In February 2025, I went into Basildon Hospital, Essex with severe pain under my ribs and I spent a week on and off the CTG machine and having different tests. I was given shots of steroids and the Magnesium through IV. I was only 30 weeks pregnant.
So, there I was at 4am researching survival rate of babies born at 30 weeks. I came across the Bliss website. I spent the whole night reading all the stories and it have me a sense of relief that there was a high chance my baby would be OK. I also learnt so much about the NICU journey and what to expect.
Harry was born on Friday 21st February via emergency caesarean due to uterine rupture, weighing 4lb exactly. He cried and shortly after he stopped and was ventilated and taken straight off to NICU. His Dad went with him and I got see some photos. It was so sad that the first sight I had of him was through a screen. It was six hours before I could see him as I had to wait for the spinal to wear off, and a full 24 hours before I could hold him, which was a world apart from what I experienced with my two daughters who were term babies.
Seeing my tiny baby boy with loads of tubes, attached to so many machines and needing lots of different medicines was extremely overwhelming. However, the nurses at Basildon were incredible at explaining everything and keeping me updated with his care. I made sure I was there for every ward round for updates and for any tests and scans he had. I spent many hours having skin to skin cuddles which I had read about the benefits of on the Bliss site especially as he couldn't feed for 3.5 weeks and was fed through an NG tube. I then joined the Bliss Facebook support group, and felt I was able to ask any questions and was met with an abundance of positive and reassuring messages from other parents in my position. On the ward there were several Bliss posters, and one nurse asked if I had been on the site. Two of my best friends both had babies stay on NICU previously and I found their advice and support vital to my journey, they are the ones who told me about the support group.
During our stay we were visited by the hospital Psychological Therapies Service regularly. She was a vital support for us - she came listened and has supported with a call since being home. If this offered to you I would recommend talking to them. It was so hard going back and forth to the hospital and caring for our two daughters at home and a foster placement, making sure they were still going to school and their clubs. However, with the support of some amazing family and friends we made it through. We were brought up food, snacks and just having day to day check ins from them meant so much.
