Miracle Mum, Kristie shares the story of how her second premature baby came into the world in a hurry.

"My first baby was born at 34+5, after a very easy pregnancy. Eden was born very healthy and strong at 2.65kgs and after 9 days in special care she went home at 36 weeks gestation. So, when we fell pregnant with our son, we followed the advice of midwives and met with the doctors. After a thorough assessment, they told me the chance of having a second premature baby was relatively slim and sent me on my way in the care of the midwives clinic.

Other than normal aches and pains and some pretty nasty pelvic pain it was a smooth pregnancy. One Sunday, after the usual bedtime routine with my 2.5 year old, I was feeling very heavy and tired and had some downward pressure. I didn't think much of it as it was somewhat normal for me to feel uncomfortable by the evening; so I went to bed. I woke at midnight with some mild pains, I timed them for about 30 minutes and knew it was labour. I called birthing and told them I was coming in. Once my inlaws got to our house to look after our daughter we headed to the hospital, which is 10 minutes away, in full blown labour with contractions every minute.

I was assessed in birthing and they said I had to be transferred to Liverpool as my baby was under 34 weeks and would require a NICU, however I said it was getting hard to resist the urge to push, which is when they discovered I was 9cm dilated. I was wheeled into a birthing suit with a team of doctors, nurses and paediatricians looking on, and my son was born at 3.30 am at 2.3kgs. I got to hold him for one minute before they took him to special care and he was hooked up to CPAP. His breathing was very laboured however he did not require oxygen. Surfactant was sprayed into his lungs and he was prepared for transport to Liverpool NICU. Luckily, his stats went up and he improved enough to stay at Campbelltown Special Care.

He spent the next three days in an isolate on and off CPAP and lights for jaundice. Kangaroo cuddles were the highlight of my day. He moved to an open cot on day four where he finally started to gain good weight and three weeks later we took him home. He is now a wild 2-year-old.

Much to our surprise, baby number three was born at 40+1 weeks in July 2020, smack in the middle of Covid and I'm forever thankful I didn't have to endure a 3rd prem baby during a pandemic.

Premature babies now hold a very special place in my heart and I decided to ditch my teaching career and I am now a 2nd year nursing student to become a neonatal nurse."

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