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Baby Alfie born at 27 weeks and weighing 640 grams defies the odds

Baby Alfie was born prematurely at 27 weeks, weighing just 640 grams at birth. His mum, Monica, was not expecting him for another three months but had to undergo an emergency C-section as Alfie showed signs of distress in the womb. 

Alfie’s lungs and other vital organs were not yet ready to survive outside the womb. He had to be kept on ventilator support at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Wishaw, Scotland. His father, Gary, said that it was “a beautiful time but it is worrying as well because you don’t know what lies ahead”. Monica said that they were taking it “one day at a time”. 

Soon after his birth, Alfie’s lungs collapsed and his heart rate dropped to a dangerously low level. His medical team were battling to keep him alive. Alfie’s parents were called to his bedside to say their goodbyes as the medical team thought they were not going to be able to resuscitate him. Luckily, the team was able to bring his heart rate back to normal levels but Alfie’s condition remained unstable and he required a lot of oxygen and ventilator support. 

At 23 days, Alfie had to be put on steroids, usually used as a last resort. Thankfully, after four days of this treatment, his condition started to improve and he began to oxygenate really well. Monica said “it [steroids] seems to have worked a miracle…we thought that we had lost him three days ago…so I am cautiously optimistic about it all”. 

At 34 days, Alfie developed an infection in his stomach. The struggle to fight this infection increased the pressure on his lungs. As a result, he had to be put back on ventilator support and his condition became critical. Monica and Gary were placed on a 24-hour watch by his bedside. He was initially not given steroids to strengthen his lungs as the antibiotics given to treat his infection made him weak. 

However, Alfie’s medical team decided to take the risk and start his steroid treatment in a bid to improve his condition. At 8 weeks old and after 7 days of life-saving steroids, Alfie’s condition improved and his breathing tube could be removed. His little lungs continued to become stronger. After 60 days in the NICU, baby Alfie was finally infection free.

Improving outcomes for premature babies

A study, ‘Mortality, In-Hospital Morbidity, Care Practices, and 2-Year Outcomes for Extremely Preterm Infants in the US, 2013-2018’, by Dr Edward F Bell of the University of Iowa, found that from 2013 to 2018, with infants born between 22 and 28 weeks gestation, “survival to discharge occurred in 78.3% and was significantly improved compared with a historical rate of 76.0% among infants born in 2008-2012”.

The study, which took place between 2013 and 2018, assessed 10,877 infants born between 22 and 28 weeks gestation in 19 academic medical centres across the US.

This means that almost four out of five extremely prematurely-born babies survived and were able to be assessed at 22-26 months corrected age (22-26 months from their due date) for a number of health and functional outcomes.

Right To Life UK spokesperson Catherine Robinson said “Premature babies are a persistent challenge to supporters of abortion because the humanity of the baby is on clear display. In the UK, sadly, it remains legal to abort a baby up to birth if that baby has a disability”.

Critical appealto protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

The Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill can still be defeated at Third Reading, but only with your help.

Dear reader,

As you already likely know, the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill sadly passed Second Reading at the end of last month.

While it is very disappointing that the Bill passed Second Reading, an analysis published in The Independent shows that at least 36 MPs who supported the Bill did so only to allow further debate or because they had concerns that meant they won’t commit to supporting the Bill at Third Reading. Since then, our Public Affairs team has identified a number of other MPs who share these reservations.

With the vote passing by a margin of 55, just 28 MPs switching their stance to oppose the Bill would ensure it is defeated at Third Reading, so there is a clear path towards this Bill being defeated. We can still win this.

The assisted suicide lobby are fully aware that support for the Bill is very fragile. They will fight fiercely to prevent 28 MPs from switching their votes to oppose the Bill.

For the sake of the hundreds of thousands of vulnerable lives that will be put at risk, we must win the vote and defeat this dangerous Bill.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Our campaign in the run-up to Second Reading was the biggest and most expensive we have ever run and so it has made a significant dent in our limited financial resources.

We are now working on an even bigger campaign to defeat this dangerous Bill at Third Reading.

To ensure we effectively defeat this extreme assisted suicide Bill, we are aiming to raise at least £100,000 by midnight this Sunday (15 December 2024).

Every donation, no matter the size, will mean YOU can make a crucial difference in saving vulnerable lives from this extreme law change.

Will you make a donation now to help protect vulnerable lives from this major threat?

Critical appealto protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

The Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill can still be defeated at Third Reading, but only with your help.