Miracle mum Jade shares Collins's story:

Collins was born on the 22nd of March 2024. She was the third and final addition to our family. Of my 3 pregnancies, I would say that hers was the least complicated! She is not my first premature baby, but she is my earliest. In order for our story to make sense I need to first add that I had a Lletz in 2015/16 I always forget which year. It was only once, I do recall at the time they would prefer not to do this until after having children but it needed to happen for me. They said it was unlikely to affect anything. Fast-forward to 2019 and my firstborns' story. Giving you a brief overview of her pregnancy
essentially underpins my pregnancy journey It was completely normal to begin with. I had my pregnancy care within the public system 12 weeks, all good. 16 weeks had some bleeding, got checked, nothing wrong, 20 week scan also showed all good. 21 weeks more bleeding, went to birth suites and was told all good, booked me in for a scan just in case. Two days later had that scan and everything changed very quickly. My cervix was measured and it was sitting at 0.8cm. I was sent upstairs with no knowledge of what was going on. I was told I had a shortened cervix and treatment was needed. I was immediately started on progesterone and advised to agree to a cerclage. This was explained to me and I agreed. It was placed the next day. I then spent the rest of my pregnancy being monitored weekly and then fortnightly. I was off work for a month and then back part time and finally full time after 28 weeks. 28 weeks was a milestone for me, as was 32 weeks because I knew Bendigo took babies after 32 weeks! My waters broke at 34 weeks and 5 days. I went into spontaneous labour and she was eventually born at 35 weeks via emergency C-section under general. Mila then spent 16 days in special care, she was small (2kgs) and needed to establish feeding. My second pregnancy was again through public system. I was monitored via scan each fortnight whilst also taking progesterone to assist my what I now knew as an incompetent cervix. I opted not to have a stitch this time as I found that process very traumatic and wished to avoid if possible. All was tracking really well the whole time and there were no hiccups at all. Fast forward to 35 weeks and 5 days. We are down in Geelong and my waters broke at Westfield. I ended up in Geelong hospital and was unable to be transferred to Bendigo because the special care was over full at the time. My son was born the next morning, a Vbac at 35 and 6 days. He was completely fine, spent one night in special care because he was cold. We went home day 3. There is very clearly a trend in my pregnancies that wasn’t predictable at all. No one was able to determine why my waters had broken early again, despite the treatments and care I took.

Now for Collins. This time I opted for shared care with an obstetrician as I needed consistent opinions. Again I was put on progesterone and fortnightly scans until 24 weeks. The cerclage was something I could have if I wished, but again opted to not have. My cervix was holding steady each scan and was never cause for concern or extra intervention. I had marginal cord insertion and was due to have a growth scan at 32 weeks. I had zero issues throughout and was feeling comfortable and happy. It’s clear to me now my body is adept at masking problems!!! 31 weeks 3 days
(20/3) my waters broke while I was at the swimming pool taking my grade 4 class there for their lessons. After a little drama I got to the hospital and into the birth suites. It was definitely my waters but no contracting. I was given a steroid injection and nifedipine. I was then told I would have to be transferred which was devastating. I knew, deep down that would happen as I was below 32 weeks and as I mentioned before it was a milestone in my pregnancies to reach that to stay in Bendigo. The docs told me it would be somewhere in Melbourne, but not sure where. Eventually they came back and said I was being transferred to Geelong. I laughed as I had already had a baby in Geelong accidentally, unlike what this time was going to be. I was transferred via ambulance. I was given a scan and told estimated weight was to be 1800grams give or take 200grams. I also had another steroid injection. I still wasn’t contracting and stayed that way until early on the 22nd. I progressed very quickly and gave birth to her naturally at 11am Friday the 22nd. I got a quick 1minute hold and then she was whisked away to the doctors. She did cry on her own and looked ok. Her apgars were 9 and 10.

Everything after this was a whirlwind! She was on CPAP for 34 hours and had antis. We were given the complete run down by the paediatrician Dr Phillipa Shilson. She was brilliant and told us a lot of what could happen and what they may need to do, this allowed us to never fear the unknown with her care. Thankfully, the many things that were explained to us that may happen never did happen. Collins proved to be a very strong 31 week baby. I was travelling 30mins to the hospital overnight and early morning to deliver milk as I was discharged the day after her birth. Day 3 I was alone in Geelong and offered accommodation paid for by the hospital so I could be closer to her. My husband had to get back to our other children as our four year old wasn’t coping too well which we understood, one day we were there and the next we were gone and didn’t know when we would be home again. Navigating being away from home was incredibly difficult and I was well cared
for by all of Collins nurses whilst in Geelong. I had social workers organising my accommodation so I could be close by and not worry about paying and ensuring they were there for me if I needed to talk. The nurses helped me to go home after 9 days to see my children for Easter! Missing this was hard and it greatly impacted my mental health. They were working very closely with Bendigo to get me home and everyone in Geelong special care knew us and what we were hoping for. We ended up staying in Geelong for two weeks. Receiving the phone call that the piper team were on their way to pick Collins up and take her back was the best phone call I think I’ve ever received. Getting to Bendigo and being able to go home and see my family after all that time was amazing. Throughout this time Collins continued to show she was strong, two days after arriving in Bendigo she was out of the isolette. She continued to kick all the goals. Her biggest issue seemed to be reflux which the doctors believed was causing her Brady desats, a term I got to know quite well during our time in hospital. She was put on thickener and they just about stopped. We got to go home on the 5th of May! During our time in both hospitals our family were very well cared for. Travelling to and staying in the hospital most of the day, organising my other children and ensuring I see them during the day and make sure they are cared for whilst I am with Collins. Looking after myself while also caring for her, getting enough sleep, expressing every 3 hours is all nothing a mum with a term baby deals with as well but, throw in special care and leaving your baby each day and the juggle is elevated. The 5 days accommodation I received while I was in Geelong was incredible and I thank the donor for that. It took a huge amount of stress off us. Thankfully having a natural birth I was able to drive a car which was an absolute lifesaver as throwing that into the mix would have also been very stressful! My postpartum journey with a premature baby was very challenging and I’m thankful I was able to get myself from point A to B with minimal pain. We have been incredibly lucky that so far there have been no red flags to indicate future difficulties for Collins. This is something we will continue to monitor and hope that she continues to thrive. I hope our story gives everyone context to our lived in experience with a preterm birth into an already busy home life.

This is a speech I did for the Preterm Birth Alliance and Safer Care VIC in May 2024