29 Weeks

On November the 14th 2006 I wasn't feeling very well. I had been working full time as a hairdresser, working a lot of hours and I had just asked my boss to cut my hours back a bit.

At 29 weeks and 3 days, our daughter, Chloe came into this world totally unexpected. I'd had a routine, healthy pregnancy, no complications and no warning of what was to come.

At 28 weeks I was admitted to Nepean Hospital with severe foetal growth restriction and hypertension. I was told that my baby would be born early and was given steroids to help his lungs.

After having my 3rd baby, Mikey at just 32+3weeks I knew to watch out for the same signs that led up to his early birth, and although I was distracted with my 9yo, 6yo, and 17month old about 2 weeks before Amelia was born I definitely sensed that things were progressing towards another early birth.

At 29 weeks into my pregnancy everything was progressing well, with the only hiccup encountered being a bleed at 6 weeks. Now, with only a little over 2 months to go I was thoroughly enjoying my growing baby bump, prenatal yoga and anticipating the arrival of my 1st child.

I found out I was pregnant with twins on our eldest daughter's 4th birthday. We had been trying to conceive for years so, although very shocked, we were so happy that we were having two babies, and up until my 18 week scan I was feeling really good and I headed off to the scan really excited.

A lot of things took place well before I fell pregnant with Isaac. For starters my husband and I had to decide whether it was something we really wanted to consider, as it was going to mean another complicated pregnancy due to HELLP Syndrome and another premature baby.

After 2 years of trying to conceive having problems we fell pregnant. We had to have a scan at about 7 weeks but the only time I could have the scan was at 6.5 weeks. We were told that there was a chance that there may not be a heartbeat as it may be too early.

First Christmas together: Matilda was born at just 29 weeks, weighing 1413g. After 10 weeks in hospital, Matilda finally went home on the 9th November, 3 days before her due date.