A baby, who was given a 23% chance of survival after doctors found a cyst on her umbilical cord, is coming up to celebrate her second birthday.
Baby Amelia’s mother Laura, from Worthing, West Sussex, was already having a challenging pregnancy in the early weeks, suffering from extreme morning sickness and hypermobility, which caused frequent dislocations of her hips, knees and ankles.
However, at her 20-week scan in February, the sonographer identified a growth on the baby’s umbilical cord.
“We had decided to find out the gender during the scan but when we were in with the sonographer, I could tell something wasn’t right”, Laura said.
“She said the baby’s head had a growth on it, which was actually a cyst on my umbilical cord that was extremely rare – so rare that they had never seen it before”, she continued.
Laura was referred to two hospitals before the condition could be treated
“We had some of the best neonatal doctors in the country looking after us and all they had to go by was one case study from 2005”.
“We were told our baby had a 23 per cent chance of survival and then I found out I would have to undergo an in-vitro blood transfusion at 23 weeks. It was horrific” she added.
Laura was told she was not allowed to move during the blood transfusion.
“If I’d have coughed – and I had a chest infection at the time – or even sneezed, it could have gone horribly wrong”, she said. “I silently cried as the doctor had to have his arms on my arms to ensure he kept his hands still because when he was doing it, he had to be there for 25 minutes and he only had a 0.16 inch (4mm) window”.
During the 12 weeks that followed, Laura and her husband Ryan had to travel to the hospital 19 times, each visit constituting eight hours including travel time. The experience had a negative impact on Laura’s mental health, and she did not allow herself to feel too attached to her unborn baby in case the worst happened.
Laura’s daughter, baby Amelia, was born via caesarean section at just 32 weeks and weighing only 3lbs at birth. Two cysts were found, one the size of an adult kidney and one the size of a grapefruit.
Laura said “We have two photos at home which are very dear to us as we call them our ‘Lion King moments’”.
“When Amelia was born, I couldn’t bring my eyes to look at her as I was desperately searching in the neonatal doctor’s eyes for a sign that she’d live”.
“In the first picture they look petrified and like everything is going to hit the fan”.
“I think they were prepared for it to be an extremely tough moment and they did not know how she would do. But in the second photo she incredibly started crying and the relief on the doctors’ faces says it all”.
Amelia was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after just 30 seconds of being placed on her mother. She spent five days in that hospital before being moved to another special care baby unit for five weeks.
“I found it very difficult. “I was completely overwhelmed and traumatised, worrying if we were going to lose her. I was scared to pick her up for the first week and I actually couldn’t, people had to give her to me”.
“I had immense fear and anxiety the whole time. We were still unsure if our baby was going to make it, it was just hideous”, she continued.
“I didn’t even call Amelia by her name for three weeks. It was just ‘baba’ or ‘baby girl’. I couldn’t say it, because if I did, I was scared that I was going to lose her and I would’ve made a connection and I couldn’t do that”.
Going home with Amelia had its own challenges
When her parents were able to take Amelia home, Laura had some anxieties.
“If there’s any issues while you’re in hospital, the staff are right there”, she explained. “Then, suddenly, you don’t have that, there is such anxiety”.
“She was so tiny – by the time she went home, she was an ounce off being 4lbs”, she added.
Experiencing postnatal depression and feeling alone, Laura decided to become involved with a charity for premature babies called Ickle Pickles, and also started her own podcast.
“I felt so alone and I didn’t want anybody else to actually suffer like I did. Everyone who’s listened has thanked me”, she said.
“One lady, whose daughter was preemie at 24 weeks, messaged me privately to let me know how much my podcast meant to her and to listen to someone else that’s been through it has helped her cope”.
“If I’m helping just one other family, that’s all that matters”, she added.
Amelia will be celebrating her second birthday soon.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “This is a wonderful story of a mother going to great lengths to try and help her daughter to survive, in spite of her own anxieties and feeling scared even to connect with her child in case she did not live. Thankfully Amelia was able to beat the odds and will be celebrating her second birthday soon”.
