sheffield based, but unfortunately Sheffield didn't have any neonatal cots available, so the amazing Embrace team managed to find space for us in the closest place available - which turned out to be Grimsby! After being blue-lighted to Grimsby, James was delivered safely at 29+5 weeks via emergency c section. We spent a week on the neonatal ward in Grimsby before the Embrace team found us space a little closer to home and we were transferred to the Rotherham neonatal unit.
“We spent 52 days on the Rotherham neonatal unit so by the end we felt like part of the family! The care James received was incredible - the nurses were so skilled and attentive so we had utmost trust that James was receiving the best care. He began his neonatal journey in an incubator, on high flow oxygen, being fed via NG tube, and on light therapy for jaundice. We felt like we didn't see his face for several weeks because of all the wires and tubes. Bit by bit, these were removed as James grew bigger and stronger. There were some setbacks along the way but eventually James could sustain himself well without any extra support. Eventually he was discharged weighing 4lb 12oz, more than double his birth weight.
“The unit has been recently refurbished so the facilities were excellent. For families, there is a family room where you can go to eat, have a cuppa and just have a break from the ward, equipped with lovely books to read to your baby. There's a feeding room with everything you might need from breast pumps to bonding squares. There are family rooms where we were able to stay overnight and the rooms are really pleasant spaces with star lights in the ceiling, comfy beds and a good TV that we watched a lot of the Olympics on!
“No one wants their baby to end up in hospital for the first weeks or months of their life. But the staff at Rotherham absolutely made the experience more bearable. They were kind, supportive, experienced and thorough, always patiently answering our hundreds of questions and helping to ease our anxieties. They cared for our tiny, vulnerable baby until he was strong enough to come home with us and we will be forever grateful for that.
“James is a happy, healthy baby and he's thriving. He struggles with reflux and is that bit more vulnerable than other babies because of his prematurity, but we know from the first two months of his life that he's a fighter and will just keep getting stronger. We wouldn't be where we are without the Rotherham Neonatal Unit, and we are grateful every day.”